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Ryan Nakada analyzes five MLB relief pitchers (RP) and setup men to target for holds as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and adds for Week Eight of the MLB season.
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 8 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 8 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Brad Hand, San Diego Padres
4 Holds, 1 Save, 1.73 ERA, 26.0 IP, 35 K, 1.00 WHIP
Potentially splitting save opportunities with Brandon Maurer, San Diego Padres reliever Brad Hand is a worthwhile candidate for a waiver wire claim. With a 93.2 MPH fastball and 81.7 MPH slider, Hand has well over a strikeout per inning and generates 53.6% of batted balls on the ground. Despite getting around the league average for swings out of the zone, the swings against Hand come up empty. Strictly based on situations, Hand may see less opportunities to Maurer, but Hand may prove to be the more effective reliever so he could see more save opportunities in the end.
Taylor Rogers, Minnesota Twins
12 Holds, 3.52 ERA, 15.1 IP, 12 K, 1.24 WHIP
While the Minnesota Twins are riding high, the setup relievers are valuable for holds. Taylor Rogers is among the league leaders in holds but is hardly owned in fantasy leagues. His value lies strictly in his use as a setup for closer Brandon Kintzler. While opponents are hitting .259 against Rogers, the contact against Rogers results in ground balls 56.5% of the time. With a fastball sitting at 92.3 MPH and 78.8 MPH curveball, Rogers relies on contact and primarily contact out of the zone. If your pitchers are taking care of the strikeouts, Rogers is a viable waiver wire claim to notch some holds for your team.
Keone Kela, Texas Rangers
4 Holds, 1 Save, 3.94 ERA, 16.0 IP, 21 K, 0.94 WHIP
After a stint in the minors, the Texas Rangers' Keone Kela has returned to the majors with authority. With a fastball at 96.2 MPH and a curveball at 83.2 MPH, Kela has averaged more than a strikeout per inning. Opponents are hitting a bleak .130 against Kela this season. Primarily used in the eighth inning of a shaky bullpen, the Rangers could even find themselves using Kela for save opportunities when closer Matt Bush has worked too much in the past days.
Joe Smith, Toronto Blue Jays
7 Holds, 2.45 ERA, 22.0 IP, 33 K, 1.09 WHIP
The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to find their way out of last place in a highly competitive American League East and reliever Joe Smith is one of the beneficiaries of the hold opportunities. Smith is having a really good first season with the Blue Jays. Averaging more than a strikeout per inning, the 33-year-old veteran is also generating 44.4% of batted balls on the ground. With an 88.8 MPH sinker and 80.8 MPH slider, is generating more swings out of the zone and the contact has been less frequent than anytime in his 11-year career. The Blue Jays are expected to contend but with a weaker offense, the leads will be narrower so look for Joe Smith to get the call late when they possess the lead.
J.J. Hoover, Arizona Diamondbacks
6 Holds, 2.65 ERA, 17.0 IP, 27 K, 1.41 WHIP
The Arizona Diamondbacks are staying in the hunt for the National League West division and relievers like J.J. Hoover bridge wins to saves with successful holds. Incorporating a 92.6 MPH fastball and 85.2 MPH slider, Hoover has opponents hitting to a .231 batting average. He is primarily used in the seventh inning and averages well over a strikeout per inning this season. Despite Hoover living in the strike zone, opponents continue to swing and miss against him.
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