MLB H2H VS GPP Plays Aug 15
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
Corey Kluber – Kluber continues to dominate and has allowed 1 or less runs in 7 of his past 9 starts. During this 9 game stretch, Kluber has put up sensational numbers (1.19 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, .183 BAA, 9.7 K/9). The match-up is not ideal, but Kluber shut down the Orioles the last time he faced them with 7 shutout innings along with 9 punch-outs.
Cole Hamels – Hamels has been incredible since the beginning of June (1.44 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .210 BAA, 9 K/9) and will face a struggling Giants team in a pitcher’s park tonight. Hamels is rolling right now and the Giants are not (57 Ks and 0 homers in their last 6 games), so look for another dominant performance from Hamels this evening.
Other Pitchers I like – Zack Greinke, Madison Bumgarner, Garrett Richards
CATCHER
Devin Mesoraco – If you are confused by this pick, you probably shouldn’t be playing DFB. Mesoraco is the best hitting catcher in baseball, facing a bad LHP in Coors Field. Fade him at your own risk.
Yan Gomes – Gomes may not be a household name, but he has become a very good hitting catcher. Gomes has hits in 16/17 games and has mashed LHP all season long (.346 BA).
Other Catchers I like – Victor Martinez, Jonathan Lucroy, Derek Norris
FIRST BASE
Miguel Cabrera – This is the first season in a long time you could debate whether Cabrera is the best hitter in baseball or not. That being said, he is still an absolute stud and a great cash game play on a nightly basis. With a lot of value pitchers on the board tonight, I think you should pay up for Miggy.
Freddie Freeman – Freeman has been hot of late with hits in 7/8 games, including 5 multi-hit games. Freeman is known for killing RHP in Turner Field and should have a solid night VS Jason Hammel.
Other First Basemen I like – Jose Abreu, Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano – Cano is absolutely wearing out RHP this season (.354 BA. .423 OBP) and is a multi-hit machine. He has a career .450 OBP VS Rick Porcello and he is as automatic as they come at 2B.
Jose Altuve – Altuve continues to lead the league in BA, hits and SBs. He has hits in 5 straight games, including 3 of the multi-hit variety. He will cost you a pretty penny, but he is pretty much money in the bank.
Other Second Basemen I like – Ben Zobrist, Dee Gordon, Ian Kinsler, Anthony Rendon
THIRD BASE
Todd Frazier – His price is fairly reasonable considering his impressive combination of power (20 HR) and speed (17 SB). Franklin Morales has struggled with RHB throughout his career and that trend has continued this year (.309 BAA, 16 homers allowed). This match-up will be tough to pass on in your cash games.
David Wright – Wright has finally started to heat up and now has hits in 11 straight games. Despite his struggles this season, Wright is still destroying LHP (.393 BA, .436 OBP). Travis Wood has been hit hard all season long and RHB have done most of the damage (.293 BA, .384 OBP). Wright’s salary has come way down and he makes a tremendous value play in your cash games.
Other Third Basemen I like – Josh Donaldson, Adrian Beltre, Evan Longoria
SHORTSTOP
Jose Reyes – Reyes has 6 multi-hit games in his last 11 and is hitting .367 in the month of August. Reyes contributes across the board offensively and should have no problem ripping off a couple of hits tonight VS Hector Noesi.
Other Shortstops I like – Ian Desmond, Elvis Andrus, Erick Aybar
OUTFIELDERS
Mike Trout, Kole Calhoun & Josh Hamilton – All three of Angels outfielders make great cash games plays VS RHP Nick Martinez tonight. Martinez has a 7.86 ERA at home and has been hit hard by both LHB (.299 BA, .395 OBP) and RHB (.298 BA, .353 OBP) this season. The Angels will be a popular stack tonight and for good reason.
Melky Cabrera – Cabrera has raked VS RHP all season (.321 BA, .372 OBP) and has 5 multi-hit games in his past 10. The “Melk Man” has delivered all season long for the Blue Jays and should have yet another multi-hit game tonight VS Hector Noesi.
Billy Hamilton – I had to get someone in here from Coors Field. As usual this game features the highest over/under of the night even with Johnny Cueto chucking. The Reds will certainly put up some runs tonight and Hamilton should reach base and create havoc on the base paths.
Other Outfielders I like – Jose Bautista, Yasiel Puig, Chris Carter, Jacoby Ellsbury, Christian Yelich, Jason Heyward, Denard Span, Alex Gordon
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
Zack Wheeler – Everything is in Wheeler’s favor to have a big GPP game tonight. He is moderately priced and at home to face a weak hitting Cubs team that struck out 16 times yesterday VS Milwaukee. The Cubs are batting a lousy .230 VS RHP (2nd last in the NL) and strike out the 2nd most in the NL at a 22.1 % clip. Wheeler has been very good since the beginning of July and has great upside in this match-up.
