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Justin Lawrence is a fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup for closers and saves. Target Lawrence as a free agent relief pitcher for saves on the waiver wire.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team and NL Only Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 9% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence features a sinker and a sweeper that he uses 51.3% and 48.2% of the time, respectively. The fastball averaged 95.4 mph in 2023 but can touch triple digits at times, while the sweeper is nasty with a Stuff+ score of 146.
23 seconds of Justin Lawrence putting on a Ridiculous Slider/Sweeper Show yesterday. 😲 pic.twitter.com/dvMpMZ9eVY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2023
Lawrence pitched well in 2023 prior to taking over the closer role in mid-May, posting a 1.47 ERA, but he recorded a 5.22 ERA in the second half and relinquished the role to Tyler Kinley in September. In all, Lawrence recorded 11 saves last season with a 3.72 ERA (4.11 SIERA), and his ATC projection calls for 15 saves with a 4.54 ERA in 2024.
The 29-year-old had 11 K in eight and one-third IP during the spring but also surrendered 8 ER (8.64 ERA). Fellow reliever Kinley is competing for the role and was somewhat more effective this spring (4.32 ERA), but if Lawrence can hold onto the role for the entire season, there could be 20-save upside there. Keep a close eye on the first save situation for Colorado, as Kinley could be in line for those stats if he usurps Lawrence, and he'd be the waiver pivot (just 3% rostered).
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