Diego Castillo (RP/SP, TB) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Diego Castillo has emerged as a terrific late-inning arm for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Gaining a promotion after being used as an opener in 2018, the right-hander has flourished in his new end-game role and has earned two saves and five holds on the young season in his first 10 appearances. Appearing primarily in the eighth and ninth innings this season, Castillo went his first 10 innings this year without allowing a run before giving up just one in his most recent outing. The 25-year-old holds a dominant 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and superb 26.3% K-rate and is forcing a platoon closer situation with Jose Alvarado for the AL East-leading Tampa squad.

Castillo is primarily a two-pitch pitcher mixing his cutter in with his 98 MPH sinker that he executes to perfection. This worm-killer has produced a fantastic 58.3% ground-ball rate and his cutter is his put-away delivery as it’s generated a 37.5% Whiff%. Depending on which type of bats are due up in the closing innings, manager Kevin Cash will use Alvarado to face lefties and Castillo to matchup against right-handed bats. Castillo has held these bats to just a .143/.182/.190 slash line and it bodes well for his outlook as a pitcher who can pick up plenty of saves despite splitting ninth-inning duties. The young flame-thrower at a minimum will put up strong ratio numbers as well as stellar strikeout rates. For those of you chasing saves, he’ll continue to find his share especially if Alvarado slumps or misses any time.