MLB H2H VS GPP Plays Aug 26

MLB Picks for 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head VS GPPs

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In this article I am going to give you my MLB picks for all game types, including 50/50s/double-ups/head-to-head and GPPs (guaranteed prize pool tournaments). I will break them down into two parts: Part 1 – 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head (AKA cash games), Part 2 – GPPs.

Part 1 – 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head (AKA Cash Games)

When playing 50-50s/double-ups or head-to-head, you want guaranteed points. This is not where you roll the dice on all-or-nothing players. The idea is to simply produce a solid, well balanced team. It may not be explosive, but it doesn’t matter whether you finish in first place or not, you just need to cash.

STARTING PITCHERS

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Johnny Cueto – Cueto was roughed up in his last start, but has been outstanding in his last 12 starts (2.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.8 K/9) despite last week’s outing. The Cubs are hitting a lousy .230 VS RHP (2nd last in the NL) and strike out at a 22.8% clip, which is the 2nd most VS RHP in the NL. Cueto should go deep into the game and get plenty of punch outs along the way, making him your best choice for cash games tonight.

Madison Bumgarner – Bumgarner has had a great month of August (2.03 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 10.5 K/9) and will face a Rockies team that struggles on the road (.235 BA, 13th in the NL). Like Cueto, Bumgarner should also pitch deep into the game and rack up plenty of strikeouts. In their past 26 road games, Colorado is striking out an average of 9.96 times per game.

Other Pitchers I like – Cole Hamels, Matt Shoemaker, Danny Duffy, Alex Wood

CATCHER

Buster Posey – Posey comes into tonight swinging a hot stick with hits in 10/11 games. Posey has crushed LHP his entire career and should have no problem ripping off a couple of hits tonight VS Jorge De La Rosa.

Derek Norris – Speaking of crushing LHP, that brings us to lefty masher Derek Norris. If you want to save a little at C, yet still have a solid bat, Norris is your guy. Norris has mashed LHP all season long (.342 BA) and has hit Keuchel well in a small sample size (6/14, .500 OBP).

Other Catchers I like – Victor Martinez, Yan Gomes, Devin Mesoraco

FIRST BASE

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Jose Abreu – Abreu just keeps rolling along with hits in 8/9 games, including 5 multi-hit games. Abreu hits for average (.308 BA) and power (33 HR) and makes a great cash game play VS T.J. House at home tonight.

Adrian Gonzalez – Trevor Cahill has been a mess VS LHB this season (.338 BAA). Gonzalez has 5 hits in his last 2 games and has owned Cahill in his career (11/24, .458 BA, .500 OBP with 5 XBHs).

Other First Basemen I like – Edwin Encarnacion, David Ortiz, Freddie Freeman, Matt Adams

SECOND BASE

Robinson Cano – Cano is simply one of the best hitters in all of baseball. He is a multi-hit machine and has raked all year long VS RHP (.345 BA, .414 OBP). Nick Martinez is no match for Cano, and I expect yet another multi-hit game from him tonight.

Dee Gordon – If you are not on Cano, Gordon not only makes a nice play, but also saves you some money. With Cahill’s struggles VS LHB (.398 OBPA), I can easily see Gordon having multiple hits/runs or SBs in this one tonight.

Other Second Basemen I like – Jose Altuve, Ben Zobrist

THIRD BASE

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Josh Donaldson – Donaldson had a big game last night (3/4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI) and will look to stay hot VS Dallas Keuchel tonight. Donaldson is a notorious lefty killer and makes a great cash game play at 3B tonight.

Evan Longoria – Longoria is always a solid cash game play when facing a LHP. Wei-Yin Chen has allowed 18 homeruns to RHB this season and Longoria has enjoyed hitting LHP throughout his career.

Other Third Basemen I like – David Wright (If in lineup), Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

Jose Reyes – Reyes continues to produce across the board and has a great match-up VS De La Rosa at the Rogers Center tonight. If you can afford him tonight, I suggest you pay up for him.

Hanley Ramirez – Hanley is back and he adds some much needed depth to the SS position. He may not be as consistent as Reyes, but he does have more upside. Cahill has been solid VS RHB but Ramirez is match-up proof and gets to hit in “hitter friendly” Chase Field tonight.

Other Shortstops I like – Alexei Ramirez

OUTFIELDERS

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Jacoby Ellsbury – Ellsbury is hot at the dish with 4 multi-hit games in his last 7. Ellsbury contributes across the board offensively and has hit Rick Porcello hard in his career (8/13, .615 BA with 3 XBHs).

Kole Calhoun – Calhoun has become a hitter we can trust a nightly basis when facing a RHP. Nate Eovaldi has really struggled to get LHB out this season (.302 BAA, .337 OBPA) and that puts Calhoun in a nice spot to produce tonight.

Melky Cabrera – Cabrera has been a multi-hit machine all season for the Blue Jays and is at his best VS a RHP at home, like he is tonight. Melky is 2nd in the AL in hits and 5th in OBP, making him a great cash game play in your OF tonight.

Other Outfielders I like – Mike Trout, Hunter Pence, Christian Yelich, Alex Gordon, Jayson Heyward, Angel Pagan

Part 2 – GPPs

GPPs are a whole new ball game. You need guys to have huge nights. GPP tournaments are all about upside. All-or-nothing players can become GPP gold, while value players are just as important as your star players.

