In Saturday’s Hitting Coach I raved about the strength of the slate, and while I haven’t had quite enough coffee to rave too much, Sunday’s slate is shaping up to be just as good. My preference would probably be to pay up for stud hitters, especially at the infield positions, but there are plenty of cheaper options who should be quite good as well.
| CATCHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Welington Castillo | ARI | R | A | CIN | Brandon Finnegan | L | 256 | .258 | .306 | .422 | .728 | .319 | .164 | 6.10% | 26.60% | 47.40% | 29.10% | 23.40% | 19.60% | .320 | $2,800 | $5,200 | $4,500 |
| Wilson Ramos | WSH | R | H | SD | Christian Friedrich | L | 296 | .331 | .385 | .520 | .905 | .389 | .189 | 8.00% | 12.60% | 53.90% | 22.40% | 23.70% | 24.10% | .348 | $3,300 | $4,100 | $4,800 |
| Jason Castro | HOU | L | H | LAA | Tim Lincecum | R | 212 | .222 | .337 | .392 | .729 | .319 | .170 | 14.90% | 34.50% | 50.40% | 26.10% | 23.50% | 19.40% | .342 | $2,700 | $3,400 | $4,100 |
| Evan Gattis | HOU | R | H | LAA | Tim Lincecum | R | 246 | .224 | .289 | .451 | .740 | .297 | .227 | 7.70% | 23.80% | 47.40% | 35.70% | 17.00% | 24.60% | .237 | $2,700 | $2,900 | $4,200 |
Wilson Ramos has a .860 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Welington Castillo has a 1.041 OPS against lefties this season, and six of his 10 home runs have come against lefties.
I’m probably starting whoever starts at catcher for the Astros. Jason Castro has a .831 OPS against right-handed pitchers, while Evan Gattis is 8-for-22 over his last six games, including two home runs Saturday.
| FIRST BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Victor Martinez | DET | B | A | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 337 | .291 | .342 | .484 | .826 | .358 | .193 | 7.10% | 14.70% | 38.40% | 38.00% | 23.60% | 16.50% | .301 | $2,800 | $2,800 | $5,100 |
| Jose Abreu | CWS | R | H | DET | Anibal Sanchez | R | 370 | .273 | .330 | .430 | .760 | .324 | .157 | 6.10% | 20.20% | 48.70% | 31.60% | 19.60% | 12.60% | .318 | $3,600 | $3,800 | $5,000 |
| Freddie Freeman | ATL | L | A | COL | Tyler Chatwood | R | 366 | .273 | .359 | .505 | .864 | .366 | .232 | 10.30% | 26.80% | 33.50% | 35.10% | 31.40% | 20.20% | .347 | $3,500 | $4,800 | $5,350 |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | R | A | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 363 | .300 | .376 | .515 | .891 | .367 | .215 | 10.70% | 16.50% | 46.70% | 32.60% | 20.70% | 21.10% | .323 | $3,300 | $3,000 | $5,150 |
| James Loney | NYM | L | A | MIA | Jose Urena | R | 160 | .288 | .343 | .450 | .793 | .342 | .162 | 6.30% | 11.90% | 42.10% | 30.20% | 27.80% | 13.20% | .304 | $2,300 | $3,400 | $4,200 |
| Joey Votto | CIN | L | H | ARI | Zack Godley | R | 320 | .275 | .410 | .484 | .894 | .371 | .209 | 17.60% | 23.10% | 44.00% | 28.20% | 27.80% | 27.90% | .332 | $4,000 | $5,400 | $5,250 |
Freddie Freeman is 5-for-8 against Tyler Chatwood.
James Loney has a seven-game hitting streak and a .822 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are 13-for-35 and 14-for-33 respective against Jose Quintana.
Jose Abreu is 6-for-11 with two home runs against Anibal Sanchez. Abreu is 4-for-10 during his last three games.
Joey Votto has a .946 OPS against righties and three home runs during his eight-game hitting streak.
| SECOND BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Ian Kinsler | DET | R | A | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 389 | .296 | .351 | .512 | .863 | .368 | .216 | 6.10% | 17.90% | 33.90% | 41.40% | 24.70% | 16.50% | .322 | $4,100 | $4,800 | $5,400 |
| Dustin Pedroia | BOS | R | H | MIN | Tommy Milone | L | 382 | .304 | .370 | .442 | .812 | .354 | .138 | 9.60% | 12.00% | 48.20% | 26.70% | 25.10% | 10.80% | .331 | $3,600 | $4,500 | $4,900 |
| Jean Segura | ARI | R | A | CIN | Brandon Finnegan | L | 382 | .314 | .361 | .450 | .811 | .344 | .136 | 5.10% | 14.50% | 55.70% | 24.60% | 19.70% | 10.50% | .354 | $3,700 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| Ryan Schimpf | SD | L | A | WSH | Lucas Giolito | R | 83 | .229 | .356 | .614 | .970 | .371 | .385 | 13.90% | 28.70% | 31.30% | 52.10% | 16.70% | 32.00% | .234 | $2,200 | $3,500 | $3,650 |
| Jose Altuve | HOU | R | H | LAA | Tim Lincecum | R | 381 | .357 | .426 | .559 | .985 | .410 | .202 | 10.00% | 9.10% | 45.10% | 30.10% | 24.80% | 15.30% | .364 | $4,200 | $5,500 | $5,500 |
Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-10 with a home run and a stolen base against Tommy Milone.
