DFS MLB Hitting Coach: August 31

Tonight’s slate is not as juicy on paper as last night’s was, but there are still some nice opportunities out there.  Washington, Toronto, and Cleveland check in as the top teams that will be targeted tonight, but don’t count out the Mets, Braves, and Royals just to name a few.  Tomorrow’s a very short slate with CFB starting, so many sites have some larger gpp tonights that are worth targeting.   Good luck!

Catcher

Cash Play:  Wilson Ramos checks in as the top catcher tonight.  While I’m not opposed to Gary Sanchez on DK for the same price, Ramos is my main cash target.  He’s 3-5 with a HR off homer prone Morgan, who gave up three long balls in his last start. 

GPP plays:  If you are off Ramos, or he gets the day off, Brian McCann makes for a nice option that may go unnoticed.  He’s 6-19 with 2 HR’s off Kennedy, and is 8-17 over his last four games.  Matt Wieters and J.T. Realmuto are both in interesting spots tonight.  Wieters has a very low FD price, went deep last night, and has taken Sanchez deep before.  Realmuto also went deep in his last game, and is 5-17 with a HR off Colon.  I like J.T. as a standalone option, with Wieters in an O’s stack.

Value Plays: Roberto Perez is 5-11 over his last three games, and great salary relief option in an Indian’s stack.  He was in this spot yesterday and of course didn’t get the start.   

First Base

Cash Plays:  First is pretty stacked tonight with great players at similar prices which leaves it as a personal preference option.  Freddie Freeman reached base three times last night to extend his streak to straight games.  I doubt that the righty Clemons will end that streak. Anthony Rizzo is 4-8 with 3 HR’s off Vogelsong, and will be coming off a HR last night.  Edwin Encarnacion is 9-22 with 3 HR’s and ZERO K’s vs Gallardo, and looking for his first hit in the series.  Joey Votto is 7-22 with 2 HR’s off Nolasco, and has at least two hits in six of last 11 games.

GPP Plays:  Brandon Moss disappointed many by not being in the lineup vs a weak righty last night, and faces Garza tonight who he is 7-15 with a HR against. Moss has had more K’s than hits since his 2 HR night on the 25^th, and should have plenty of opportunity to produce for the Cards tonight if put in the lineup.  Chris Davis is 5-13 with 2 HR’s off Sanchez, but is 0-12 over his last three games.  If targeting the Indian’s, of course Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana are in play.

Value Play:  Over his last three games, Kendrys Morales is 6-12 with a double, homer, and four runs.  He faces a HR prone pitcher  tonight, and has a great price on DK. 

Second Base  

Cash plays:   Even though it’s a lefty/lefty matchup, I like Jason Kipnis tonight.  First, I don’t think Dean lasts long anyways, and Kipnis is riding a nice 5 game hit streak including a homer last night.  I like him best on DK.  On FD, I don’t mind paying down for any of the gpp plays, but I like Ryan Schimpf the most.  He went 1-4 with a triple last night to make him 8-15 with 3 triples and 2 HR’s over his last five games.

GPP plays: Dee Gordon is 8-23 off Colon, and always a threat for multiple SB’s leading off.  Javier Baez has been shuffled around the lineup lately, and is better vs lefties, but works well tonight at his price in a Cub’s stack.  Jace Peterson is on a nice seven game hitting streak when starting.  He works best in a Brave’s stack with Freeman and Kemp. 

Value Plays:  Not really any crazy low punt options yet at second.  Some may pop up when lineups come out, but could always take a flier like Wong if needed.

Third Base

Cash Plays:  Josh Donaldson and Kris Bryant are top players who are in play if you have the salary.  I think you may be able to get away with Wilmer Flores tonight.  Phelps isn’t the greatest pitcher to pick on, but the Met’s are in a nice spot and Flores has a cheap price tag.  Flores is 2-5 with a HR off him, and is on an 11 game hit streak when starting. 

GPP plays: The Indians will be popular tonight, including Jose Ramirez.  He has a mid-tier price, but will only use him in a Cleveland stack, and go with the pivot play off Jedd Gyorko, who has homered in four of his last six games. 

Value Play:  Flores is my favorite value play at third, but if going with an O’s stack, Pedro Alvarez makes for a nice target on DK.

Shortstop

Cash Plays: I’m sticking with either Francisco Lindor or Asdrubel Cabrera at shortstop tonight.  Cabrera came through last night with a homer, and is 3-8 lifetime vs Phelps. Reyes is in play, but like the discount with Cabrera. Lindor will be the popular option tonight against Dean.  He’s 6-12 over his last three games including a double and triple last night.      

GPP Plays: Danny Espinosa, Zack Cozart and Jhonny Peralta all have nice BvP numbers, and work well in their team stacks.  Espinosa is 2-6 with 2 HR’s off Morgan, Cozart is 5-7 with a HR off Nolasco, and Peralta is a nice 18-40 with 2 HR’s off Garza.    

Value Play:  Jose Peraza seemed better off not having Votto batting behind him.  He went 4-4 with a SB in the bottom of the lineup last night.  He was also caught stealing so multiple SB potential is there. 

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Outfield

Cash Plays:  There are always going to be multiple OF players who are in plus matchups that you can roster, and hard to name all of them, so if you can make your own case to play a player who isn’t listed, then go for it.  Hammell has been the one Cubs pitcher that you can attack, and while all three Pirates are in play, I like Andrew McCutchen the most.  He is 12-36 with 3 HR’s off him, while also on an 8 game hit streak.  Sticking with picking on Phelps, Jay Bruce is 3-7 with 2 HR’s vs him. Mike Trout will always be in play while facing a lefty.  Although I’m not attacking Finnegan much tonight, Trout is 6-8 with three doubles and a homer in this series.  Rajai Davis is one of those players that is hit or miss, but will be on plenty of lineups tonight against the lefty Dean.  He was a triple short of the cycle last night, and in a better spot tonight. 

GPP Plays:  Jacoby Ellsbury failed to score a run for the first time in six games last night, but went 4-6 to continue his great track record against the Royals.  Matt Kemp had plenty of opportunities to get back at his old team last night, and disappointed big time.  No reason not to run him out in a gpp or two tonight.

Value Plays: Jarrod Dyson has been hot lately in the leadoff spot, but may not be playing tonight.  If he does, like him at his price in a Royal’s stack.  Oswaldo Arcia is my favorite of the Padres OF if looking to target any of them as salary relief.  It’s more that he is the cheapest over the fact that he homered last night, but that doesn’t hurt either.  It just may add more to his ownership level.