The last few times I have written the Hitting Coach, I have noticed a lack of options in the outfield. Today’s edition features 13 names, but only two who cost more than $5,000 on FantasyAces. I would have loved to have added a couple more expensive options, but there just weren’t any I felt great about. I will feel a bit silly when Nelson Cruz or Charlie Blackmon hit a couple of home runs, but I’m not going to overpay for them when there are other players I like better.

A lot of the players I like better are at first base. Unlike the outfield, where I struggled to get to 13 names, I left off some really good players who I like quite a bit. On a site like FantasyAces I could easily see myself playing three first basemen, including two from the same team.

CATCHER                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Anthony ReckerATLRAWSHTanner RoarkR43.349.442.535.977.415.18613.00%20.40%40.00%28.60%31.40%10.00%.438$2,200$2,400$3,800
A.J. PierzynskiATLLAWSHTanner RoarkR236.216.233.301.534.231.0851.60%11.00%53.70%25.90%20.40%3.80%.233$2,000$2,400$4,300
Juan CentenoMINLHKCEdinson VolquezR120.275.310.400.710.310.1253.90%20.50%51.60%24.70%23.70%8.70%.337$2,900$3,100$3,400
Buster PoseySFRHBALWade MileyL379.288.366.454.820.353.16611.10%11.50%48.90%29.70%21.40%12.40%.301$3,400$4,400$4,650

Anthony Recker and A.J. Pierzynski are 4-for-6 and 7-for-10 respectively against Tanner Roark. Both guys are batting over .300 in the last week, and whoever starts for the Braves will be a nice, cheap catcher option.

Juan Centeno is 5-for-11 over his last three games and he has a .342 wOBA against righties.

Buster Posey is 9-for-25 against Wade Miley and he has a .382 wOBA against lefties this season.

FIRST BASE                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Freddie FreemanATLLAWSHTanner RoarkR436.284.377.537.914.382.25311.50%25.50%33.80%36.10%30.10%21.10%.352$3,600$4,900$5,000
Mike NapoliCLERHLAAJered WeaverR407.263.346.528.874.374.26511.00%32.00%38.40%38.40%23.10%29.60%.336$3,700$5,100$5,250
Carlos SantanaCLEBHLAAJered WeaverR418.242.338.474.812.352.23212.80%15.50%43.70%39.60%16.70%18.50%.236$3,800$4,700$4,950
Joey VottoCINLAMILWily PeraltaR385.301.428.504.932.396.20317.50%21.30%45.70%27.50%26.80%23.70%.363$3,800$4,900$5,100
Jose AbreuCWSRAMIATom KoehlerR450.280.334.436.770.332.1565.80%18.90%49.70%30.50%19.80%13.20%.321$3,000$4,100$4,950
Justin MorneauCWSLAMIATom KoehlerR78.295.341.487.828.346.1925.90%21.20%45.80%28.80%25.40%17.60%.345$2,700$3,000$4,500
Miguel CabreraDETRATEXA.J. GriffinR436.312.386.548.934.394.23610.70%17.20%45.80%32.70%21.60%23.20%.334$3,900$5,500$5,000
A.J. ReedHOULATORMarcus StromanR70.171.272.286.558.235.11512.30%32.10%47.40%42.10%10.50%12.50%.233$2,300$3,100$3,700

Mike Napoli is 11-for-32 with three home runs against Jered Weaver. Napoli is 17-for-42 with 12 runs,  five home runs and 11 RBI in August.

Freddie Freeman is 7-for-11 with four home runs during his four-game hitting streak. Freeman is 9-for-25 against Tanner Roark.

Joey Votto is 10-for-26 against Wily Peralta and 11-for-22 during his five-game hitting streak.

Carlos Santana is 15-for-27 with two home runs against Jered Weaver.          

Justin Morneau is 6-for-13 over his last four games while Jose Abreu is 12-for-29 during his six-game hitting streak.

Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-7 with two home runs against A.J. Griffin. Cabrera is 7-for-17 with a home run over his last four games.

