Keynan Middleton (RP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Fantasy owners know well at this point how much Mike Scioscia hates them. Since the start of the 2016 season, a whopping 13 pitchers have recorded at least one save for the Angels, more than any other team. Consequently, Los Angeles is the only team in baseball lacking a pitcher who has saved at least 20 games for them in that span. Bud Norris had 19 saves last year, and no other Angels pitcher cracked double digits in either season. All of which is to say, trust Scioscia to stick with a primary closer at your own peril.

Keynan Middleton is making a bid to stick in the ninth early on in the 2018 season, however. The 24-year-old has a standard late-inning reliever profile, relying mainly on a fastball that averages just under 97 MPH and a slider that flashes plus. Thus far, he's allowed a single run in 7.2 innings of work and locked down both of his save opportunities. With both Cam Bedrosian and Blake Parker struggling early, Middleton has a shot at forcing Scioscia to break from his favored committee approach to the final inning.