MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, June 23rd
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 PITCHERS
Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals – Martinez has become one of the best pitchers in the game at the young age of 23. Since May 15th, Martinez has allowed just six earned runs (in seven starts), while striking out 50 batters in 45.1 innings pitched. The Miami Marlins are a team we can exploit, with a lousy .292 wOBA and a 20.6 strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. Don’t be surprised to see Martinez with the most fantasy points on the night.
Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians – Salazar can be boom or bust at times, but in our GPPs, we are all about the boom potential. Salazar has an elite K rate (11.2 K/9) and he has already shut down the Tigers bats twice this season (4/24 – 7 IP, 1 ER, 11 Ks & 6/12 – 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 Ks). Even with all their firepower, Detroit is only an average offense on the road versus right-handed pitching this season. With so many great pitching options available, I think Salazar will fly under the radar in tournament play tonight.
Other Pitchers to Target – Michael Fiers, CC Sabathia, C.J. Wilson, Jeff Samardzija
CATCHER
Stephen Vogt, Oakland A’s – Vogt is riding a modest five-game hitting streak and he continues to assault right-handed pitching (.296 BA, .400 OBP with 7 2B, 12 HR and 37 RBIs) this season. During this five-game streak, Vogt has hit the ball with authority, generating three doubles, a homer and five runs batted in. Chi Chi Gonzalez has been extremely lucky in 2015 and I expect the regression to start tonight. Vogt has more upside than any other catcher in baseball when he is facing a righty.
Brian McCann, New York Yankees – McCann is a tough guy to fade when he is hitting at Yankee Stadium (.340 BA, .418 OBP) versus a right-handed pitcher (.308 wOBA with 9 HR and 35 RBIs). McCann has homered in back-to-back games and could make it three in a row tonight against Phillies starter Sean O’Sullivan. Lefties have hammered O’Sullivan this year (.330 BAA) and I expect more of the same tonight.
Other Catchers to Target – Buster Posey, Derek Norris, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Ruiz
FIRST BASE
If you can afford Paul Goldschmidt, he is my top option at first base. However, at his price across the industry, he will be very difficult to squeeze on to your roster.
Mark Reynolds, St. Louis Cardinals – Reynolds has very quietly put together a nice hot streak, with hits in six of his last seven contests. In typical Mark Reynolds fashion, all of his hits recently are going for extra bases (3 doubles and two home runs). Right-handed batters are having their way with Marlins youngster Jose Urena (.323 BAA), making a Reynolds a solid boom-or-bust option at first base tonight.
Adam LaRoche, Chicago White Sox – I’m not sure what is going on with LaRoche, but he is definitely a much better hitter than he has shown us in 2015. He has had a very productive career against righties and I expect him to break out in a big way tonight. Mike Pelfrey is a Gas Can and LaRoche has absolutely owned him over the years (11-16, .688 BA, .782 OBP with 3 XBHs and 7 RBI).
Other First Basemen to Target – Prince Fielder, Chris Davis, Ben Paulsen, Pedro Alvarez
SECOND BASE
Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks – Despite playing in Coors Field tonight, Hill’s price remains quite reasonable on most sites. Hill is not having a great offensive season by any means, but we are only worried about his production tonight, and the upside is definitely there in this matchup. Like most players, Hill has always enjoyed hitting in Colorado and he has had plenty of success against whipping boy Kyle Kendrick (.571 BA in 14 ABs).
Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners – Cano has started to heat up with eight hits in his last seven games, including two doubles and a homer. Left-handed hitters continue to give Jeremy Guthrie fits (.325 BAA with 9 HR allowed) and with Cano’s inexpensive price across the industry, he makes a terrific play in any format this evening.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Jose Altuve, Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Paredes, Stephen Drew
THIRD BASE
Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers – New York Mets lefty Jonathon Niese has really struggled versus right-handed batters and despite his lousy overall numbers this season, Ramirez has a .402 wOBA against southpaws. Aramis has announced that 2015 will be his last year in the big leagues and he is no longer the hitter he once was. However, I still think he has a few big games left in that bat of his. Ramirez has home run upside in this matchup and he should be highly under-owned in tournament play.
Chase Headley, New York Yankees – Headley has hits in 15 of his last 18 games, and the runs continue to pile up with him now batting in the two-spot in the order. Sean O’Sullivan is one of a few pitchers that I plan to target against heavily tonight, especially with the Yankees left-handed batters. Headley makes a great value play at the hot corner tonight.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Anthony Rendon, Todd Frazier, Pablo Sandoval, Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies – If you can afford to pay up at shortstop, Tulowitzki is the obvious choice. Tulo slowed down a little in May (.262 BA), but he is rolling again in June (.368 BA) and he now has base knocks in six straight games including three multi-hit performances. Chase Anderson is a reverse splits pitcher and Tulowitzki has a .367 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
JJ Hardy, Baltimore Orioles – Hardy is hitting the ball well these days, with hits in 12 of his last 14 games. Hardy is now batting .311 in June and he has put together four multi-hit hit efforts in his last six contests. Hardy and the Baltimore Orioles will square off against the hittable Joe Kelly in Fenway Park this evening, which makes J.J. a very appealing value play at this thin position.
Other Shortstops to Target – Jhonny Peralta, Ian Desmond, Jung-Ho Kang, Brandon Crawford
OUTFIELDERS
Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies – Blackmon has been tearing the cover off the ball recently, with four multi-hit games in his last five contests. During those five games, Blackmon has compiled three doubles, a triple, homer, eight runs batted in and two stolen bases. Blackmon can do it all at the plate and I expect him to inflict some damage on Chase Anderson in this game.
Billy Burns, Oakland A’s – Billy Burns is simply on fire. Burns has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games, including six of the multi-hit variety. I mentioned earlier that Chi Chi Gonzalez is due to regress and Burns will benefit from that tonight in Arlington. Look for Burns to extend his hitting streak with another multi-hit/run/steal performance.
In order to roster an ace or two and load up at Coors Field we are going to need to find some serious value. Guthrie has troubles retiring lefties and Seth Smith has home run upside. Melky Cabrera lacks home run upside, but he can still have a productive game versus Mike Pelfrey. Matt Joyce has big game upside in his bat and he is 3-7 off of McHugh with three doubles. Angel Pagan contributes across the board offensively and Odrisamer Despaigne is not a pitcher to fear.
Other Outfielders to Target – Coors Field, Justin Upton, Andre Ethier, Marlon Byrd, Adam Eaton, Travis Snider