The Hold Up 4/26: Ranking the Top 80 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday

[holds_list list_id=”18404″ include_stats=”1″ season=”2018″]

Today we will take look at the updated non-closer reliever market as there are some changes to the list since our previous installment. Keep in mind, just because a player is ranked below another player (especially when in the same tier), that doesn’t mean you should rush to drop the higher ranked player. These rankings are mostly to be used on a tier by tier scale and apply towards the pitcher’s value for the rest of the season.

• Andrew Miller left last nights game before recording an out with left hamstring tightness and is something to monitor in the next 24 hours. As of now, it doesn’t seem like he will need a DL stint, but the Indians could decide to play it safe being so early in the season. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury.
• I’ll admit I have been totally overlooking Tony Cingrani as he has been one of the best relievers in the league over the past 3 months of regular season action dating back to last August. In that time span, he has allowed nine earned runs (3 coming in his Dodgers debut last August) over 28.2 innings with a not too shabby 45/6 K/BB ratio.  His slider usage is at an all-time high (28.7%, 16.2% higher than previous season high) and it’s led to a career-high SwStr% to begin the year (18.5%). The breakout is for real and I expect this type of production to continue so long as he’s throwing that slider near 30% of the time.
• Somewhat lost in the Brewers bullpen shuffle post-Corey Knebel injury was Jeremy Jeffress, who let’s not forget, saved 27 games in 2016. While he isn’t the top option to close out games right now (who is exactly is another question), he did find himself finishing Tuesday nights game with a 2 run lead. He’s also only allowed 11 baserunners while striking out 11 over his 13.1 innings and continues to get groundballs at a high clip (60.6%). Outside of last year, he has been a consistent and valuable reliever so the turn around this season shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. He had a walk rate almost 2 percentage points higher than his career high while his HR/FB rate was .72 points higher than his previous career high, two major factors in last years disappointing season. Those seem to be an anomaly though and look for him to continue seeing high leverage work for the Brewers moving forward.
• After falling out of favor at the beginning of the season, Cam Bedrosian has put together a nice week here and even earned a save opportunity with closer Keynan Middleton needing a break on Tuesday night. He hasn’t allowed a run since last Tuesday, picking up that one save over 5 innings to go with a WHIP of 1 and 6 strikeouts. The usage Tuesday night was good to see, as he was used over other relievers such as Blake Parker, so keep monitoring him in shallower leagues while deep leagues can feel free to make a speculative add in hopes he takes over a setup role.
• I can’t really endorse Santiago Casilla right now, but we were at least able to see who the next in line for saves might be Tuesday night when Casilla filled in for closer Blake Treinen after he took a line drive off his leg. Casilla was able to get the job done and has pitched well so far this season, but just remember the 37-year old’s career has been on the decline since about 2012 and isn’t considered a recommended add at this point.