MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, June 9th
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, as GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, since 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
Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – If you plan to pay up for an ace tonight, this is your guy. Kluber has been dealing in his last five starts, racking up a ridiculous 59 punch-outs in 40 innings pitched. Kluber has an incredible K rate (11.2 K/9) and he will face a Seattle Mariners team that strikes out at a 24% clip against right-handed pitching. Look for Kluber to dominate in this game and be the top scoring pitcher on the night.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox – Red Sox rookie Eduardo Rodriguez has been brilliant so far in his young career. In 14.2 innings pitched this season, Rodriguez has only allowed five hits and one earned run, while striking out 14. With three plus pitches (mid-90s fastball, slider and changeup), Rodriguez can really dial up the Ks and the Baltimore Orioles are not only cold, but they also strike out a ton. He is very moderately priced across the industry and he makes a great play in your GPPs.
Other Pitchers to Target – Francisco Liriano, Carlos Rodon, Noah Syndergaard
CATCHER
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals – The bats are expensive in Coors Field, but Molina’s price on most sites remains quite reasonable. After a slow start to the season, Yadi has looked much better at the plate. Lefty Jorge De La Rosa has been surprisingly good at home over the years and he has shut down left-handed batters, but righties have hit him hard. Molina has hit De La Rosa well in 14 career at-bats (.357 BA, .400 OBP) and I expect a multi-hit game from Molina tonight.
Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians – Gomes has picked up his offensive game of late, with hits in five of his last six matchups, including three of the multi-hit variety. Gomes has always smashed lefties and he has big game upside in that bat of his. Dollar for dollar, Gomes is one of the best catcher options on the board this evening.
Other Catchers to Target – Stephen Vogt, Matt Wieters, Dioner Navarro
FIRST BASE
Mark Reynolds, St. Louis Cardinals – Reynolds was highly owned in tournament play last night and he disappointed many fantasy owners, so I expect his ownership to be reduced tonight. I mentioned earlier that we can pick on Jorge De La Rosa with the Cardinals right-handed hitters. Reynolds is one of very few affordable bats in Coors Field and he has multi-homer upside in this matchup.
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies – Howard is swinging a hot stick, with five hits in his last three games, including two doubles and a homerun. Anthony DeSclafani has really struggled in the last six weeks, sporting an ERA over 5.00. Left-handed batters have been DeSclafani’s kryptonite in his career, as he has allowed a .355 wOBA against them. Howard has double-dong potential in this matchup.
Other First Basemen to Target – Joey Votto, Kendrys Morales, Pedro Alvarez
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – Jose Altuve versus a lefty is so hard to ignore, regardless of his cost. Altuve has been an absolute beast throughout his career against left-handed pitching and I doubt Carlos Rodon can keep him off the bases. Altuve can have a monster game with both his bat and his legs.
Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Dodgers – Howie Kendrick is another second baseman who has raked against southpaws throughout his career. Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray has looked solid in his two starts this season, but he was lit up in 2014 and I expect the regression to start tonight at Dodger Stadium. Look for Kendrick to rip off a couple of hits tonight.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Brian Dozier, Neil Walker, Chase Utley
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays – Donaldson has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball recently, generating hits in 12 of his last 13 games. During this 13-game stretch, Donaldson has produced six multi-hit games along with seven home runs and 15 runs batted in. Because big Josh is not facing a left-handed pitcher, a lot of fantasy owners will ignore him tonight, making him under-owned in tournaments.
Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals – Moustakas is riding a modest four-game hitting streak, including back to back two hit games. Moustakas has been very productive for the Royals this season (.322 BA, 30 runs and 18 XBHs) and hitting in the two-spot in the batting order certainly helps his fantasy value. Trevor May continues to get smacked around by left-handed hitters and I expect more of the same tonight.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Danny Valencia, Justin Turner, Jake Lamb
SHORTSTOP
Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals – Even though he will be very popular, I think we need to have some exposure to Jhonny Peralta tonight. After all, he is facing a pitcher who has issues against right-handed batters and in the world’s best hitting environment. Peralta is hot (.357 BA in June) and all signs point to a big game from him tonight in Colorado.
Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays – With Jhonny Peralta and Troy Tulowitzki playing in Coors Field, Jose Reyes may get overlooked in GPPs this evening. Reyes has nine hits in his last five games, including five runs scored and five stolen bases. Reyes is the straw that stirs the drink for the Blue Jays offense and I think he has a big game tonight against Dan Haren at the Rogers Centre.
Other Shortstops to Target – Troy Tulowitzki, Erick Aybar, Jordy Mercer
OUTFIELDERS
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins – If I was going to pick one guy to hit a home run tonight, I would go with Giancarlo. Stanton is tearing to cover off of the ball, with three doubles and six homers in his last nine contests. Lefty Mark Buehrle has had trouble getting right-handed hitters out throughout his career and I expect Stanton to blast him in this game.
Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers – Carlos Gomez is another player who is starting to heat up, hitting safely in 10 of his last 11 games. The matchup may not look great on paper, but Gomez has actually hammered Francisco Liriano in his career, going 9-18 (.500 BA, .571 OBP, 1.571 OPS) off of him with a double, triple and two bombs. Gomez has jack-and-a-bag upside in this matchup.
Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar, Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays have a very deep lineup and Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar are great reasons why. Colabello extended his hitting streak to 18 games last night and is now hitting .349 on the season. Meanwhile, Pillar has complied hits in eight of his last 10 games, including five multi-hit performances. Both Colabello and Pillar are underpriced on most sites and make great value plays in the outfield tonight.
Ryan Raburn, Cleveland Indians – With the Cleveland Indians facing left-handed pitcher Roenis Elias tonight, Ryan Raburn should find himself in the lineup and he is likely to be batting clean-up. Raburn may not see four at-bats in this game, but he can still do a lot of damage versus Elias and is one of the better value options in the outfield this evening.
Other Outfielders to Target – Coors Field, Alex Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Matt Joyce, Alex Guerrero, Will Venable