MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, July 28th
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, since GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, as 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 PITCHER
David Price, Detroit Tigers – If you are looking to own the highest scoring pitcher this evening, I suggest you pay up for David Price. In what might be his last start as a Detroit Tiger, Price should go out on a high note. The Tampa Bay Rays are not an offense to fear and they strike out at a 22% clip. Price has been dominant in July (1.20 ERA, .218 OPP BA, with 34 Ks in 30 IP) and I expect more of the same tonight at the Trop.
Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets – Syndergaard has been very good in his last seven starts sporting a 2.05 earned run average with a 0.98 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. The San Diego Padres offense is cold and they can strike out with the best of them. The win may be hard to come by for Noah, but he does have double-digit strikeout upside in this matchup.
Other Pitchers to Target – Jose Fernandez, James Shields, Ubaldo Jimenez, Zachary Godley
CATCHER
Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays – I expect the Toronto Blue Jays players to be very popular tonight and for good reason. Philadelphia Phillies lefty Adam Morgan has been smacked around at both the Minor League and Major League levels this year, with right-handed-batters doing some serious damage to his ratios. Martin has thrived versus southpaws in 2015 (.360 wOBA) and I think we see a big night at the plate from him in this one.
Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles – Wieters had three hits last night versus the Atlanta Braves, including an extra inning walk-off homer. Julio Teheran has pitched well recently, but his kryptonite remains left-handed hitters and he has been just awful on the road (6.95 ERA) this season. Wieters is easily the best bang for your buck at catcher.
Other Catchers to Target – Buster Posey, Dioner Navarro, Robinson Chirinos
FIRST BASE
Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers – If you are looking for an under-owned player with massive upside, Fielder fits the bill tonight. A lot of fantasy owners will avoid Prince tonight due to the lefty on lefty matchup, but Fielder hits left-handed pitching extremely well (.344 wOBA, .841 OPS) and he has had success against Chris Capuano in a small sample size (4-11, .364 BA with a double, two homers and five RBIs).
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox – Big Papi is locked in at the plate, producing eight hits in hit last four contests, including two doubles, three bombs and 11 runs batted in. Despite the hot streak, he remains moderately priced across the industry. Ortiz is at his best when facing a righty at home and he makes great high upside play again tonight in your tournaments.
Other First Basemen to Target – Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Teixeira, Brandon Belt
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – If you can afford any second baseman tonight, I would suggest Jose Altuve. The diminutive two-bagger is an absolute beast against southpaws posting a .418 wOBA and a .921 OPS this season. Look for a multi-hit game from Altuve tonight.
Devon Travis, Toronto Blue Jays – Travis is swinging a hot bat (.364 BA in July) and he feasts on left-handed pitching (.921 OPS, .397 wOBA). He may not hit at the top of the order, but don’t let that scare you away from him, he will still see plenty of RBI opportunities with this deep Blue Jays lineup.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Jason Kipnis, Brian Dozier, Kolten Wong
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson and Danny Valencia, Toronto Blue Jays – Both Donaldson (.433 wOBA) and Valencia (.365 wOBA) have blasted left-handed pitching in 2015. Donaldson has more upside, but will also cost you a lot more. On the flip side, Valencia has had some huge games this season and he comes at a relative bargain.
There is a ton of depth at the hot corner tonight, so let’s discuss a few more options. With four home runs in his last two games, and a matchup versus Martin Perez (who struggles against righties), A-Rod will be a tough guy to fade in tournaments. Yohan Flande serves it up to righties and Kris Bryant has big home run potential. Felix Doubront is another southpaw being abused by right-handed hitters and that means Maikel Franco is in for a big game at the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Kyle Seager does his best work at Safeco Field against righties and I love his upside tonight against rookie Zachary Godley.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Matt Carpenter, Aramis Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros – Correa has hits in 10 of his last 11 games and he continues to demolish left-handed pitching in his young career. He has only faced C.J. Wilson three times, but he is three for three off of him with a double, home run and three runs batted in. Correa has a very high ceiling in this game.
Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants – Crawford has base knocks in six consecutive games, including three home runs. Crawford is having a great offensive season for the Giants, especially in the power department with 19 doubles, 15 homers and 61 runs batted in. Wily Peralta has not started a Major League game since May 22 and he has always had issues retiring left-handed batters.
Other Shortstops to Target – Alcides Escobar, Starlin Castro, Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Toronto Blue Jays Outfield – ALL the Blue Jays are in play tonight against the very hittable Adam Morgan. Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) is expensive but he hammers lefties (.422 wOBA) and has double-dong potential. Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar both have multi-hit upside and are a cheap way to get exposure to this explosive offense tonight.
Pittsburgh Pirates Outfield – Mike Pelfrey is a gas can and all three members of the Pirates outfield (Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco) have jack-and-a-bag upside in this game.
Chris Young is a great source of cheap power tonight as he squares off against Martin Perez in a great hitting environment. Assuming the Colorado Rockies don’t trade Carlos Gonzalez prior to game time, I love him and his left-handed hitting teammates (Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson) versus Dallas Beeler. Delino DeShields and Matt Holliday are two guys I really like in GPPs and I expect them to fly under the radar.
Other Outfielders to Target – Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, Brandon Moss, Jorge Soler, Travis Snider, Angel Pagan