Ian Kinsler is 12-for-36 against Jose Quintana.
Ryan Schimpf is 8-for-23 with four home runs and five walks since the All-Star break. Keep playing him until his price goes up or he cools off.
Jose Altuve has at least one hit in all eight games since the All-Star break, batting .531/.571/.750 during that time.
| THIRD BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Kyle Seager | SEA | L | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 366 | .284 | .360 | .525 | .885 | .377 | .241 | 9.70% | 16.30% | 35.30% | 43.70% | 21.00% | 15.20% | .302 | $2,600 | $2,800 | $5,350 |
| Josh Donaldson | TOR | R | H | SEA | Wade Miley | L | 364 | .305 | .419 | .593 | 1.012 | .426 | .288 | 15.30% | 16.40% | 36.90% | 38.70% | 24.40% | 22.20% | .323 | $4,200 | $5,500 | $5,550 |
| Nick Castellanos | DET | R | A | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 356 | .298 | .338 | .522 | .860 | .373 | .224 | 5.70% | 23.60% | 33.50% | 41.00% | 25.50% | 16.50% | .352 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $4,900 |
| Jedd Gyorko | STL | R | H | LA | Scott Kazmir | L | 183 | .262 | .322 | .486 | .808 | .323 | .224 | 8.00% | 19.60% | 43.20% | 32.00% | 24.80% | 30.00% | .273 | $2,800 | $3,200 | $4,400 |
| Justin Turner | LA | R | A | STL | Mike Mayers | R | 338 | .269 | .345 | .488 | .833 | .347 | .219 | 8.50% | 15.50% | 34.40% | 41.40% | 24.20% | 17.00% | .274 | $3,800 | $5,000 | $5,150 |
Kyle Seager is 4-for-9 with two home runs against J.A. Happ.
Josh Donaldson is 4-for-6 with two home runs against Wade Miley.
Nick Castellanos is 9-for-26 in his career against Jose Quintana.
Yangervis Solarte is 11-for-37 with two home runs during his eight-game hitting streak.
Jedd Gyorko is 10-for-27 with five home runs in his last five games.
As long as the Dodgers keep facing weak righties, I will keep playing Justin Turner. Turner is 6-for-15 with three home runs, a stolen base and eight RBI during his last three games.
| SHORTSTOP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| J.J. Hardy | BAL | R | H | CLE | Corey Kluber | R | 189 | .280 | .310 | .413 | .723 | .303 | .133 | 4.50% | 14.50% | 46.60% | 32.20% | 21.20% | 8.50% | .310 | $2,100 | $2,700 | $4,400 |
| Trevor Story | COL | R | H | ATL | Tyrell Jenkins | R | 345 | .272 | .347 | .580 | .927 | .376 | .308 | 9.00% | 31.70% | 32.60% | 40.90% | 26.50% | 29.50% | .345 | $4,000 | $5,500 | $5,250 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | TOR | R | H | SEA | Wade Miley | L | 276 | .246 | .315 | .457 | .772 | .333 | .211 | 8.40% | 22.10% | 40.30% | 43.40% | 16.30% | 18.80% | .267 | $3,000 | $3,400 | $5,100 |
| Mike Aviles | DET | R | A | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 132 | .212 | .262 | .273 | .535 | .237 | .061 | 4.90% | 16.70% | 58.40% | 21.80% | 19.80% | 4.50% | .252 | $2,100 | $2,300 | $3,400 |
| Corey Seager | LA | L | A | STL | Mike Mayers | R | 380 | .305 | .362 | .526 | .888 | .378 | .221 | 8.20% | 18.90% | 49.30% | 26.70% | 24.00% | 22.10% | .346 | $3,400 | $4,100 | $4,900 |
Troy Tulowitzki is 6-for-11 with a home run and a stolen base against Wade Miley.
I like J.J. Hardy as a GPP play, but I would consider him in a cash game as well. Hardy is 4-for-8 with a home run against Corey Kluber and has four consecutive multi-hit games.
Mike Aviles is 10-for-26 against Jose Quintana.
Trevor Story has a 1.043 OPS at home against right-handed pitchers. Story is 9-for-19 with five home runs, eight runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases over his last six games.
