MLB Daily Plays Aug 27
MLB Daily Plays!
We only have two afternoon games today, but a solid late slate with 13 games and that is what we are focusing on this evening. The pitcher options are extremely good tonight with aces Clayton Kershaw, David Price and Corey Kluber on the hill. Not to mention some solid GPP options as well in Julio Teheran, Zack Wheeler, Mat Latos and Yovani Gallardo. With all the strong pitching on the board, value hitters will be the key to winning money tonight. Because I assume most of you will use a Kershaw or a Price as your starting pitcher, I have tried to give you as many value hitter options as possible.
Now let’s get the MLB Daily Plays!
STARTING PITCHERS
Clayton Kershaw – Kershaw is simply the best pitcher in baseball and he has been incredible in his last 17 starts (1.37 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, .174 BAA, 10.7 K/9). The D-Backs were the last team to knock him around and I expect him to rebound against them with another outstanding performance tonight. He will cost you a pretty penny, but he rarely disappoints.
David Price – It isn’t often Price takes a back seat to anyone, but he will play second fiddle to Kershaw tonight. Price has been sensational since the beginning of June (2.08 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .195 BAA, 10.1 K/9) and has already dominated the Yankees three times this season.
Other Pitchers I like – Corey Kluber, Julio Teheran, Mat Latos, Zack Wheeler
CATCHER
Buster Posey – Posey had a monster game last night (2 homers) and now has hits in 6 straight games, including 4 multi-hit games. During that 6 game stretch, Buster has found his power stroke with 3 doubles and 4 homeruns. Posey will face another bad LHP in Franklin Morales tonight and is easily the top dog at C this evening.
Devin Mesoraco – Sure he is ice cold (1 hit in last 10 games played), but he is not going to slump forever. We get him at a discount tonight and he has a terrific match-up VS Jacob Turner (.347 BAA VS RHB). The time is right to jump on him now.
Other Catchers I like – Victor Martinez, Stephen Vogt, Wilson Ramos, Dioner Navarro
FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman – Freeman has been hot in the month of August, hitting .341 with a .456 OBP. Zack Wheeler has turned the corner since the beginning of June, but good LHB are still his kryptonite. Freeman has crushed RHP throughout his career and has solid career numbers VS Wheeler, albeit a small sample size (6/11, .545 BA with a double and a homer).
Adam Lind – Lind had another solid game last night (2/4 with 2 doubles and a walk) and continues to rake at home (.323 BA, .391 OBP) and VS RHP this season (.360 BA, .421 OBP). Lind has another great match-up tonight VS RHP Joe Kelly and as my good friend Dean78904 would say, Lind is on sale.
Other First Basemen I like – Steve Pearce, Brandon Moss, Billy Butler, Joe Mauer, Mike Morse
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve – Altuve VS a LHP is pretty much money in the back. Altuve is destroying LHP this season with an insane .425 BA and .451 OBP. Altuve continues to lead the AL in BA, hits and stolen bases, making him a great play as your 2B tonight.
Brandon Phillips – Because most of us will roster one of Kershaw or Price this evening we will need to find value throughout our lineup. Jacob Turner is not a good pitcher (5.77 ERA, 1.60 OBP) and he has been hit hard by RHB this season (.347 BAA). Phillips will hit in the middle of a solid Reds lineup and should be in for a productive night.
Other Second Basemen I like – Ben Zobrist, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Baker, Jose Ramirez
THIRD BASE
Todd Frazier – Yep, we are still picking on Jacob Turner. Frazier has a great combination of power (22 HR) and speed (17 SB), and is still moderately priced across the industry.
Lonnie Chisenhall – Chisenhall has 5 hits in his last 3 games, and is starting to look much more comfortable at the plate. He has a superb match-up tonight VS the very hittable Hector Noesi (4.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP). Chisenhall has raked VS RHP this season (.346 OBP with 10 homeruns) and has a depressed price across the industry.
Other Third Basemen I like – Pablo Sandoval, Casey McGehee, Mike Moustakas, Matt Dominguez
SHORTSTOP
Jose Reyes – Same old story for Jose Reyes. He had another multi-hit game last night and continues to lead the Blue Jays attack on a nightly basis. Reyes contributes across the board offensively and should rip off a couple of more hits tonight VS Joe Kelly.
Zach Walters – I continue to write about Walters and use him in my lineups with great success. Walters is not going to hit for a high BA this season, but he does have 5 homers in his last 10 games. He is certainly better suited for your GPP lineup, but on a night where we need to find value, I don’t mind him in your cash game lineup as well. He will be in a hitter’s park facing one of the weakest pitchers on the board tonight in Hector Noesi.
Other Shortstops I like – Hanley Ramirez, Ian Desmond, Danny Santana, J.J. Hardy, Asdrubal Cabrera, Alcides Escobar
OUTFIELDERS
Melky Cabrera – The “Melk Man” delivered another 2 hit performance last night and has been a multi-hit machine all season long. With RHP Joe Kelly on the mound I expect another big game from Cabrera tonight.
Yasiel Puig – Even though he did not get a hit last night, Puig still had a productive night with 2 walks and a stolen base. Puig is too good to struggle for much longer and will soon explode. His price on FD specifically is ridiculously cheap and I think he breaks out tonight VS Miley.
Scott Van Slyke – All Van Slyke does is mash LHP. Van Slyke gets a nice park boost hitting in Chase Field and has hit Wade Miley hard in a small sample size (7/16 with 3 doubles and 4 homers). Everything SVS hits seems to go for extra bases, making him a tremendous value play in your OF tonight.
Other Outfielders I like – Michael Brantley, Jose Bautista, Hunter Pence, Billy Hamilton, Melky Cabrera, Bryce Harper, Angel Pagan, Jay Bruce, Denard Span, Josh Reddick, Ryan Ludwick, Oswaldo Arcia