Scheming For Relief: Medina, Jones and Siegrist

The home stretch is here. For some owners looking to gain some ground in their roto leagues, it may be time to take on some risk for the potential reward. In head-to-head leagues the case may not be the same, unless of course, your primary holds guys have been lost in a bullpen shuffle somewhere.

At any rate, here are a few arms to consider adding if they’re available in your leagues.

Ownership rates reflect Yahoo! leagues.

Yoervis Medina | Mariners | 2%

There’s a pretty good chance that Medina is owned your holds league, especially considering some added him hoping for some sneaky saves while the Mariners’ bullpen was on shaky ground. He’s notched five holds and fanned 33.3% of batters over the last two weeks, but he’s also surrendered free passes to 33.3% of opposing batters in that same time frame. Risky, right? Indeed it is, but I’m a gamblin man though, so despite the potential to obliterate your weekly ERA and WHIP in head-to-head leagues, I’d consider adding the right-hander for the chance at some holds and strikeouts. In a roto league? Sure, i’m all-in.

Nate Jones | White Sox | 1%

At first glance, Jones’ 4.06 ERA (2.74 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP may cause one to hesitate clicking the add button this late in the game. Heck, he’s surrendered the same amount of earned runs as he’s earned holds in August with five. However, one of the more appealing aspects of the right-handers game is his ability to miss bats. No, he doesn’t fan batters at a Kimbrelian rate or anything, but he’s posted a fine 12.6% SwStr% rate thus far in twenty-thirteen leading to a career-best 27.6% K% while in the bigs. If you’re like me, and your back is against the wall, be willing to add Jones for the holds and strikeout potential, knowing that there is the possibility of a few blow ups here-and-there. Enjoy the rollercoaster ride!

Kevin Siegrist | Cardinals | 1%

We initially discussed the Cardinals’ middle-man back in June, and since, he’s struggled a bit with his control — K% dipped to just over 30% and BB% spiked to over 22% in July — and he failed to earn enough holds to keep him rostered. But it appears as if Siegrist has turned the corner in August by locking down four holds, posting a 0.00 ERA with a 37.2% K% in eleven trips to the bump. The southpaw is still surrendering too many free passes this month (14% BB%), but for those in search of some last-minute holds in both head-to-head and roto leagues, consider adding the lefty to the roster once again.

Probably not available in your leagues, but can’t hurt to search:

David Carpenter | Braves | 3%

Carpenter has been nothing shy of fantastic in the backend of the Braves’ bullpen this season. A 1.85 ERA (2.68 FIP) parlayed with a K% north of 30% with three wins and five holds is close to middle-relief gold. Carpenter notched three of his five holds over the past two weeks, while fanning more than 50% of the batters he’s faced. If by chance the righty is available in your holds league (I know, it’s a longshot) or if you’re into streaming middles in your standard league, Carpenter could be your guy.

Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers | 6%

Like Kevin Siegrist, this is Paco’s second appearance in this column. Back in May I suggested he was a “lesser owned lefty” with just 1% ownership in Yahoo! leagues, but many caught on to the sizzling southpaw since we last spoke about him. Paco’s SwStr% dipped to 16.1% since May, but he’s maintained a K% north of 30% while limiting free passes to just 7.6% of opposing batters. Rodriguez now has 17 holds under his belt and is more-than-likely owned in your holds league, but if by chance he’s available, add him immediately. Paco is another reliever I’d be willing to stream in my standard league if there were no constraints on the amount of moves one could make.