A.J. Reed is 4-for-10 over his last two games.

SECOND BASE                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
DJ LeMahieuCOLRAPHIAdam MorganL407.332.405.477.882.380.14510.80%13.10%55.50%17.50%27.00%13.10%.372$3,500$4,600$4,900
Jose AltuveHOURATORMarcus StromanR457.365.431.5781.009.424.2139.60%9.60%46.00%30.10%23.90%15.70%.376$3,800$5,500$5,600
Chase UtleyLALHPITChad KuhlR373.255.329.383.712.313.1287.90%18.70%43.60%32.40%24.00%8.60%.302$2,800$3,600$4,950
Devon TravisTORRHHOUMike FiersR247.300.336.486.822.355.1865.30%20.20%45.60%33.70%20.70%15.40%.346$3,200$4,400$4,850

DJ LeMahieu is 9-for-20 with a home run during his five-game hitting streak.

Jose Altuve is 14-for-26 during his five-game hitting streak.

Chase Utley is 6-for-17 over his last four games.

Devon Travis is 9-for-26 over the last week and he has a .904 OPS against right-handed pitchers.

THIRD BASE                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Kris BryantCHIRHSTLMike LeakeR434.286.382.544.926.400.25811.10%24.00%33.00%43.90%23.10%21.10%.334$4,100$5,100$5,500
Alex BregmanHOURATORMarcus StromanR73.178.247.247.494.225.0698.60%23.50%34.70%40.80%24.50%0.00%.236$2,800$3,500$3,650
Wilmer FloresNYMRHSDClayton RichardL235.255.309.434.743.319.1796.60%14.10%35.80%44.70%19.50%12.90%.258$2,700$3,900$4,150
Evan LongoriaTBRANYYLuis SeverinoR446.285.337.534.871.368.2497.20%21.80%32.00%45.90%22.20%16.80%.318$3,800$4,400$5,300
Hernan PerezMILRHCINCody ReedL237.291.315.456.771.331.1653.90%22.80%46.50%31.90%21.60%15.30%.345$3,000$4,400$4,550
Cheslor CuthbertKCRAMINHector SantiagoL316.301.336.459.795.344.1585.30%19.60%46.80%30.80%22.40%13.00%.351$3,200$3,700$3,750

Kris Bryant is 4-for-11 against Mike Leake and 9-for-26 with a home run over the last week.

Alex Bregman is 11-for-35 during his seven-game hitting streak, and it certainly helps that he is batting second.

Cheslor Cuthbert is 11-for-29 over the last week and he has a .383 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.

Hernan Perez is 6-for-12 with a home run over his last three games.

Wilmer Flores has a 1.039 OPS against lefties and he is coming off a 3-for-5 effort Saturday.

Evan Longoria is 8-for-23 with two home runs over the last week.

SHORTSTOP                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Tim AndersonCWSRAMIATom KoehlerR228.272.289.399.688.293.1272.10%28.50%57.60%24.70%17.70%12.80%.365$2,700$3,100$4,550
Alcides EscobarKCRAMINHector SantiagoL473.254.282.311.593.258.0573.70%13.20%55.40%26.40%18.20%1.90%.289$2,900$2,700$4,000
Corey SeagerLALHPITChad KuhlR452.310.363.533.896.381.2237.50%18.70%46.70%29.20%24.10%20.40%.349$3,900$4,900$5,150
Marcus SemienOAKRHSEAWade LeBlancL409.242.303.452.755.329.2108.10%23.10%42.80%41.80%15.40%18.40%.268$3,000$4,000$4,400
Trea TurnerWSHRHATLTyrell JenkinsR108.315.345.537.882.376.2223.50%20.40%46.30%32.50%21.30%11.50%.378$3,600$4,700$4,550

Tim Anderson is 9-for-27 during his seven-game hitting streak.

Alcides Escobar is 6-for-18 against Hector Santiago and 4-for-8 over his last two games.

