Relief Pitchers Deeper Dive - Week 19

August 7, 2018

Relief pitchers to monitor for holds or as closer handcuffs for Week 19. Rick Graham analyzes under-the-radar RP as deep league targets or waiver wire adds.

Today and every Tuesday moving forward throughout the 2018 MLB season, we will take a deep dive into some of the lesser-owned relief pitchers on the market that are worth keeping tabs on.

This can be a good tool for those in deeper holds leagues, although any pitcher in a position to make a move on their respective team's closer job will get priority.

Below are my relief pitchers to target for Week 19 of the fantasy baseball season. Let's get to it.

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Under-the-Radar Relievers to Watch - Week 19

Jesse Biddle, Atlanta Braves - 2% owned

Once a top prospect in the Phillies organization, Biddle dealt with injuries and command issues at the higher levels of the minors, that is until the Braves picked up the lefty and moved him into a permanent bullpen role. The walk rate at 3.98% could still improve, but he's currently sporting a 2.21 K/BB rate, which he only bettered once while with Philadelphia and that was at A ball in 2012.

He's still not a strikeout machine, and the low BABIP (.235) suggests some regression is due, but for the time being, he is one of the primary set up men in that Braves bullpen and Biddle even was able to rack up 4 holds this past week. The SP eligibility is also a big plus to his value, which right now seems like that of a useful holds option in deeper leagues.

Luis Avilan, Chicago White Sox - 1% owned.

While Jace Fry is the left-handed reliever he gets most of the headlines in Chicago, Luis Avilan has pitched just as well, if not better this season. I still like Fry as the better long-term option at closer given what that roster has to offer, but with Fry scuffling a bit lately, the White Sox could opt to give Avilan some save chances for the time being.

Tanner Scott, Baltimore Orioles - 0% owned

Scott is definitely more of a deeper league/dynasty stash at this time, but there is some intriguing, upside in that arm of his. On one hand, he holds an amazing 13.11 K%, 17.1 SwStr% and has been getting really unlucky with both a .390 BABIP and 23.8 HR/FB%. So despite the current 5.77 ERA, it's safe to say the number should be closer to his xFIP (2.83) or SIERA (3.00).

The big problem with Scott has always been his walk rates, but his 4.46 BB/9 rate while not great, is still the best output of his career. He can run his fastball up to 100 and flashes a devasting hard slider, and if he is able to ever get that walk rate down under four and closer to 3, he could be the next young stud closer in the game.

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