Daniel Bard (RP, COL) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

3 years ago by Mike Schwarzenbach

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BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 46% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Just pick up Daniel Bard. Seriously, I get the stigma around "RP-COL" in fantasy, but it's getting ridiculous to see Bard on waivers. Bard hasn't allowed an earned run since May 12. In that span, he's picked up five saves and struck out 19 batters in 12 1/2 innings. He's got eight saves on the season and is sporting a strong 30.7 percent strikeout rate and a 48.5 percent ground-ball rate. Long story short, Bard is locked-in as the closer for the Rockies and a must-roster reliever in fantasy.

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So why the hesitation to add Bard? Most managers would give some vanilla answer like, "He plays in Coors Field," or, "How many saves will the Rockies get, anyway?" Those are valid concerns, but they were valid a month ago too; those hesitant to add Bard in May missed out on a brilliant month of pitching. The stadium he calls home nor the jersey on his back are reasons to fade a pitcher slinging the cowhide as well as Bard.

The right-hander has been elite at the two factors that neutralize Coors Field, getting strikeouts and generating ground balls. He sports an elite four-seam fastball that averages 97.8 MPH and is in the top percentile in spin rate. He pairs this with a slider that's averaging a 41.2 percent whiff rate this season. Bard has the tools to continue to thrive in the closer's role for Colorado. If saves are rewarded in your fantasy league, just go pick up Bard.

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