Ty Buttrey (RP, LAA) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 22% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The pressure is about as low as it can get for members of the 12-22 Los Angeles Angels bullpen, as Hoby Milner and Cam Bedrosian are currently sidelined on the IL; Jaime Barria isn't even currently with the major league club; and the likes of Hansel Robles, Keynan Middleton, Jacob Barnes, Mike Mayers, and Matt Andriese are all performing at a range of mediocre to downright horrific. While that still leaves formidable options such as Noe Ramirez and Felix Pena available for high-leverage relief work, neither of the two have recorded a single save on the season. In fact, of the five saves that the Angels have recorded in 2020, one is held by the struggling Robles, while the other four were notched by Ty Buttrey.

Buttrey has been rock-solid for the Halos since August 4th, overcoming a sketchy first four appearances that saw three blown saves, netting a 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 12.2 IP for August with his most recent saves coming on the 22nd and the 28th. Buttrey's .264 BABIP may seem concerning while he's allowing 50% hard contact and 11.1% soft contact, but that risk is seriously negated through his increased grounder rate of 48.1%, which is most likely being forced by batters making less-than-ideal contact, as he is finding the zone 2.7% less while his outside contact rate has ballooned from 54.8% to 68.3%. With a safe, albeit humdrum formula for success, and very little threat from bullpen mates Ramirez and Pena to take over closer duties, Ty Buttrey is an under-the-radar saves candidate if you are willing to be patient for the Angels to have a late lead.