Marcus Stroman – Stroman has pitched extremely well since becoming a full time starter and has a nice GPP match-up tonight VS the K happy White Sox. Stroman has impressive numbers in his past 9 starts (2.47 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, .184 BAA, 7.6 K/9 ) and the White Sox strike out the 2nd most (21.9%)VS RHP in the AL. Stroman can dial up the Ks and the Blue Jays should get him some run support VS Hector Noesi.
Other Pitchers I like – Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Tyson Ross, Lance Lynn, Danny Duffy, Tanner Roark
CATCHER
Buster Posey – Looking for a catcher that can go off and won’t be highly owned? Posey is your man. It does not look good on paper but Posey has crushed LHP throughout his career and has smacked Hamels around (8/14 .571 BA, .600 OBP with 4 doubles and a homer) in a decent sample size.
Jason Castro – Castro has the HR upside you look for in a value GPP play. Clay Buchholz has been bad all year (5.99 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) and awful in Fenway Park (7.66 ERA). Buchholz is allowing LHB to hit .300 off of him, putting Castro in a great spot to produce tonight.
Other Catchers I like – Evan Gattis, Wilin Rosario, Salvador Perez, Dioner Navarro
FIRST BASE
Carlos Santana – Santana has been hit or miss all season, but in your GPPs you are not looking for consistency. In a GPP you want a guy who can simply go off, and Santana has had some monster games this season. Santana is a notorious lefty killer and could possibly double dong VS Chen tonight.
Adam LaRoche – When picking a GPP play at 1B, you want HR upside. LaRoche has beat up on RHP this season (.295 BA, .401 OBP with 14 bombs) and is certainly capable of a multi-homer night. LaRoche homered last night and has hit Charlie Morton very well in a small sample size (3/5 with a homer and 4 RBI).
Other First Basemen I like – Edwin Encarnacion, Anthony Rizzo, Adam Lind, Justin Morneau
SECOND BASE
Dustin Pedroia – Pedroia has started to come alive of late with hits in 10/12 games, including an impressive 7 multi-hit games. Pedroia has always hit well at home VS LHP and is in a very god spot tonight.
Omar Infante – Infante has 5 multi-hit games in past 11 and has been at his best this season when facing a RHP on the road. Ricky Nolasco has been terrible this year and Infante has hit him well in his career (.353 BA in 17 AB). If you are looking for a solid punt option at 2B tonight, look no further.
Other Second Basemen I like – Scooter Gennett, Jason Kipnis, Howie Kendrick, Aaron Hill
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado – Sometimes you need to make contrarian plays in your GPP to take down the big prize. Arenado has big game upside and with Cueto on the mound, most will fade Arenado and the Rockies tonight. He is a sneaky GPP play and it could pay off huge.
Mike Moustakas – He’s cheap, he can homer and he is facing a terrible pitcher in Ricky Nolasco tonight. Sometimes it is that simple.
Other Third Basemen I like – Kyle Seager, Juan Francisco, David Freese
SHORTSTOP
Alcides Escobar – With SS being a very thin position tonight, I think it is a good spot to save some money. Escobar in the right match-up can easily pay off his cheap salary. While he is unlikely to homer, he can certainly help you in hits, runs and SBs. Escobar has a .545 OBP VS Nolasco in 11 career at-bats and makes a solid value play at SS.
Zack Walters – SS is a position I have no issues punted from time to time in my GPPs. Zack Walters had solid power numbers in the minors and is pretty much at minimum price across the industry.
Other Shortstops I like – Josh Rutledge, Asdrubal Cabrera, Zack Cozart
OUTFIELDERS
Giancarlo Stanton – Stanton had 3 hits last night and now has 3 multi-hit games in his last 5. After a bit of a power slump, Stanton now has 5 homers in his past 8 games. It is all about GPP upside at this price and very few have a higher ceiling than Stanton does.
Bryce Harper – Despite all the “heading to the minors” rumors, Harper has started to turn things around. Harper now has hits in 6/8 games, including 3 homeruns. Charlie Morton had traditionally struggled VS LHB and Harper still has big game upside. Harper is still on sale across the industry and makes a great roll of the dice in your GPPs.
Ryan Ludwick – Ludwick has great power and is your typical “Boom-Or-Bust” option. He is in a great spot tonight VS LHP Franklin Morales in Coors Field. Ludwick has hit LHP very well in his career and has a nice price across the industry.
Other Outfielders I like – Yoenis Cespedes, Corey Dickerson, Nelson Cruz, Justin Upton, Rajai Davis, Carl Crawford, Juan Lagares