MLB H2H VS GPP Plays Aug 19
MLB Picks for 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head VS GPPs
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
Max Scherzer – Scherzer has been outstanding in his last 10 starts (1.78 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, .207 BAA, 10.8 K/9) and will face a Rays team that he has dominated over his career (2.56 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, .151 BAA, 9.1 K/9). Mad Max will go deep into the game (7+ IP in 8/9 games) and get plenty of punch-outs along the way. Scherzer won’t come cheap, but he is your safest bet for cash games.
Stephen Strasburg – There are 3 things you can count on in life – death, taxes and Strasburg at home. Strasburg can be a frustrating pitcher to roster, but he has been a beast in Nationals Park all season (2.41 ERA, 112 Ks 86 IP). The D-Backs have really struggled of late, hitting just .189 with 82 strikeouts in their last 10 road games. If you don’t want to pay up for Scherzer, I think Strasburg makes a great 2nd option tonight.
Other Pitchers I like – Hisashi Iwakuma, Scott Kazmir, Jered Weaver
CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy – Lucroy has been as consistent as any C this season (.303 BA, 13 HR 58 RBI) and has a nice match-up VS LHP J.A Happ tonight. Lucroy has mashed LHP throughout his career and Happ has traditionally struggled VS RHB.
John Jaso & Stephen Vogt – The Oakland A’s will face RHP Dillon Gee tonight which means both Jaso and Vogt are great cash game options. Not only do they both rake VS RHP, but they are also very reasonably priced across the industry.
Other Catchers I like – Buster Posey, Devin Mesoraco, Salvador Perez
FIRST BASE
Jose Abreu -Abreu has been extremely consistent this season and he doesn’t seem to care whether he is hitting at home, on the road or the handedness of the opposing pitcher. Abreu has hit for average and power, making him a great play in your cash games.
Matt Adams – It is hard not to recommend Adams each and every time he faces a RHP. Adams has crushed RHP this year (.335 BA) and has a low-moderate price across the industry. Adams is also hot right now, with 4 multi-hit games in his past 5.
Other First Basemen I like – Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Anthony Rizzo, Billy Butler
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve – Altuve has been so ridiculously good VS LHP (.424 BAA) that it is not wise to fade him in your cash games. Altuve is coming off a 4 hit game and simply puts up positive points on a nightly basis.
Robinson Cano – Cano has been money in the bank all season VS RHP (.354 BAA, .422 OBP) and like Altuve, seems to produce on a nightly basis. Cano and Altuve are the cream of the crop at 2B and I suggest you get one of them into your lineup tonight.
Other Second Basemen I like – Dee Gordon, Jason Kipnis, Kolten Wong
THIRD BASE
Aramis Ramirez – Ramirez is rolling at the plate with 10 multi-hit games in his past 16. Aramis is killing LHP this season (.338 BA, .395 OBP, 1.018 OPS) and should be in line for a productive night VS J.A. Happ.
Matt Carpenter – Carpenter continues to get on base and score runs for the Cardinals. Carpenter is on base machine (Career .380 OBP) and is always a safe play VS RHP in your cash games.
Other Third Basemen I like –Adrian Beltre, David Wright
SHORTSTOP
Jose Reyes – Reyes is on an absolute tear right now with hits in 9 straight games, including 5 multi-hit games. Reyes has beat up on RHP all year long and despite Mike Fiers’ success, I expect Reyes to stay hot tonight.
Ian Desmond – Like Reyes, Desmond is a dual threat and contributes across the board offensively. Chase Anderson has reverse splits and has been hit hard by RHB this season (.312 BAA).
Other Shortstops I like – Starlin Castro, Alexei Ramirez, Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELDERS
Michael Brantley – Brantley has murdered RHP this season (.351 BA, .401 OBP) and is hitting .339 in August. Kyle Gibson is giving up a .330 OBP to LHB and that means we can expect another solid game from Brantley tonight.
Christian Yelich -Yelich is swinging a hot stick with hits in 8/9 games, including 5 multi-hit games. Miles Mikolas has been awful this season, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Yelich contributes to all offensive categories and should have no problem hitting Mikolas tonight.
Melky Cabrera – The “Melk Man” just keeps on raking and has been a multi-hit machine for the Blue Jays this season. Melky has a .373 OBP VS RHP and an incredible .426 OBP in August. Cabrera has been as steady as they come and makes a superb cash game play tonight.
