It feels good to be back writing the Hitting Coach after I took last week off to run a 200-mile overnight relay from Madison, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois. Among the things I learned from that experience: Wisconsin closes at 10:00 p.m., I do not snore, running through the Chicago Botanic Garden is awesome, and I am fortunate to have found 11 other people crazy enough to want to do it with me again next year.

As for Saturday’s split slate, I have learned you are probably better off paying up for a catcher, in both slates. There are more studs worth playing across the board in the early slate, which is probably just as well because the money you save by going cheap in the late slate can easily be spent on pitching.

CATCHER                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Buster PoseySFCRATBMatt MooreL2180.280.3370.460.7960.3380.188.60%11.90%48.10%27.80%24.10%15.40%0.283$3,800$4,300$4,800
Brian McCannNYYCLAMINRicky NolascoR1750.210.320.380.7030.3110.1712.30%20.20%39.50%42.60%17.80%14.50%0.23$3,100$3,700$4,750
Kurt SuzukiMINCRHNYYMichael PinedaR1410.240.2830.330.6160.2790.093.90%17.00%40.70%35.40%23.90%5.00%0.278$2,600$2,400$3,750
Salvador PerezKCCRHDETMatt BoydL2160.30.3260.550.8720.3650.254.00%23.40%29.30%45.90%24.80%16.70%0.342$3,100$3,700$4,700
Chris StewartPITCRACHIJon LesterL740.20.3140.280.5980.2680.0810.50%11.60%55.70%24.60%19.70%6.70%0.222$2,100$2,000$3,450

EARLY

Brian McCann is 21-for-62 with eight home runs and 24 RBI against Ricky Nolasco. He is a bit expensive on FantasyAces, but his price is fair elsewhere.

Kurt Suzuki is 4-for-7 against Michael Pineda and 9-for-27 in his last seven games.

Buster Posey is a nice alternative to Brian McCann on FantasyAces and is probably worth the price if you can afford him. Posey is 10-for-23 over the last week, and right-handed batters own a .347 wOBA against Matt Moore this season.

LATE

Salvador Perez is 16-for-36 with five home runs over his nine-game hitting streak.       

If you want to go cheap at catcher in the late slate, Chris Stewart is your guy. He is 3-for-7 with a home run against Jon Lester.

FIRST BASE                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Edwin EncarnacionTORDHRABALYovani GallardoR2620.260.3460.530.8730.3690.2710.60%19.90%34.30%42.30%23.40%21.20%0.267$4,400$5,500$5,350
Carlos SantanaCLE1BBHCWSJames ShieldsR2430.230.3320.450.7850.3390.2313.60%13.30%43.10%41.60%15.30%16.70%0.211$4,000$5,400$4,650
Marwin GonzalezHOUSSBHCIN  1800.250.2930.380.6710.2980.134.70%24.00%48.90%26.70%24.40%11.40%0.315$3,000$3,500$3,850
Paul GoldschmidtARI1BRAPHIJerad EickhoffR2400.290.4260.510.9340.3940.2218.50%22.80%46.40%29.20%24.40%26.50%0.348$4,500$4,600$5,400
Miguel CabreraDET1BRAKCEdinson VolquezR2580.310.3790.540.9180.3810.2310.30%16.20%45.00%31.20%23.80%22.20%0.328$3,900$4,400$5,600
Kendrys MoralesKCDHBHDETMatt BoydL2260.210.2830.350.6370.2680.148.00%21.10%50.00%32.40%17.60%14.50%0.24$2,500$2,900$4,300

EARLY

Paul Goldschmidt is 18-for-44 with 10 RBI over his 11-game hitting streak. His price on DraftKings is pretty fantastic.

Edwin Encarnacion is probably the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He is 13-for-27 with six home runs over his current seven-game hitting streak. Encarnacion is 5-for-16 with three home runs against Yovani Gallardo.

Marwin Gonzalez is 7-for-18 over the last week. If you want to save money at first base, Gonzalez is the guy for you.

Carlos Santana has four home runs over his last five games, and you can get him for a discount on FantasyAces.

LATE

Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-11 against Edinson Volquez, and he is 11-for-30 over the last week, with a home run in each of his last two games.

Kendrys Morales is 6-for-9 with a home run against Tigers’ lefty Matt Boyd. Morales is 7-for-21 with two home runs over his six-game hitting streak.

