How to Effectively Use Middle Relievers in Fantasy Baseball
From this article, you'll learn the nuances of using middle relievers, an often underestimated resource in fantasy baseball that has helped me win countless leagues before, in both head-to-head and rotisserie formats.
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Instructions
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Knowing What You're Getting (Into)
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Know that middle relievers are often overlooked by fantasy-baseball managers. They aren't in the headlines like closers and starters, and the categories of ERA and WHIP are not the ones you hear most often. Wins and saves are talked about more.
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Understand that there are other categories you can benefit from, if your league uses any of the following: K/BB ratio, walks (the lower the better), K/9 ratio and holds. Middle-reliever values only increase with each additional category. I'll touch on those briefly, but will concentrate on the main 5x5 categories of ERA/WHIP, and also wins, saves, and strikeouts--even better than an O.K. starter could over a full season. For example, take the following three sets of numbers:Player A: 53.1 IP, 4-3 record, 1 SV, 48 strikeouts, 1.69 ERA, 0.92 WHIPPlayer B: 57.2 IP, 0-2 record, 5 SV, 51 strikeouts, 1.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIPPlayer C: 108.1 IP, 8-8 record, 0 SV, 78 strikeouts, 4.07 ERA, 1.11 WHIPThe first two are middle relievers and the third is a fairly well-known starter. Now compare the starter's numbers to the following line:110.3 IP, 4-5 record, 6 SV, 99 strikeouts, 1.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIPThis line is the middle relievers' numbers combined. Aside from the W-L record (and standard leagues don't count losses), that's the equivalent of a dominant starter, and better than the aforementioned Player C's numbers. Still interested?
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Look at the combined stats for the middle relievers again. As you can see, as of August 13th, 2008, a hefty chunk of potential could be found in IP, Ks, ERA and WHIP. Rotisserie-league managers understand that such a line could significantly improve their chances in multiple categories. Players who can manage that are usually drafted early, except middle relievers.But what about head-to-head managers? A full season's stats don't mean a thing to you, because every Monday, your slate is wiped clean. In a typical week, a good middle reliever will be used two to four times. The more close games a player's team is involved in, the more he'll be used, so there is a variance. With two mid-inning guys, though, you can get up to ten innings of work if the situations pan out. That's better than a one-start pitcher. And with your format, categories are often determined by tiny amounts, so every little bit helps, especially in categories as fickle as ERA and WHIP.The upside to trying this is definitely worth it, especially when you're merely trying to win a majority of the categories each week.
Determining/Implementing the strategy
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Take a look at your team. Who can you afford to drop? Is there someone like Bronson Arroyo, an O.K.-but-not-great starting pitcher who's killing your ERA and WHIP while not notching a good amount of wins? Closers can also be targets: Do you have someone whose team can't keep a lead going to the ninth? Then your reason for having the closer has been nullified, and you can drop him. Brian Wilson of the Giants is a good example: He was one of the top closers for saves early on, but as the season progressed, his team couldn't stay in it toward the end of a game, and his chances went down.Injured players (or frequently injured ones, such as Troy Percival of the Rays) also make good drops, because you're reducing the risk factor.
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Head to your league's free-agent pool and search for pitchers (or relief pitchers, if applicable). You need to find one of the best frequently used middle relievers so you can maximize the numbers you'll get.There are four characteristics to look for in a great middle reliever:-A good amount of innings pitched per month (average it out, but roughly eight per month is a solid number to shoot for)-A high K/BB ratio (which shows excellent control, a must for good set-up men; usually, better than 2:1, 3:1 is fantastic)-A low ERA (which proves the player can get the job done and shut down opponents; typically below 2.00, but make a judgment call)-A good K/IP ratio (The best K pitchers have about a 1:1 rate, but some effective RP do not rely on strikeouts, so this is not a must.)
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Use established names as targets. Some of the best middle-inning pitchers in 2008 were Taylor Buchholz (Player A in section 1), Scott Downs (Player B), Jose Arredondo, Brad Ziegler, Chad Durbin and Ron Mahay.Here's why each was effective for fantasy purposes:T. Buchholz--He was thought to be the next in line for saves in Colorado at one point. That's one potential upside: Middle relievers often take over the closer role, giving your saves category a boost. Although Buchholz didn't get the closer gig, he was a good strikeout guy, one per inning, and occasionally nabbed a win late.S. Downs--Unlike Buchholz, Downs assumed the closer role for Toronto when BJ Ryan went down for a couple of weeks, notching five saves in the process. Tossing 26 straight scoreless innings helps, too.J. Arredondo--A great part of the best bullpen in baseball, Arredondo rarely had his ERA or WHIP over 1 the entire year. That's consistency. He was more worthwhile in the stretch run as the Angels clinched their playoff spot.B. Ziegler--He came out of nowhere late in the season for the A's, setting a new record for consecutive scoreless innings for a rookie. He even started nudging Huston Street out of the closer role in Oakland.C. Durbin--Pitching for a contender is always a good sign, and Durbin saw a lot of action as a result, providing more opportunities to lower his owners' ERA and WHIP while nabbing almost a K an inning.JP Howell--It was the wins for this guy that kept him great. Pitching in a wounded Tampa Bay bullpen, Howell often pitched a 1-2-3 inning and then got the win as the Rays came through late. And he saw plenty of action down the stretch, racking up Ks as he went. Always a plus.
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Check for news updates about somebody with a low inning total; sometimes a pitcher will recently have been called up. Brad Ziegler went largely unnoticed for his first 20 or so scoreless innings, until the news that somebody was approaching a record became widespread. Smart fantasy owners had already taken heed and added him by that point. Keeping up with pitchers who've recently been called up can really give you an edge, as you'll have the first opportunity to add that pitcher.Also, be sure to check each pitcher's recent stats/game log. This shows you if he's been used recently, and how often. Does somebody have a lot of innings, but only one in the past week? Then you may want to avoid him for the time being, as the team could be in a slump or there could be a confidence issue with the manager.
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If you read this before you draft, wait until the late rounds to draft a middle reliever, as they will only contribute in a few categories at best, and are typically available late. Many times, the best go undrafted, so don't go overboard by using picks before, say, Round 14 on these guys, because better contributors can be had.Now get out there and dominate your fantasy league!
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Tips & Warnings
Remember to have patience. One bad outing won't ruin a middle reliever's year, and the best rebound immediately.
You're trading wins and strikeouts (and usually saves) for ERA and WHIP help. That's why I recommend only using two middle relievers at a time, because the hit you take in those categories is kept to a minimum, but the aid you gain is noticeable.
All statistics were as of August 13th, 2008.