Corey Seager has five consecutive multi-hit games, and he isn’t even the most expensive shortstop in the slate.

Marcus Semien is 10-for-27 over the last week and he has a .931 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season.

Trea Turner is 7-for-14 with a home run and two stolen bases over his last three games.

OUTFIELD                       
PlayerTeamBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Chris CoghlanCHILHSTLMike LeakeR206.208.387.292.679.243.08410.70%28.20%47.10%30.00%22.90%11.90%.207$2,700$3,000$4,350
Lonnie ChisenhallCLELHLAAJered WeaverR283.297.343.456.799.343.1596.20%16.20%42.60%34.10%23.30%7.90%.341$2,900$4,100$4,050
Ryan RaburnCOLRAPHIAdam MorganL183.224.313.415.728.318.19110.90%30.80%46.30%36.40%17.40%18.20%.292$2,900$3,300$4,400
J.D. MartinezDETRATEXA.J. GriffinR289.298.368.533.901.385.2359.50%24.20%40.20%35.40%24.40%18.90%.362$3,800$4,300$4,800
Keon BroxtonMILRHCINCody ReedL109.229.349.376.725.319.14715.40%36.90%48.30%31.00%20.70%16.70%.379$3,100$3,900$3,300
Paulo OrlandoKCRAMINHector SantiagoL309.327.349.427.776.336.1002.20%20.40%56.40%24.20%19.50%5.30%.407$3,100$3,700$4,100
Joc PedersonLALHPITChad KuhlR296.250.342.500.842.354.25012.10%25.00%43.20%36.40%20.40%22.70%.292$3,100$4,300$4,450
Angel PaganSFBHBALWade MileyL320.288.343.431.774.337.1438.00%14.20%40.80%30.90%28.30%9.80%.318$3,400$3,800$4,250
Kevin KiermaierTBLANYYLuis SeverinoR207.217.315.382.697.308.16511.80%17.70%43.30%36.00%20.70%10.20%.244$3,000$3,900$4,250
J.D. MartinezDETRATEXA.J. GriffinR289.298.368.533.901.385.2359.50%24.20%40.20%35.40%24.40%18.90%.362$3,800$4,300$4,800
Andrew BenintendiBOSLHARIZack GreinkeR29.379.419.448.867.348.0693.20%19.40%38.10%23.80%38.10%0.00%.478$2,500$2,500$4,300
Ryan BraunMILRHCINCody ReedL362.323.387.550.937.398.2278.90%16.10%56.60%20.90%22.60%32.30%.348$4,000$5,300$5,300
George SpringerHOURATORMarcus StromanR466.260.357.468.825.359.20811.70%22.50%53.20%28.50%18.20%23.70%.303$3,800$3,800$5,400

Andrew Benintendi is 9-for-20 over his last six games. I don’t love the matchup against Zack Greinke, but you could do worse at this price.

Chris Coghlan is 10-for-16 with two home runs and a stolen base against Mike Leake. He is worth taking a chance if he starts.

Lonnie Chisenhall is 7-for-19 with two home runs against Jered Weaver and 4-for-10 with six RBI over his last three games.

Ryan Raburn has a .788 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season and he should have little trouble taking advantage against Adam Morgan.

J.D. Martinez is 6-for-17 with a home run during his four-game hitting streak and he has a .870 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season.

George Springer is 8-for-18 with a home run over his last four games.

Paulo Orlando is 4-for-9 over his last two games and he has a .892 OPS against lefties this season.

Joc Pederson is 8-for-18 with a home run over his last five games and he has a .903 OPS against righties this season.

Keon Broxton is 3-for-7 with a stolen base over his last two games and he has a .368 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.

Ryan Braun is 7-for-19 with two home runs over his last five games and he has a .425 wOBA against lefties this season.

Angel Pagan is 5-for-15 against Wade Miley and he is batting .325 with two home runs in August.

Kevin Kiermaier is 6-for-18 during his four-game hitting streak.