RP Qualified at SP: Season Update

Relief pitchers qualified at starters are great assets for fantasy teams with a limited number of RP slots (and IP limits). These pitchers can be played when a starter has a day off to pad a team’s rate stats. Also, they are a great source of creating Holds and on the rare occasion,a few Saves. Here is a look at some of the top SP qualified RP so far in 2012.

Brett Myers – 2.08 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, 15 Saves
Brett’s main value comes from the Saves he generates. His strikeout rates are not ideal for a RP, but his low walk rate allows him to maintain a decent K/BB (4.0) and low WHIP (0.83). The one huge issue with Myers is that he may end up getting traded to a contender and lose his closer role

Alexi Ogando – 2.08 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 8 Holds

Ogando was, until a few days ago, the best hold generating RP with SP qualifications. Then he got moved to the starting rotation where he preceeded to get hurt (groin). It is not known how long he will be out and if he will be in the bullpen or rotation when he returns. His owners will have to wait and see how this situation works out.

Phil Coke – 4.44 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 10 Holds

Phil has the most Holds of any of the SP qualified relievers with 10. He may not seem like a great choice right now with his high ERA, but each of his ERA estimators (FIP, xFIP and SIERA) are lower than his ERA.

Andrew Miller – 2.13 ERA, 10.7 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 7 Holds

Miller has resurrected his career as a decent setup man in Boston. He is striking out more than 1 batter per inning and racking up the Holds. Once knock against him is that he is mainly being used as a LOOGY against a batter or two, so he is not generating many K’s

Wade Davis – 2.20 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 5 Holds

Wade is making a successful transition from a starter to reliever. I am not sure how long he will be able to maintain his 90% LOB%, so his ERA head up if his LOB% drops.

Charlie Furbush – 2.78 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 1 Holds

Charlie would be ideal in a league league that doesn’t count holds. His rate stats are off the charts and ERA could head down as his FIP, xFIP and SIERA are all lower than it.

Manny Parra – 4.30 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 2 Holds

Similar to Phil Coke in that he has a inflated ERA compared to his FIP, xFIP and SIERA. He is not though getting the Hold chances.

Clay Hensley – 2.28 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 5.3 BB/9, 7 Holds

Don’t be fooled by the low ERA. A 1.6 K/BB ratio will rarely lead to success for a reliever.

Carlos Villanueva – 4.00 ERA, 9.0 K/9, 6.0 BB/9, 2 Holds

Nice strikeout rate, but the walks are too high.

Daniel Bard – 5.24 ERA, 5.6 K/9, 6.1 BB/9

He may end up getting moved back into the bullpen where he has thrived in the past.