Other Outfielders I like – Ryan Braun, Mike Trout, Hunter Pence, Kole Calhoun, Alex Gordon, Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer
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
Hisashi Iwakuma – Iwakuma can also be used in cash games, but I prefer him as a GPP only play tonight. First off, I like Scherzer and Strasburg better, but also because he is in a National League Park (the band box known as Citizens Bank Park) and I worry about him getting pinch hit for at some point. Iwakuma rarely goes over 100 pitches and in a tight game, I can see him getting pulled early. That being said, Iwakuma has been terrific since the beginning of June (1.83 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, .208 BAA, 7.6 K/9), and the Phillies are not an imposing offense.
Francisco Liriano – Liriano has really turned it on in his last 5 starts (2.18 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, .164 BAA, 9.3 K/9) and gets to face a Braves team that has struck out the 3rd most in the NL at 23.8% VS LHP. The Braves had lost 8 straight games on the road until last night’s victory while striking out 75 times. F-Lir has huge upside in this match-up and makes a tremendous GPP play tonight.
Other Pitchers I like – Ian Kennedy, Mike Fiers, Chris Capuano
CATCHER
Wilson Ramos – Ramos has been hot at the dish with 5 multi-hit games in his past 10. During those 10 games, Ramos has hit for power as well, with 2 doubles and 3 homers. Ramos has big game upside and a very nice price.
Eric Kratz – Kratz is fresh off a multi-homer game last night and finds himself in a great spot to produce tonight. Assuming Perez is still out, Kratz makes a great punt play at C this evening.
Other Catchers I like – Devin Mesoraco, Wilin Rosario, Brian McCann
FIRST BASE
Justin Morneau – James Shields is not a pitcher that I tend to pick on, but LHB have hit him well at times this season (.280 BAA, .329 OBPA) and Coors Field is a very tough place to pitch. Morneau has destroyed the ball VS RHP (.351 BA) and at home (.356 OBP) all year long.
Brandon Moss – Moss at home VS a RHP? Sign me up. Moss has certainly cooled off, but he can explode at any time and makes a great GPP play tonight.
Other First Basemen I like – Mark Teixeira, Adam Lind, Mark Reynolds, Mike Morse
SECOND BASE
Rickie Weeks – I expect Weeks to get the start tonight VS LHP J.A Happ. Weeks not only hits LHP well, but has hammered Happ in his career (8/17 .471 BA, with 3 doubles and 2 homers). Weeks has monster upside in this match-up and it will not cost you much to roster him.
Omar Infante – Infante is extremely cheap across the industry and should be batting in the 2 hole VS Tyler Matzek tonight. Matzek has been pounded by RHB this season (.309 BAA, .373 OBPA) and I think you can get a solid game from Infante, making him a nice GPP value play.
Other Second Basemen I like – Neil Walker, Howie Kendrick, Jedd Gyorko
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado – The match-up may not be ideal, but these Rockies are always dangerous at home. Arenado has 6 hits in his last 3 games and it looks like he is starting to groove at the plate again.
Matt Dominguez – Dominguez hasn’t hit much for average, but his power is legit and he has started to blossom into a lefty killer. He is inexpensive tonight, and facing a LHP in Yankee Stadium is a great spot to be in.
Other Third Basemen I like – Josh Donaldson, Kyle Seager, Carlos Santana
SHORTSTOP
Alexei Ramirez – Ramirez has a nice combination of power (25 doubles, 11 homers) and speed (18 SB) and has hit Tillman hard in a small sample size (4/6 .750 OBP with a homer).
Alcides Escobar – Escobar is another nice value play from the Kansas City Royals. With Matzek’s issues VS RHB (.309 BAA) I think all the Royals righties are in play tonight in Coors Field. Escobar lacks power, but he can steal bases and has hit LHP very well this season (.313 BA).
Other Shortstops I like – Erick Aybar, Josh Rutledge, Jean Segura
OUTFIELDERS
Corey Dickerson – What does this guy have to do to get the respect he deserves? Dickerson is on fire with hits in 12 straight games and has blasted RHP this season (.329 BA, .383 OBP with 14 homers). Dickerson has been even better when hitting in Coors Field (.371 BAA, .424 OBP) and makes a fantastic GPP play tonight.
Josh Willingham – Willingham has started to come alive as a Royal and has 5 hits in his last 2 games. Willingham possesses immense power and is capable of a massive game in this match-up tonight.
Khris Davis – Davis is a notorious lefty killer and he should be licking his chops at the juicy match-up he has tonight. Davis has multi-homer upside and it won’t cost you much to own him tonight.
Other Outfielders I like – All Royals and Rockies, Chris Carter, Billy Hamilton, Josh Reddick, Jay Bruce, Oswaldo Arcia, Alejandro De Aza, Will Venable