MLB GPP vs. H2H Plays June 24
MLB Picks for 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head VS GPPs
In this article I am going to give you my MLB picks for all game types, including 50/50s/double-ups/head-to-head and GPPs (guaranteed prize pool tournaments). I will break them down into two parts: Part 1 – 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head (AKA cash games), Part 2 – GPPs.
Part 1 – 50/50s/Double-ups/Head-to-Head (AKA Cash Games)
When playing 50-50s/double-ups or head-to-head, you want guaranteed points. This is not where you roll the dice on all-or-nothing players. The idea is to simply produce a solid, well balanced team. It may not be explosive, but it doesn’t matter whether you finish in first place or not, you just need to cash.
STARTING PITCHERS
Clayton Kershaw – Kershaw proved in his last start that he was the best pitcher in baseball, throwing a no hitter with 15 Ks VS the Rockies. He has the highest floor of any starter and immense upside with his K potential. The Royals do not strike out much and are a tough team to face, but Kershaw is no ordinary pitcher, and I expect him to mow them down tonight. Kershaw is easily the best pitcher going tonight.
Scott Kazmir – Kazmir is very quietly having an outstanding season (2.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) and will face a weak hitting Mets team tonight. The Mets are hitting .235 as a team and strike out at a 24.5% (3rd worst in the NL) VS LHP. Kazmir has been nearly unhittable in the month of June (1.37 ERA, .179 BAA with 27 Ks in 26.1 IP) and I think he throws another gem tonight.
Other Pitchers I like – C.J. Wilson, Tim Hudson
CATCHER
Victor Martinez – On sites where he is catcher eligible, Martinez is easily the top catcher tonight. V-Mart continues to rake VS RHP (.302 BA, .364 OBP with 14 HRs) and has 5 multi-hit games in his last 9 games played. Colby Lewis has been awful this season (5.97 ERA, 1.86 WHIP) and Martinez has hit him well in his career (7/14, .500 BA with 2 doubles).
Yadier Molina – Yadi has hits in 6/8 games and has crushed LHP throughout his career, and tonight he faces LHP Jorge De La Rosa in Coors Field. Molina has great BvPs VS De La Rosa (5/11, .455 BA, .500 OBP with a homer) and makes a great cash game play.
Other Catchers I like – John Jaso, Wilin Rosario
FIRST BASE
Miguel Cabrera – Miggy continues to rake VS Major League pitching (.322 BA, .376 OBP) and has a juicy match-up tonight VS a struggling Colby Lewis. Cabrera should easily rip off a multi-hit game and is your safest play at 1B tonight.
Jose Abreu – Abreu is swinging a hot stick with hits in 8 straight games, including 4 multi-hit games. During that 8 game stretch, Abreu has been flexing his muscle with 2 doubles and 3 homeruns. Miguel Gonzalez is allowing RHB to hit .293 off of him with a .346 OBP. Abreu is in a great spot again tonight.
Other First Basemen I like – Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, Freddie Freeman
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano – Cano is a hit-machine (93 hits in 73 GP) and is 2nd in the AL in batting with .330 BA. Jake Peavy has really struggled of late and Cano has hit him well (5/12, .417 BA with 2 doubles and a homer) in his career. Cano is the best hitting 2B in baseball and makes a great play tonight.
Ian Kinsler – Kinsler is on fire with hits in 8/9 games, including 5 multi-hit games. Lewis has also struggled mightily VS RHB (.303 BAA, .368 OBPA) and Kinsler should remain hot tonight.
Other Second Basemen I like – Scooter Gennett
THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre – Beltre is one of the premier 3B in baseball and is as safe as they come for your cash games. Drew Smyly is allowing a .372 wOBA VS RHB and I expect Beltre to take advantage of that tonight.
Evan Longoria – Longoria has hits in 8/10 games and seems to be the only bat hitting in that TB lineup. During that 10 game stretch, Longoria has hit for power as well with 3 doubles and 2 homers. If you are not on Beltre, Longoria makes a nice play as well.
Other Third Basemen I like – David Wright, Matt Carpenter
SHORTSTOP
Troy Tulowitzki – Tulo has cooled down a bit of late, but he still has hits in 5/9 games, including three games in which he had 3 hits. Tulo has the highest floor of any SS, and has massive upside. He is still the top dog at SS tonight.
Jose Reyes – Reyes can score points in many ways with his ability to contribute to all offensive categories. Vegas expects the Jays to score runs tonight and that means Reyes will be leading the way. Play Reyes with confidence tonight.
Other Shortstops I like – Hanley Ramirez, Elvis Andrus, Jed Lowrie
OUTFIELDERS
Corey Dickerson & Charlie Blackmon – Both Dickerson and Blackmon crush RHP and have killed it in Coors Field all season. They both make great cash game plays tonight.
Melky Cabrera – The “Melk Man” is swinging a hot stick with hits in 7 straight games, including 5 multi-hit games. Cabrera is a hit machine (98 hits in 77 GP) and has raked VS RHP all season (.316 BA, .353 OBP). Melky makes a great cash game play tonight.
Matt Holliday & Allen Craig – Both Holliday and Craig hit LHP very well and could not have a better match-up tonight. Play them both with confidence.
