MLB GPP Plays: Friday, June 5th
GPPs are very different from your cash games and you use a different strategy with them. In our GPPs we are not interested in safe plays, GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, all-or-nothing type players can become GPP gold, and your value players are just as important as your star players. You need your players to have huge nights in order to take down these big tournaments.
My goal is to provide players who will be under-owned and/or have that big game upside you are looking for. I will also try to find as much value as I possibly can. Now, let’s get to the MLB GPP Plays!
STARTING PITCHERS
Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals – It is a tough night for starting pitching, but there is plenty of upside available and that is what we are after in our GPPs. Carlos Martinez has looked great in each of his last four starts, which includes 21 consecutive scoreless innings. When Martinez is dealing he can be downright filthy and he has double-digit strikeout potential. The Los Angeles Dodgers are not an easy opponent by any means, but if Martinez has everything working, he can dominate any offense.
Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays – Odorizzi is having another solid season for the Rays (2.61 ERA, 1.01 ERA, .216 OPP BA), and he has pitched six or more innings in all 11 starts this season. Odorizzi’s strikeouts are down this year, but his swinging strike rate is higher than it was in 2014 so we should soon see a rise in punch-outs for him. Odorizzi was outstanding in his last start versus the Seattle Mariners (7 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks) and I think we see a similar stat line from him this evening.
Other Pitchers to Target – Tyson Ross, Shaun Marcum, Kyle Gibson
CATCHER
Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants – If you are able or willing to pay up for a catcher tonight, make that choice Buster Posey. Philadelphia Phillies starter Jerome Williams is a very hittable pitcher (5.49 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) and a “Gas Can of the Night” nominee each and every time he toes the rubber. Posey has a nice park boost this evening and massive upside in this match-up.
Jason Castro, Houston Astros – If you cannot afford Buster Posey, there are a few decent punt options in play Friday night, with Jason Castro being one of my favorites. Aaron Sanchez has pitched well for the Blue Jays recently, but lefties are still giving him fits (.321 BAA, .441 OBP). Castro has home run upside and provides great value tonight.
Other Catchers to Target – Salvador Perez, Dioner Navarro, Rene Rivera, Tyler Flowers
FIRST BASE
Lucas Duda, New York Mets – With the New York Mets in Arizona, Duda and company get a nice park boost playing in Chase Field. Diamondbacks starter Jeremy “Hell Boy” Hellickson has really struggled in 2015 (5.08 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) and left-handed batters, in particular, have destroyed him (.348 BAA, .417 OBPA). Duda is generally under-owned in tournament play and he has multi-homer upside in this match-up.
Justin Bour, Miami Marlins – Since being called up from New Orleans, Justin Bour has raked against right-handed pitching, sporting a .348 batting average with three doubles and five home runs in just 66 at-bats versus righties. Colorado Rockies starter Eddie Butler has been hit hard in home games this season (5.02 ERA, .345 BAA) and left handed batters are doing most of the damage (.333 BA, .439 OBP ). The 6’4 250lb Virginia native has big potential in Coors Field tonight.
Other First Basemen to Target – Jose Abreu, Ben Paulsen, Adam Lind, Kendrys Morales
SECOND BASE
Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins- Gordon struggled in the middle of May for a short stretch, but has since turned things around. Gordon has base knocks in 11 of his last 12 games, including five of the multi-hit variety. During this stretch, Gordon showed off his speed upside, stealing eight bases and scoring eight runs. Look for Gordon to keep doing more of the same tonight, finding ways on base, stealing bases and scoring.
Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox – With eight hits in his last four games, it is safe to say Pedroia is seeing the ball well right now. Pedroia is not just hitting for average either, his power has returned in 2015 (9 doubles and 8 homers). He has always hit left-handed pitching well and he has smashed Scott Kazmir in his career (19-40, .475 BA with 8 extra base hits and 10 walks).
Other Second Basemen to Target – Neil Walker, Joe Panik, Logan Forsythe, Stephen Drew
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies – This may seem like an obvious play, but Arenado seems to be left out in the cold more often that not when fantasy owners roster Rockies. Perhaps it’s because he is pricey and he does not get the same notoriety as his teammates, but Arenado should be higher owned in tournament play than he has been. In his last 11 contests, Arenado has produced fantastic numbers, including 17 hits, 6 home runs and a whopping 18 runs batted in. Don’t sleep on Arenado when you are looking for exposure to Coors.
*Brett Lawrie, Oakland A’s – Lawrie is swinging a hot stick with four multi-hit efforts in his last five contests. Boston Red Sox starter Wade Miley has been hit hard this season and righties have done most of the damage. Lawrie is hot and gets a nice fantasy boost playing in Fenway Park this evening. At his price across the industry, Lawrie makes a tremendous value play.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Martin Prado, Yasmany Tomas, Mike Moustakas
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies – I would not being doing my job if I did not mention that Troy Tulowitzki is the top dog at Shortstop tonight or any night he is playing at home. Tulo has been scorching hot in his last five games, generating 10 hits, four homers and 10 RBIs. If you can afford him, he has as much upside as any player period.
Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays – Leading off for a potent Blue Jays offense, playing in an extreme hitter-friendly environment, facing an average pitcher at best, all this certainly makes Jose Reyes a viable option. Reyes is in a great spot to have a multi-hit/run/steal game at the Rogers center tonight.
Other Shortstops to Target – Ian Desmond, Brandon Crawford, Alexei Ramirez
OUTFIELDERS
Editor’s Note: Hunter Pence is still dealing with an injury and will not play.
Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants – We definitely want to get plenty of exposure to the Giants bats in Citizens Bank Park this evening. Jerome Williams is the worst pitcher on the board tonight and I love all the Giants bats in this game. Pence has big game upside in this matchup.
Michael Cuddyer, New York Mets – Cuddyer has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball of late, racking up hits in 15 of his last 17 games. He is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak, where he has produced five runs, three doubles, two home runs and six runs batted in. Look for another big game from Cuddyer tonight against Hellickson.
Joey Butler, Tampa Bay Rays – All Joey Butler does is hit. Butler has now hit safely in six consecutive games, including four multi-hit performances. In those six games, Butler has generated 12 hits, two doubles and two homers. Butler is hitting .361 against southpaws and Seattle Mariners lefty J.A. Happ can be exposed by right handed hitters.
Chris Colabello, Toronto Blue Jays – Speaking of guys that just simply hit, Colabello is riding a very impressive 14-game hitting streak. Colabello and the Blue Jays are back home in the Rogers Centre tonight facing a very hittable Roberto Hernandez. Colabello’s price across many sites remains too low and we should be taking advantage of that.
Other Outfielders to Target – Coors Field, Yoenis Cespedes, Avasail Garcia, Travis Snider, Chris Coghlan, Will Venable