MLB GPP Plays: Tuesday, September 29th
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
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres – After an inconsistent start to the season, Ross has been very good since the beginning of July. In his last two starts Ross has been dealing, striking out 20 batters over 12 innings. The Milwaukee Brewers limp into San Diego as a shell of their former team after trades and injuries this year. In the last 30 days, the Brew Crew are striking out the third-most in the National League at a 22.7% clip. Look for Ross to dominate this banged up Brewers’ squad tonight, and don’t be surprised if he hits double-digits in strikeouts.
Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays – After struggling all season to come back from Tommy John surgery, Moore has thrown consecutive gems (13.2 IP, 2 ER, 16 Ks). Moore was an ace in the making prior to his surgery and he has shown us his upside in his last two outings. The Miami Marlins are a lot less potent against southpaws without Giancarlo Stanton, and I expect Moore to shut them down this evening. Dollar for dollar, Moore is the best tournament option on the board.
Other Pitchers to Target – Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, Mike Fiers
CATCHER
Brian McCann, New York Yankees – If money does not concern you, McCann is the top dog at catcher this evening. McCann has been a beast at home versus right-handed pitching (.377 wOBA) and Rick Porcello has been abused by lefties all season long (.291 BAA, .358 wOBA).
Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians – Gomes is riding a seven-game hit streak, with five doubles and a home run over that stretch. Gomes and the Indians will face Kyle Gibson, who has really struggled over the last two months. Gomes has hit Gibson hard in a small sample size (6-11, .545 BA with a double and two homers) and he is the best bang for your buck at catcher tonight.
Other Catchers to Target – Travis d’Arnaud, Evan Gattis, Russell Martin, Miguel Montero
FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs – If I am paying up at first base tonight, I am rolling with Rizzo. Josh Smith has not had much success so far in his Major League career (7.23 ERA, 1.90 WHIP) and left-handed batters have absolutely destroyed him (.359 BAA, .492 wOBA). Look for Rizzo and the Cubs’ lefties to have a big night.
Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays – Miguel Gonzalez is a fly ball, homer-prone pitcher, who happens to pitch in a very hitter-friendly ballpark. Gonzalez is making his first start off the disabled list and he has already allowed 24 home runs on the season. Smoak is a cheap way to get exposure to that potent Blue Jays offense tonight and he has the home run upside we are looking for in our GPPs.
Other First Basemen to Target – David Ortiz, Joey Votto, Lucas Duda, Greg Bird
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – Altuve is on a heater with 13 hits in his last eight contests, including six doubles, a triple and two home runs. Altuve absolutely feasts on left-handed pitching (.370 BA, .411 wOBA) and I plan to have plenty of exposure to him this evening.
Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians – Kipnis is locked-in at the dish right now, registering hits in nine of his last 10 games, including five multi-hit efforts. Kipnis has thrived against right-handed pitching in 2015 (.331 BA, .387 wOBA), and he has hit Kyle Gibson well in his career (.375 BA, .615 OBP in 13 plate appearances), albeit a small sample.
Other Second Basemen to Target – Daniel Murphy, Brian Dozier, Logan Forsythe, Kolten Wong
THIRD BASE
Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds – Dan Haren is a fly ball pitcher who has suffered from gopheritis throughout his long Major League Baseball career. Frazier may not have the splits in his favor, but he is a home run hitter and this is great matchup for him to go yard. The Toddfather has as much upside as anyone in the game and I expect him to be highly under-owned tonight.
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays – Longoria has been a very streaky hitter all season long and right now he has hit safely in seven of his last nine games. Longoria tends to fly under the radar in GPPs, even though he has murdered southpaws this season (.345 BA, .404 wOBA). With this game being played in pitcher-friendly Marlins Park, I anticipate Longoria’s ownership to be very low again tonight.
Other Third Basemen to Target – Josh Donaldson, Kris Bryant, Kyle Seager, David Wright
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa, Houton Astros – Remember when Troy Tulowitzki was a near must-play in Coors Field? That is kind of where we are at with Carlos Correa against a southpaw. Correa is swinging a hot stick these days (hits in seven straight games) and he continues to wear out left-handed pitching (.393 wOBA). Look for Correa and the Astros’ righties to beat up on Vidal Nuno.
Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – If you are looking to go contrarian at shortstop and avoid Correa, Lindor makes a great high upside pivot. Lindor contributes across the board offensively and he should have a big game against the very hittable Kyle Gibson.
Other Shortstops to Target – Xander Bogaerts, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta
OUTFIELDERS
Curtis Granderson, New York Mets – Granderson is lighting it up recently with four hits in his last two games, including a double, two long-balls and five runs batted in. David Buchanan is a gas can (7.96 ERA, 1.94 WHIP), and we are going to want to target hitters against him. Left-handed hitters have abused Buchanan this year, hitting .349 off of him with a .444 wOBA. Look for another multi-hit performance from Granderson in this one.
David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks – Christian Bergman is another below-average pitcher I want to pick on in today’s slate of games. Peralta has posted terrific numbers at Chase Field against right-handed pitching (.321 BA, .385 wOBA) and he should see plenty of RBI opportunities against Bergman and that awful Rockies bullpen.
Jacoby Ellsbury, New York Yankees – Thanks to his inexpensive price across the industry and his matchup versus Rick Porcello (11-21, .524 BA against him with four homers), I love Jacoby Ellsbury in this game. Ellsbury has started to heat up again with five hits in his last three contests and he has jack-and-a-bag upside on a nightly basis.
Other Outfielders to Target – Josh Reddick, Jay Bruce, Brett Gardner, Chris Coghlan, Brandon Guyer, Seth Smith