SECOND BASE                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Robinson CanoSEA2BLABOSRick PorcelloR2780.30.3510.570.9190.3890.276.30%13.90%45.40%33.60%21.00%24.70%0.294$3,900$5,200$5,300
Rougned OdorTEX2BLASTLCarlos MartinezR2460.270.2920.490.7840.3320.222.70%19.10%42.70%42.20%15.10%16.00%0.285$3,200$3,800$4,600
Devon TravisTOR2BRABALYovani GallardoR750.210.2410.350.5880.2540.133.80%19.00%50.80%29.50%19.70%11.10%0.237$3,000$4,300$4,100
Kelly JohnsonNYMLFLHATLAaron BlairR1210.220.2730.290.5620.2490.077.60%18.90%55.30%25.50%19.10%4.20%0.26$2,100$3,200$4,000
Ian KinslerDET2BRAKCEdinson VolquezR2700.310.3610.530.8910.3880.226.40%16.60%32.50%44.00%23.40%15.20%0.33$4,200$5,500$5,450
Whit MerrifieldKC2BRHDETMatt BoydL1100.330.3390.480.8210.3540.161.80%18.80%48.20%26.50%25.30%9.10%0.391$3,400$4,100$4,050

EARLY

Robinson Cano is 10-for-30 over his current six-game hitting streak and 9-for-24 against Rick Porcello.

Devon Travis is 8-for-20 over his last five games, and he is quite cheap on FantasyAces.

Rougned Odor is 10-for-31 with eight runs, four home runs and five RBI over the past week, and you don’t even have to pay that much to use him.

LATE

Kelly Johnson is 8-for-23 since he was traded to the Mets, and left-handed batters have a .411 wOBA against Aaron Blair.

Ian Kinsler is 8-for-20 against Edinson Volquez.

Whit Merrifield has a .889 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, and he is 11-for-32 with two home runs over the last week.

THIRD BASE                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Manny MachadoBAL3BRHTORR.A. DickeyR2670.310.3750.60.9740.4080.298.80%17.90%35.60%40.00%24.40%20.70%0.333$4,200$5,400$5,500
Josh DonaldsonTOR3BRABALYovani GallardoR2540.280.3930.580.9680.4030.315.10%17.80%34.20%41.30%24.50%21.00%0.293$4,500$5,600$5,550
Chase HeadleyNYY3BBAMINRicky NolascoR1970.260.3330.360.6880.2970.19.50%20.70%47.00%34.90%18.10%5.80%0.32$3,100$2,800$4,300
Kris BryantCHI3BRHPITJon NieseL2490.270.360.510.8740.3760.249.90%22.60%36.50%41.00%22.50%20.50%0.312$3,900$5,000$5,400
Adonis GarciaATL3BRANYMSteven MatzL1760.260.3030.330.6330.2790.074.80%20.20%50.00%21.30%28.70%10.30%0.311$2,700$3,600$4,000
Justin TurnerLA3BRHMILChase AndersonR2220.240.3290.410.7340.3090.169.00%15.70%38.90%37.10%24.00%12.30%0.26$3,200$3,500$4,350

EARLY

Chase Headley is 9-for-27 over his six-game hitting streak and 8-for-18 against Ricky Nolasco.

Josh Donaldson is just as hot as Edwin Encarnacion, but Donaldson extended his hitting streak to 10 games Friday, and he has four consecutive multi-hit games.

Manny Machado is 7-for-19 against R.A. Dickey, and Machado is 11-for-31 over the last week.

LATE

Kris Bryant did not play Friday due to an illness, but he was available to pinch-hit if needed, so there is a pretty good chance he plays Saturday. Bryant is 4-for-8 against Jonathon Niese, and Bryant starts, you should not hesitate to play him.

Adonis Garcia is 8-for-19 over his last four games, and if he is back in the lineup Saturday, he is a cheap alternative to Bryant at third base.

Justin Turner is 11-for-27 with three home runs in the last week.

SHORTSTOP                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Didi GregoriusNYYSSLAMINRicky NolascoR2190.280.3120.410.7180.3170.133.90%11.20%49.70%31.00%19.30%10.30%0.293$3,100$3,500$4,450
Francisco LindorCLESSBHCWSJames ShieldsR2530.30.3640.450.8110.3510.148.50%13.40%53.70%23.40%22.90%14.00%0.33$3,700$5,400$4,900
Erick AybarATLSSBANYMSteven MatzL1640.210.2570.250.5070.2130.044.40%17.00%60.90%22.60%16.50%0.00%0.25$2,200$2,100$4,000
Javier BaezCHI2BRHPITJon NieseL1380.250.2950.410.7080.3010.163.40%21.20%49.50%34.70%15.80%14.30%0.294$2,800$3,800$4,050

EARLY

Didi Gregorius is 7-for-16 with five runs, two home runs and nine RBI over his last four games. Gregorius is 8-for-16 in his career against Ricky Nolasco.

Francisco Lindor is 7-for-18 over the last week, and he is very cheap on FantasyAces.

