When handling bullpens, MLB managers often lazily stick with the guy who’s been there before rather than the pitcher producing results. Fantasy players cannot fall for the same trap.

Out of fear of rocking the boat or disrupting the status quo, the same guys keep backing into high-leverage roles simply because they have served them—not always effectively—before. One contender is having that patience gravely tested with a well-traveled setup man no longer ownable as a holds option.

Among the four recommended options, only one was on the Opening Day roster. That player was demoted in May. They lack a track record, but they’re rolling and worth riding in deeper leagues where middle relievers matter.

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Phil Maton (SD)
Kirby Yates was recently featured as a rising star in the San Diego Padres’ bullpen, but the Friars have since unleashed Phil Maton. Making his debut on June 11, the 24-year-old righty has thrown 6.2 scoreless innings topped with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Although the neophyte has yet to record a hold, he did procure a save in an extra-inning affair. He closed the door in the 11th after closer Brandon Maurer blew a two-run lead in the 10th.

Having already used Yates, Mauer, Brad Hand, and Jose Torres, San Diego had few alternatives left that day. Yet, manager Andy Green has exhibited a rising trust of Maton, who twice pitched the seventh inning of tie games last week. While Hand and Yates will work higher-leverage situations, Maton’s goose-egg in the holds column isn’t indicative of his usage.

Relying heavily on a fastball with a dizzying spin rate, he has dominated at all levels, posting a 1.89 ERA, 167 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 109.2 career minor league innings. Major League batters have yet to unlock the secret to hitting his lively heater, so consider Maton now before his popularity soars.

Justin Grimm (CHC)
The Chicago Cubs demoted Justin Gimm after his ERA increased to 7.53 on May 7. Since returning to the majors, he has yielded three hits and one run in 14 innings.

He waited until Monday to notch his first hold since the call-up, but the one-out performance was also his first major league outing without a strikeout since April 21. The righty has 18 of them (with just two walks) following his revival from Triple-A.

As he told the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales, he refocused on attacking the plate in the minors. “It has been that aggressive mindset,” Grimm said.

“Early on, I was fixated on the long ball. I’d throw well for the most part but hurt myself by trying to be too fine and getting behind. That’s the big difference. When I came back up here, I put it all behind me and moved forward.”

Chicago’s bullpen is crowded, but if June’s version of Grimm sticks around, he could take high-leverage spots from the struggling Hector Rondon or the erratic Pedro Strop.

Kyle Crick (SF)
Kyle Crick made his MLB debut on June 22. Six days later, the San Francisco Giants placed closer Mark Melancon on the disabled list for the second time this season.

That doesn’t mean the newcomer will ascend into the ninth-inning gig. According to Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly, Sam Dyson is the front-runner despite allowing 28 runs over 24 cataclysmic innings. Hunter Strickland—who recorded a one-out save with Dyson unavailable on Wednesday—makes more sense when removing any “closer experience” nonsense from the discussion, but the Giants could also use the vacancy to inflate George Kontos’ trade value.

Crick, who collected a 2.76 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 29.1 Triple-A frames, is more of a deep sleeper. Although he has recorded just one punchout in 4.1 major league innings, the former starter has the stuff to flourish if he can harness his command. A 3.99 BB/9 marked a demonstrative improvement over his bloated walk rates in the rotation.

With Melancon hurt, Crick may now find himself pitching in higher-leverage situations than the Giants initially envisioned. His mid-90’s gas now demands attention in deeper formats, but only make the speculative grab if chasing holds before saves.

Chad Green (NYY)
The New York Yankees are loaded with young starting pitching, many of whom will inevitably try to last in the Bronx as relievers. Since sending long reliever Adam Warren to the disabled list, Chad Green has flourished.

A potential rotation fill-in for C.C. Sabathia instead wields a 1.52 ERA when used from the bullpen. In 23.1 innings in the role, he has accumulated 27 strikeouts and six walks. Taking his lone two-inning start out of the equation, opponents are hitting .139 against the 26-year-old righty.

He should now permanently reside in the bullpen. Last year, he conceded a 5.94 ERA and a dozen homers as a starter but hurled 9.1 scoreless innings as a reliever. Even when Warren returns, the Yankees should find creative ways to utilize both former starters.

Or Green could replace Tyler Clippard in a traditional seven-inning assignment better for his holds tally. The Yankees may not make that switch, but fantasy managers should…

Drop: Tyler Clipparg (NYY)
After being a solid seventh-inning option for two months, the “Yankees Clippard” is now getting clobbered. Clippard has relinquished 11 earned runs in his last seven outings, which is as many as Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman have combined to surrender all season. His ERA, which stood at 1.73 before this stretch, has since skyrocketed to 4.70.

There’s nothing worse than an inconsequential reliever torpedoing a fantasy squad’s ratios. While Clippard has routinely defied his peripherals—posting a 3.03 career ERA despite a 3.82 FIP—his high fly-ball profile and tenuous relationship with the strike zone always loomed as red flags. He has typically offset those fly-ball worries with a lofty pop-up rate, but it has dipped way below his 16.1 career percentage to 7.3.

Clippard’s track record appears to have lent him a longer leash, but fantasy managers have no need for such patience. Don’t stick around for any more shellings when there’s an array of non-brand name alternatives like Green on the waiver wire.

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Andrew Gould is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrewgould4.