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While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire for Week 21 of the fantasy baseball season.
The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these pitchers will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league.
Let's get to it.
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Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Tommy Hunter, Tampa Bay Rays
1 Save, 18 Holds, 2.35 ERA, 46.0 IP, 50 K, 0.98 WHIP
Veteran Tommy Hunter is having a successful first season as a part of the Tampa Bay Rays roster. With a 96.3 mph fastball, a 93.8 mph cutter and 85.4 mph curveball; Hunter is striking out more than a batter per inning. Opponents are hitting .202 against Hunter this year. Hunter starts off batters well with a first-pitch strike above league average while getting weak contact outside of the zone frequently. Hunter regularly enters the game in the seventh or eighth inning so he is a strong candidate for holds in a holds league.
Peter Moylan, Kansas City Royals
16 Holds, 4.37 ERA, 45.1 IP, 38 K, 1.19 WHIP
The Kansas City Royals are still in the hunt for a spot in the postseason and reliever Peter Moylan has contributed positively. Heavily relying on his 90.3 mph sinker and 78.6 mph slider, Moylan generates a ground ball on 60.5 percent of batted balls. Like any ground ball pitcher, Moylan relies on opponents making weak contact out of the zone. Moylan usually enters the game in the sixth or seventh inning. While he does not strike out a lot of batters, the high ground ball rate will appeal for a team in a holds league that has consistent strikeouts from other relievers.
Heath Hembree, Boston Red Sox
14 Holds, 3.59 ERA, 52.2 IP, 58 K, 1.42 WHIP
The Boston Red Sox are fighting to keep the American League East lead and Heath Hembree has been a solid contributor. Hembree generally pitches in the sixth, seventh or eighth inning. With a 95.4 mph fastball and 89.4 mph slider, Hembree strikes out more than a batter per inning. Hembree generates above league average swings with below league average contact. Hembree may go under the radar of contributors to the Red Sox. With the decent strikeout rate and the strength of the team he pitches for, Hembree can be a valuable waiver wire claim in holds leagues.
Pat Neshek, Colorado Rockies
1 Save, 13 Holds, 1.63 ERA, 49.2 IP, 56 K, 0.91 WHIP
The Colorado Rockies have a firm hold on a wild card spot but they can call upon veteran Pat Neshek to be a reliable presence on the last month of the regular season. This year, opponents have been hitting .221 against Neshek over his tenure with two teams. The unorthodox Neshek relies on his 83.5 mph sinker and 90.3 mph sinker. Despite being a sinker ball pitcher, batted balls against Neshek are fly balls 47.5 percent of the time and a ground ball 35.2 percent of the time. However, Neshek also generates above league average swings out of the zone with below league average contact. Since joining the Rockies, Neshek is primarily used in seventh or eighth inning. The Rockies are in a strong postseason spot and are looking to improve so holds will be valuable, as well Neshek to a holds league if a waiver wire claim is put on him.
Matt Albers, Washington Nationals
2 Saves, 7 Holds, 1.86 ERA, 48.1 IP, 52 K, 0.93 WHIP
In a bullpen of consistent former closers, reliever Matt Albers is an underrated stable force in the Washington Nationals bullpen. Opponents are hitting .171 against Albers and he strikes them out at a strong pace. With his 93.2 mph sinker and 86.8 mph slider, Albers is keeping the ball on the ground as 50.4 percent of batted balls are ground balls. With Ryan Madson put on the disabled list, look to Albers to move into the later innings of the game as he has a strong season with the Nationals. His numbers indicate he is capable of higher leverage situations. The Nationals and any fantasy team that puts a waiver wire claim on Albers will not be disappointed by the holds he secures and the statistics he puts across the board.
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