LATE

Erick Aybar has quietly been serviceable since coming off the disabled list, going 7-for-16 with at least one hit in all four starts. If he gets another hit or two against Steven Matz he will be well worth his meager price.

Javier Baez has a .996 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, and right-handed batters have a .381 wOBA against Jonathon Niese.

OUTFIELD                        
PlayerTeamPOSBatsH/AOppProbable PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIPFDDKAces
Kevin PillarTORCFRABALYovani GallardoR2680.260.2920.420.710.310.162.50%15.30%44.60%37.80%17.60%8.30%0.288$3,400$5,300$4,450
Carlos BeltranNYYRFBAMINRicky NolascoR2310.280.3160.560.8790.3620.284.90%20.20%39.40%36.70%23.90%25.80%0.287$3,500$4,700$5,100
Kole CalhounLAARFLAOAKAndrew TriggsR2500.290.3640.460.8280.3580.179.50%18.70%38.50%37.00%24.50%12.70%0.335$3,400$4,500$4,650
Seth SmithSEALFLABOSRick PorcelloR1670.250.3630.40.7580.3380.1412.90%17.40%51.50%26.90%21.60%16.70%0.279$3,100$3,800$4,400
Ezequiel CarreraTORCFLABALYovani GallardoR920.330.3980.440.8330.3720.117.70%18.30%60.60%21.10%18.30%13.30%0.394$3,100$3,800$4,100
Carlos GomezHOUCFRHCIN  1670.210.2750.320.5920.2550.117.10%34.80%52.00%28.00%20.00%10.70%0.32$3,000$3,500$4,300
Curtis GrandersonNYMRFLHATLAaron BlairR2470.230.320.470.7860.3330.249.60%22.80%43.30%39.30%17.40%18.60%0.257$3,600$5,100$4,550
Justin UptonDETLFRAKCEdinson VolquezR2440.230.2810.360.6380.2750.136.80%33.80%35.60%40.30%24.20%8.30%0.338$3,000$4,100$4,350
Paulo OrlandoKCRFRHDETMatt BoydL1410.340.3690.440.8090.3430.12.70%23.50%52.00%26.50%21.60%3.70%0.443$2,800$3,200$4,100
Matt SzczurCHICFRHPITJon NieseL600.330.3750.530.9080.3750.26.20%16.90%40.90%43.20%15.90%15.80%0.37$2,000$3,300$3,700
Albert AlmoraCHICFRHPITJon NieseL210.430.4550.621.0740.3780.194.50%22.70%46.20%15.40%38.50%0.00%0.563$2,000$3,400$3,000
Jayson WerthWSHLFRASDColin ReaR2240.250.3230.440.7610.330.189.20%22.70%42.10%36.60%21.30%16.70%0.294$3,700$4,500$4,650
Lorenzo CainKCCFRHDETMatt BoydL2520.290.3370.420.7540.330.137.00%22.30%48.60%28.20%23.20%15.70%0.348$3,600$4,000$5,300

EARLY

Carlos Beltran is 16-for-48 in his career against Ricky Nolasco, and he went 3-for-4 with a home run Friday.

Kole Calhoun is 4-for-12 with two home runs over his last three games, and he will have the platoon advantage against Oakland starter Andrew Triggs.

Seth Smith is 6-for-13 in his career against Rick Porcello.

Ezequiel Carrera has led off two of Toronto’s last three games, and he is 7-for-23 over the last week. Carerra is a decent value if he bats lead-off again.

Kevin Pillar is 11-for-32 with four home runs over the last week

Like many fantasy players, I have been waiting for Carlos Gomez to break out of his funk all season, and it appears the time is now again. Gomez has at least two hits in three consecutive games, with stolen bases in two of those.

LATE

Curtis Granderson is on another of his yearly hot streaks, and I suspect it will continue against Aaron Blair. Granderson is 11-for-27 over the last week, and he has a .844 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season.

Justin Upton is 8-for-20 against Edinson Volquez and 8-for-29 over his seven-game hitting streak.

Paulo Orlando has two hits in each of his last three starts, and right-handed batters own a .339 wOBA against Matt Boyd this season.

Matt Sczur is 3-for-6 with a home run in his last two games, and he has an .891 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. His teammate Albert Almora is batting .429 since he was called up from Triple-A, and he is 6-for-10 over his last three games. Both Cubs are great plays on FanDuel, but Almora costs the minimum on FantasyAces as well.

Lorenzo Cain is a bit expensive on FantasyAces, but he has a 1.109 OPS against left-handed pitchers, and he is 5-for-13 over his last three games.

Jayson Werth has two hits in three consecutive games, and he is now batting .353/.452/.529 in June.