MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, September 1st
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
Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox – Sale has been sensational in last three starts (21 IP, 3 ER, 36 Ks) and he continues to lead Major League Baseball in both K/9 rate (12.03) and K/BB rate (6.54). The Minnesota Twins lead the American League in strikeout percentage over the last 30 days, whiffing at a 24% clip. Look for Sale to dominate once again and hit double-digit punch-outs.
Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres – Cashner is very reasonably priced across the industry and I like his upside in this matchup. Cashner has been a much better pitcher at home this season (3.34 ERA with 69 Ks in 62 IP) and he could post similar numbers to that of Tyson Ross last night. The Texas Rangers are not as potent on the road (.300 team wOBA and a 21.7% K rate) and Cashner will get to avoid the DH and face the pitcher.
Cody Martin, Oakland A’s – Unfortunately Cody Martin is not available on DraftKings or Fantasy Aces, making him a FanDuel special only. Martin was solid in the Minors versus both lefties and righties and he has produced a solid strikeout rate in the Major Leagues this season (9.97). The Los Angeles Angels offense is ice cold, they sit dead last in both team wOBA and batting average in the American League in the last 30 days. Martin is easily the best bang for your buck at pitcher today.
Other Pitchers to Target – Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, Drew Smyly, Jon Niese
CATCHER
Evan Gattis, Houston Astros – The Houston Astros are a scary team versus southpaws and Evan Gattis is a big reason why. Gattis is swinging a hot stick these days and he has posted solid numbers against lefties throughout his career. At the very least Gattis should see plenty of RBI opportunities tonight.
Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs – I absolutely love Montero tonight. The month of August was not kind to Anthony DeSclafani (4.20 ERA, .342 BAA), and lefties are doing most of the damage against him. Montero is extremely inexpensive and he provides us with multi-homer upside.
Other Catchers to Target – Brian McCann, Stephen Vogt, John Jaso, Salvador Perez
FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs – Like Miguel Montero above, Rizzo is also in a tremendous spot to go off tonight. Rizzo has been a beast against right-handed pitching in his career and he is my top play at first base this evening outside of Coors Field. As a bonus, the Cincinnati Reds bullpen is completely right-handed with the exception of closer Aroldis Chapman, so Rizzo and the Cubs lefties will have the splits in their favor throughout the entire game.
Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals – When Zimmerman is healthy he is a very productive hitter. He is currently riding a five-game hitting streak, and hitting for power as well as average lately. Right-handed hitters continue to wear out Marco Gonzales at both the Minor League and Major League levels. Look for a multi-hit game from Zimmerman in this one.
Other First Basemen to Target – Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto, Ben Paulsen
SECOND BASE
Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates – I am not looking to pick on Jimmy Nelson, but left-handed hitters are having plenty of success against him (.295 BAA, .375 wOBA). Thanks to his mini-slump (.238 BA in August), Walker’s price has dropped into value territory. Walker has big time pop against righties and he should fly under the radar tonight in tournaments.
Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals – With hits in six of his last seven contests, including four multi-hit performances, Kolten Wong has become fantasy relevant again. Joe Ross has been very good this year, but he has not been the same pitcher on the road (4.97 ERA) and lefties have hit him well (.343 wOBA). Wong has big game upside and he should be highly under-owned in your GPPs.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Jose Altuve, Jason Kipnis, Robinson Cano, Aaron Hill
THIRD BASE
Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners – Seager has started to heat up at the dish with nine hits in his last four games, including a double and three long-balls. Seager has hit Scott Feldman well in a small sample size (.417 BA, .563 OBP 16 plate appearances), and when Seager is hot, you want to ride him.
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays – Longoria homered last night and he is one of the top value plays across the industry this evening. Longo-Dongo has owned Chris Tillman over the years (16-43, .372 BA, .438 OBP, with four doubles and six homers) and you are going to want to have some exposure to him tonight.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado, Matt Carpenter, Pablo Sandoval
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki, Toronto Blue Jays – If upside concerns you more than price, Tulo is your man tonight. Cody Anderson has been roughed up in five consecutive starts (22 ER in 22 IP), and he does not strike out right-handed batters. Tulowitzki has double-dong potential in this game.
Marwin Gonzalez, Houston Astros – If you are looking for salary relief at shortstop tonight, Marwin Gonzalez makes a nice punt play. Gonzalez is riding a modest six-game hitting streak, including three of the multi-hit variety. Gonzalez has decent pop in his bat and he has hit lefties well this season.
Other Shortstops to Target – Carlos Correa, Jose Reyes, Ian Desmond, Chris Owings
OUTFIELD
Arizona Diamondbacks Outfield – Kyle Kendrick is a gas can and we certainly want to target hitters against him tonight in Coors Field. For large field tournaments, I would rank them in this order: A.J. Pollock, David Peralta, Yasmany Tomas and Ender Inciarte.
Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies – Rubby De La Rosa continues to struggle against left-handed batters (allowing a .405 wOBA), and I expect more of the same tonight at Coors Field. Both Cargo and Blackmon have massive upside in this matchup.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, New York Yankees – Rick Porcello has had a tough season in Boston (5.47 ERA) and left-handed hitters have crushed him all year long (.306 BAA, .373 wOBA). Both Ellsbury and Gardner have jack-and-a-bag upside in Fenway Park tonight.
Other Outfielders to Target – Kyle Schwarber, Gregory Polanco, Carlos Gomez, Jay Bruce, Melky Cabrera, Adonis Garcia, Seth Smith