STARTING PITCHERS

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Matt Shoemaker – Shoemaker was unreal in his last start VS the Red Sox (7.2 IP, 0 ER 9 Ks) and has not allowed more then 2 ER in 6 consecutive starts. During that 6 game stretch, Shoemaker has posted fantastic numbers (1.57 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, .183 BAA, 7.9 K/9). The Marlins continue to lead baseball with a 23.7% strike out rate VS RHP, making Shoemaker an excellent play in your GPPs tonight.

Danny Duffy – Duffy has a great match-up VS the weak hitting Twins tonight and always seems to be under-owned. Duffy is extremely hard to hit (.201 BAA) and Minnesota has K’d the 5th most times VS LHP in the AL this season. Duffy has a great price across the industry and makes a tremendous tournament play tonight.

Other Pitchers I like – Alex Wood, Gio Gonzalez, Jimmy Nelson, Tyson Ross, Alex Cobb, James Paxton

CATCHER

Devin Mesoraco – Mesoraco is cold right now and is on sale across all sites due to his slump. That being said, he has a great chance to break out tonight at home VS LHP Travis Wood. Mesoraco has more upside than any other C in baseball and will explode one of these nights.

Miguel Montero – After a bad month of July, Montero has bounced back in August. Roberto Hernandez is a very hittable pitcher and Montero comes at a discount across the industry. Montero possesses huge power and has multi-homer upside.

Other Catchers I like – Evan Gattis, Dioner Navarro, Jason Castro, Brian McCann, Salvador Perez

FIRST BASE

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Adam Lind – Lind has only 1 XBH since being activated from the DL on Aug 12. Despite the lack of production I still like him tonight VS Rubby De La Rosa. Lind has destroyed RHP (.356 BA) this season and I think he gets back on track tonight. Lind is likely the best bang for your buck at 1B tonight.

Michael Morse – The streaky Morse has started to hit again and now has hits in 13/16 games. Jorge De La Rosa has struggled both on the road and VS RHB his entire career. Morse has immense power and big game upside, making him a great GPP value play at 1B tonight.

Other First Basemen I like – Albert Pujols, Carlos Santana, Billy Butler

SECOND BASE

Brian Dozier & Anthony Rendon – If you are looking for a sneaky contrarian GPP play tonight, both Rendon and Dozier are solid options. Dozier and Rendon are dual threats and smash LHP. Their opponents are not easy to hit, but both offer great upside and will be under-owned.

Omar Infante – Infante has shown us he can come up with a big game from time to time. Ricky Nolasco has been awful this year (5.96 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) and Infante makes a solid punt play at 2B tonight.

Other Second Basemen I like – Dustin Pedroia, Howie Kendrick, Emilio Bonifacio

THIRD BASE

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Kyle Seager – Seager has a great match-up at home VS Nick Martinez tonight. LHB have hit Martinez hard this year (.302 BAA) and Seager does the majority of his damage VS RHP (17/19 HR VS RHP) at home (.330 BA, .401 OBP).

Todd Frazier – Frazier is coming off a solid game Sunday and is in a great spot VS Travis Wood tonight. Wood has struggled VS RHB allowing a .296 BAA, .385 OBP and 12 homeruns. Frazier has a nice combination of power (22 HR) and speed (17 SB), and has had success VS Wood (6/20, .375 OBP with 2 HR & 6 RBI) in a decent sample size.

Other Third Basemen I like – Mike Moustakas, Pedro Alvarez, David Freese

SHORTSTOP

Zach Walters – When looking for a punt SS for a tournament play, you want a guy who can homer. Walters does not make a lot of contact, but when he does they leave the yard. Walters has been very good VS LHP and has the power you are looking for in a GPP punt play.

Alcides Escobar – The idea with Escobar is the opposite of a guy like Walters. Escobar needs to get on base (.310 OBP), steal (24 SB) and score runs (58 runs) to be effective tonight. Escobar has hit Nolasco well (7/14 with 3 XBHs) and is another solid punt option at SS tonight.

Other Shortstops I like – Ian Desmond

OUTFIELDERS

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Jose Bautista – Bautista has not been all that productive of late and his price has dropped accordingly. Joey Bats has as much upside as any player in baseball though, and he is in a great spot to go off tonight.

Josh Hamilton – With Eovaldi’s struggles VS lefties (.302 BAA, .337 OBPA) all the Angels LHB are in play tonight. Hamilton has a moderate price and massive upside.

Ryan Ludwick – Ludwick has big time power and has traditionally hit LHP very well. He is extremely cheap across the industry and with Wood’s struggles VS RHB, he could be in for a big game tonight.

Other Outfielders I like – Giancarlo Stanton, Chris Carter, Colby Rasmus, Wil Myers, Avisail Garcia, Alex Rios, Dayan Viciedo

About the Author

pepsi7
Chris Lowery (pepsi7)

Chris Lowery aka Pepsi7 has a long of history of proven success in fantasy sports getting his start in season long leagues where he won many high stakes expert leagues across baseball, football, and hockey. He made the jump to DFS in 2012 and dominated MLB in 2013 in a huge way by winning the FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Championship for a six-figure payday. The RotoGrinders Director of NHL content, Pepsi7 can frequently be found on RotoGrinders GrindersLive shows, videos, and written articles providing expert insight for hockey and baseball.