Scheming For Relief: Thornburg, Alvarez, Neris and Devenski

For the sake of this week’s middle reliever column, we’ll be digging through a series of arbitrary endpoints in search of hurlers that can lend you a hand in your holds or saves + holds leagues. Sure, the arms noted are more likely to be considered in formats that reward holds, but for the most part, I am one of those players that favor rostering middles to maintain the ratios while logging strikeouts on a regular basis. All depends on the context of your league, obviously.

I’ve created a spreadsheet with some data that assisted me in my research, which you are free to navigate here, but the following names are one short of a handful that stuck out to me for guys that may not be owned, with solid K-BB% rates and some that have recorded holds. Please keep in mind the small sample and arbitrary data selected prior to setting the comments on fire.

Jose Alvarez – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 0% Y! – Alvarez is a 26-year-old southpaw that owns a 0.00 ERA (1.33 FIP) in five appearances (4.1 IP) with three holds. The lefty doesn’t appear to have the goods to be a future closer, but has a five-pitch mix in the arsenal with a more-than-reasonable ability to miss some bats and induce some strikeouts (career 11.2% SwStr%) — a decent recipe for holds. Alvarez does own a lofty 4.15 ERA (4.05 FIP) to pair with a 1.28 WHIP over the course of his career, so this is a situation to monitor daily to make sure he doesn’t implode your ratios should you choose to roster him.

Christopher Devenski – Astros – 0% Y! – Devenski, a lanky righty of the Houston Astros’ variety, has just three appearances under his belt, but has done so in fine fashion. The right-hander owns an 8:1 K:BB in just over five innings of work to go with a 0.00 ERA (0.73 FIP). And although Devenski has failed to log a hold or a save, he’s entered contests in different situations in “longer” term relief, meaning there are still chances for him to notch some holds going forward given his early season success. Someone like Devenski warrants a look in deeper leagues that reward holds and saves without transaction limits.

Hector Neris – Phillies – 1% Y! – Neris has three holds to his name in just five appearances thus far for the Phillies. He’s entered the game three times in the seventh inning and twice in the eighth inning, resulting in a 0.00 ERA (1.79 FIP) with a 31.3% K-BB%. He’s a 26-year-old right-hander with a four-pitch mix (2S & 4S fastball, slider and splitter) and has been able to miss his share of bats over the course of his career (14.1% SwStr%). The Phillies’ bullpen started the season in dumpster fire fashion, but has since seemed to settle down with David Hernandez in the eighth and Jeanmar Gomez in the ninth-innings, respectively. Like the names noted above, Neris is a name to keep an eye on in daily move leagues without transaction limits should Hernandez/Gomez log innings multiple days in-a-row and need to rest on the pine.

Tyler Thornburg – Brewers – 1% Y! – For the novice player, Thornburg is likely the most familiar name on this list. He’s tripped to the hill four times so far this season, posting a 0.00 ERA (0.92 FIP) with a 35.7% K-BB% and a pair of holds. The right-hander seems to be more of the seventh-inning solution for the Brew Crew at this time which doesn’t exactly assist those chasing saves, but could provide some support for those in holds + saves formats. The velocity on each of his offerings appears to be up in the early going, which gives a bit more merit to the spike in his swinging strike rate (13.6% SwStr% – a career best). But keep the small samples in mind when considering the add.