Corey Seager is 14-for-35 during his seven-game hitting streak.
| OUTFIELD | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Jayson Werth | WSH | R | H | SD | Christian Friedrich | L | 320 | .247 | .340 | .419 | .759 | .328 | .172 | 12.40% | 22.60% | 42.50% | 37.60% | 19.90% | 14.10% | .294 | $3,500 | $4,400 | $4,750 |
| Melky Cabrera | CWS | B | H | DET | Anibal Sanchez | R | 336 | .304 | .349 | .467 | .816 | .342 | .163 | 6.80% | 10.60% | 47.00% | 29.70% | 23.30% | 10.70% | .320 | $3,300 | $3,600 | $4,750 |
| Matt Kemp | SD | R | A | WSH | Lucas Giolito | R | 388 | .260 | .280 | .490 | .770 | .313 | .230 | 3.20% | 22.90% | 42.60% | 36.20% | 21.30% | 21.60% | .283 | $3,600 | $3,400 | $4,750 |
| Carlos Beltran | NYY | B | H | SF | Jeff Samardzija | R | 330 | .303 | .346 | .545 | .891 | .378 | .242 | 6.10% | 17.30% | 40.50% | 37.40% | 22.20% | 20.80% | .317 | $3,200 | $3,600 | $4,800 |
| Alex Gordon | KC | L | H | TEX | A.J. Griffin | R | 222 | .203 | .310 | .342 | .652 | .292 | .139 | 10.50% | 28.70% | 38.70% | 38.00% | 23.40% | 13.50% | .268 | $2,500 | $4,300 | $4,400 |
| Ryan Braun | MIL | R | H | CHI | Jon Lester | L | 312 | .317 | .374 | .516 | .890 | .375 | .199 | 7.60% | 15.80% | 57.30% | 21.60% | 21.20% | 26.90% | .347 | $3,500 | $4,900 | $5,100 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | MIA | R | H | NYM | Steven Matz | L | 311 | .241 | .334 | .495 | .829 | .358 | .254 | 11.50% | 32.50% | 41.90% | 36.30% | 21.80% | 32.30% | .309 | $3,000 | $4,100 | $5,300 |
| Nelson Cruz | SEA | R | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 354 | .288 | .372 | .548 | .920 | .384 | .260 | 9.90% | 23.90% | 44.60% | 36.00% | 19.40% | 28.70% | .328 | $3,200 | $4,200 | $5,400 |
| Nori Aoki | SEA | L | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 264 | .254 | .329 | .330 | .659 | .288 | .076 | 7.70% | 10.30% | 68.30% | 15.40% | 16.30% | 2.90% | .283 | $2,200 | $2,200 | $4,300 |
| Hanley Ramirez | BOS | R | H | MIN | Tommy Milone | L | 336 | .280 | .360 | .449 | .809 | .339 | .169 | 9.70% | 19.10% | 51.40% | 28.90% | 19.70% | 16.70% | .323 | $3,500 | $4,600 | $5,000 |
| Carlos Gonzalez | COL | L | H | ATL | Tyrell Jenkins | R | 365 | .318 | .370 | .551 | .921 | .390 | .233 | 7.60% | 21.50% | 48.70% | 26.60% | 24.70% | 28.60% | .369 | $4,700 | $5,600 | $5,800 |
| Nomar Mazara | TEX | L | A | KC | Edinson Volquez | R | 331 | .287 | .341 | .429 | .770 | .324 | .142 | 7.10% | 16.10% | 48.60% | 29.00% | 22.40% | 16.20% | .312 | $2,800 | $3,400 | $4,400 |
| Michael Saunders | TOR | L | H | SEA | Wade Miley | L | 326 | .288 | .365 | .552 | .917 | .385 | .264 | 9.70% | 26.80% | 39.90% | 33.00% | 27.10% | 26.40% | .355 | $4,000 | $4,200 | $4,850 |
Melky Cabrera is 15-for-31 against Anibal Sanchez and -for- during his eight-game hitting streak.
Carlos Beltran has four multi-hit games in his last seven and he is 5-for-16 with a home run against Jeff Samardzija.
Alex Gordon is 5-for-5 with a home run against A.J. Griffin and is worth a shot at such a low price.
Ryan Braun is 5-for-13 with two stolen bases against Jon Lester.
Hanley Ramirez has four home runs over his last four games and a .979 OPS against lefties this season.
Giancarlo Stanton is 3-for-5 with two home runs against Steven Matz. Stanton is coming off a 4-for-5 effort Saturday that included his first home run since the All-Star break.
Carlos Gonzalez has a .469 wOBA at home against right-handed pitchers this season and left-handed batters have a .393 wOBA against Tyrell Jenkins.
Jayson Werth is 3-for-4 against Christian Friedrich. Werth has a six-game hitting streak and a 1.053 OPS against lefties this season.
Michael Saunders has a 1.038 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Matt Kemp is 11-for-33 with six home runs during his eight-game hitting streak.
Norichika Aoki is 6-for-15 in his three games since returning from Triple-A. Aoki is 7-for-14 with a home run and a stolen base against J.A. Happ.
Corey Dickerson didn’t exactly light the world on fire after I picked him Saturday, but he did extend his hitting streak to five games. Jesse Hahn probably isn’t as bad as he showed earlier in the season, but left-handed hitters have a .471 wOBA against him.
Nelson Cruz is 8-for-15 against J.A. Happ and Cruz is 8-for-17 with two home runs during his four-game hitting streak.
Nomar Mazara is 8-for-17 during his five-game hitting streak and he has a .360 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.