Other Outfielders I like – Nelson Cruz, Alex Rios, Adam Jones, Jason Heyward, Adam Eaton, Logan Morrison, Gerardo Parra
Part 2 – GPPs
GPPs are a whole new ball game. You need guys to have huge nights. GPP tournaments are all about upside. All-or-nothing players can become GPP gold, while value players are just as important as your star players.
STARTING PITCHERS
Homer Bailey – Bailey has had a rough start to the season (4.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) but has been better (3.81 ERA with 25 Ks in 26 IP) in the month of June. Bailey has big time GPP upside due to his K potential and is in a nice spot tonight. The Cubs are batting a measly .224 VS RHP and strike out the 3rd most (22.4%) in the NL VS RHP. Bailey dominated these Cubs the last time he faced them (April 20th in Wrigley Field) with 6 shutout innings and 8 strikeouts.
Jake Arrieta – Arrieta is having a fantastic season (1.98 ERA, 1.20 WHIP with 55 Ks in 50 IP ) and has been absolutely brilliant in his last 3 starts (20 IP, 1 ER, 27 Ks). The Reds have been much better of late, but are not the same potent offense they were last year. Arrieta has big game upside and makes a great GPP play tonight.
Other Pitchers I like – Chris Archer, Danny Duffy
CATCHER
Miguel Montero – Montero has crushed RHP this season (.304 BA, .397 OBP with 10 homers) and has a great match-up at home VS Justin Masterson tonight. Masterson really struggles VS LHB (.292 BAA, .377 OBPA) and I think Montero has a big game tonight.
Alex Avila – LHB are tattooing Lewis this season with a .376 BA and a .431 OBP. Avila still has pop in his bat and has hit Lewis well (4/13, .308 BA, .438 OBP with 2 homers) in a small sample size. Avila is extremely cheap and makes a great GPP punt play at C tonight.
Other Catchers I like – Jason Castro, Jarrod Saltalamacchia
FIRST BASE
Brandon Moss – Moss has that huge GPP upside you are looking for as he can easily have a multi-homer game. He has crushed RHP throughout his career and Colon has had some troubles recently with LHB. Moss can explode at any time and the match-up looks great for him tonight.
Adam LaRoche – LaRoche is hot at the dish with hits in 4 straight games, including 3 multi-hit games. LaRoche is crushing RHP this season (.305 BA, .417 OBP) and makes a great GPP play tonight.
Other First Basemen I like – Edwin Encarnacion, Anthony Rizzo, Nick Swisher, Steve Pearce
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier – Dozier has hits in 4 straight games, including 2 multi-hit games coming into tonight. Dozier is a notorious lefty killer and has big game upside, making him a great GPP play tonight.
Derek Dietrich – Dietrich has hits in 8/10 games and mashes VS RHP, and he will face average RHP David Buchanan in the “Band Box” known as Citizens Bank Park tonight. Dietrich is very cheap and has big upside in this match-up tonight.
Other Second Basemen I like – Ben Zobrist, Howie Kendrick
THIRD BASE
Carlos Santana – Santana is rolling with hits in 8/9 games including 3 multi-hit games. In those 9 games Santana has hit the ball with authority, as he has 2 doubles and 3 homeruns. Santana has also crushed LHP throughout his career and certainly has big game upside tonight VS LHP Wade Miley in Chase Field.
Kyle Seager – Seager has been outstanding at home this season (.323 BA, .404 OBP, 1.009 OPS) and has a nice match-up VS Jake Peavy tonight. Peavy has been hit hard in 7 of his last 8 starts and Seager has monster game upside.
Other Third Basemen I like – Juan Francisco, Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado
SHORTSTOP
Jhonny Peralta – Peralta is seeing the ball well right now and has hits in 8/10 games. Peralta has hit LHP well over his career and has a great match-up tonight VS LHP Jorge De La Rosa in Coors Field. Peralta has multi-homer upside and makes a great GPP value play at SS tonight.
J.J. Hardy – Hardy is really swinging it with hits in 8/10 games, including 6 multi-hit games. Hardy is a much batter hitter VS LHP and has hit Quintana well (3/8 with a double and a homerun) in a small sample size. Hardy has big game upside VS LHP and makes a tremendous GPP value play tonight.
Other Shortstops I like – Starlin Castro, Everth Cabrera
OUTFIELDERS
Billy Hamilton – Hamilton is smoking hot with hits in 9/10 games, including 5 multi-hit games. During that 10 game stretch, Hamilton has an insane 6 doubles, 2 homers and 7 SBs. Hamilton is a scary bat to face right now and he has huge GPP upside tonight.
Josh Willingham – Willingham has crushed LHP his entire career and has multi-homer upside. He has hit also Wilson well in his career (8/24, .333 BA, .360 OBP with 3 doubles and 2 homers) and makes a great GPP play tonight.
Marlon Byrd – Byrd is mashing VS LHP this season (.304, BA, .342 OBP) and will face Marlins rookie LHP Andrew Heaney tonight. Byrd has really cooled down of late, but is capable of a monster game, making him a great “Boom-Or-Bust” GPP option tonight.
Other Outfielders I like – Yoenis Cespedes, Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp, Austin Jackson, Alfonso Soriano, Jake Marisnick, Delmon Young