MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, May 19th
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, 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
Sonny Gray, Oakland A’s – Gray has very quietly been one of the best pitchers in the game in 2015. He has posted a 1.61 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and opponents are only hitting .186 off of him. Gray seems to get better with every start and he has been practically unhittable in his last three starts (0.92 ERA, .157 BAA with 28 Ks in 19.2 IP). Gray has managed almost a strikeout per inning in his young career and he should be able to rack up the K’s against a Houston Astros team that leads the American League in whiffs. The Oakland A’s have had plenty of success against RHP this season and they should provide Gray with plenty or run support in this game.
James Shields, San Diego Padres – The San Diego Padres are not known for their defense, so James “Big Game” Shields has decided that he should just strike everyone out to be safe. In 48.1 innings pitched this season, Shields has racked up an incredible 64 strikeouts. The matchup won’t get much better than what Shields has in store tonight. Shields will be toeing the rubber in the pitchers paradise known as Petco Park, while facing the Chicago Cubs who lead all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts.
Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals – Wacha has been very inconsistent this season, but he was outstanding in his last start against the Cleveland Indians (5 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks) and I think he continues to improve from here. The New York Mets are not an offense to fear and Wacha does have that big game upside. Wacha is much cheaper than the other big arms throwing tonight and should be highly under-owned in tournament play this evening.
Other Pitchers to Target – Francisco Liriano, Anibal Sanchez, Trevor Bauer, Drew Hutchison
CATCHER
Stephen Vogt, Oakland A’s – Vogt remains my number one target at the Catcher position again tonight and as long as he is facing a non-elite RHP, it is unlikely to change anytime soon. You know the drill by now, Vogt destroys righties and Roberto Hernandez is a very hittable pitcher.
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals – Molina has picked up his offensive game of late, rolling out multi-hit efforts in four of his last five games. Yadi has hit left-handed pitching well in his career and he has had success against New York Mets lefty Jonathon Niese (.375 BA, .474 OBP in 19 plate appearances). Molina is one of the better bargains at Catcher this evening.
Other Catchers to Target – Yasmani Grandal, Carlos Ruiz, Robinson Chirinos
FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants – Brandon Belt may be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. In his last three games, Belt has compiled nine hits, including two doubles, three homeruns and seven runs batted in. Due to his salary increase and the fact that he will be back home at AT&T Park, I expect most fantasy owners to ignore Belt in GPPs. LHB have hit Carlos Frias hard this season (.400 BAA) and I like Belt to keep rolling in this game.
James Loney, Tampa Bay Rays – Loney is riding a five-game hitting streak and he is coming off of a four hit game in his last contest. Mike Foltynewicz has a big arm and throws hard, but lefties have still teed off on him (.400 BAA, .488 OBPA, 1.088 OPSA) in 2015. Loney will hit in the middle of the Rays order and I think he has a multi-hit game versus Foltynewicz.
Other First Basemen to Target – Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Davis, Billy Butler, Pedro Alvarez
SECOND BASE
Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates – Walker has hits in 10 of his last 11 games and the hits should keep coming tonight against Ricky Nolasco. In four starts this year, Nolasco has a 6.38 ERA with a 1.80 WHIP and opponents are hitting .329 off of him. Walker has big game upside and a great price across most sites.
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies – Despite an ugly start to the season, Utley has looked better recently with four hits and three doubles in his last four games. Left-handed batters have crushed Chad Bettis (.385 BAA, .529 OBPA, 1.222 OPSA) so far this season and I think that continues tonight in Colorado.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Dee Gordon, Dustin Pedroia, Cory Spangenberg
THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers – If you are looking to fade the popular Josh Donaldson in your GPPs, Beltre makes a nice pivot. Beltre has been hot in the month of May (.319 BA with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 13 RBIs) and he should have no problem hitting Wade Miley (5.60 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) in Fenway Park tonight.
Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays – Josh Donaldson feasts on left-handed pitching and he has to be your top option at the hot corner. Hector Santiago is pitching well, but I still think Donaldson will get to him tonight. Just for fun these are Donaldson numbers versus southpaws in 2015 (.483 BA, .516 OBP, 1.275). Lock and load.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Nolan Arenado, Maikel Franco, Danny Valencia, Brett Lawrie
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies – I would not be doing my job if I did not include Tulo in my GPP article. If you can afford him, Tulowitzki is easily the best option at Shortstop. Aaron Harang is a fly ball pitcher and that generally does not work in Coors Field. Tulowitzki has massive upside in this game.
Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals – Peralta is locked in at the plate right now. Peralta has hits in nine of his last 10 games, including three doubles and three home runs. Peralta has always hit lefties well and I think he has a multi-hit game against Jonathon Niese.
Other Shortstops to Target – Brad Miller, Freddy Galvis, Jung Ho Kang, Mike Aviles
OUTFIELDERS
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates – McCutchen has not had the year many of us had expected, but I do like his upside against Gas Can Ricky Nolasco tonight. McCutchen has jack-and-a-bag upside in this game.
Ben Revere, Philadelphia Phillies – A lot of fantasy owners ignore Revere because he lacks homerun upside, but I think that is a mistake. What Revere lacks in power, he makes up for with his ability to get on base and steal. Revere has reached base eight times in his last two games and chipped in two stolen bases. Revere can easily have a multi-hit/run/steal game and I love him tonight against Chad Bettis.
Kole Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels – Aaron Sanchez is a talented young pitcher, but he has had trouble with both walks (29 walks in 38 IP) and LHB this season (.311 BAA). Calhoun should have a productive game.
Other Outfielders to Target – Coors Field, Yoenis Cespedes, Mookie Betts, Coco Crisp, Chris Colabello, Kevin Kiermaier