DFS MLB Hitting Coach: September 19

Tonight’s slate is highlighted by some top pitching matchups with teams in playoff contention.  Even with a game in Coors, both the Cubs and Rangers check in as having just as high or even higher run total than the Cardinals and Rockies. Keep an eye on the Wrigley wind, as it currently projects to be blowing out tonight.  I believe there are some nice value hitters that you can target if paying up for pitching, as well as some top priced players that have nice matchups as well.  Good luck!

Catcher

Cash Play:  There are a few positions where I’ll be paying down for due to trying to roster a top pitcher or two depending on the site.  Tonight I’ll look at Sandy Leon for salary relief.  He’s 2-3 with a HR off Bundy, and should have some opportunities to produce tonight.  If paying up, look to target Jonathan Lucroy. He’s affordable on Aces, 5-14 off Chacin, and was on an 8 game hit streak until his O’fer last game.    

GPP plays:  I didn’t add a Rockies’ catcher, but keep an eye on who the start tonight, as either of their three make for a nice play.  On the flip side, Yadier Molina is in play at Coors vs a lefty.  He is on a six game hit streak, but zero XBH during this span.  His best price is on DK.  With the Cubs having the highest team total, that puts Willson Contreras in play.  The wind looks to be blowing out in Wrigley which is always a good sign for hitters.  If Montero starts, he can be considered for cash games as well.    

Value Plays: Leon, Contreras, and Molina provide salary relief on certain sites, but may be able to go even cheaper if needed once lineups come out. 

First Base

Cash/GPP Plays:  Anthony Rizzo is my top 1B play if paying up tonight.  The Cubs party should be over now, and look for Rizzo to get a hold of one or two tonight.  If paying down, James Loney went 4-4 with a HR in his first matchup vs Blair.  The last four games in which he recorded hits were all two hit games.  Both Hanley Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion are both in nice spots if looking to pivot off the two above.  Hanley has hits in 10 of last 11 games, recording 8 HR’s over those 11 games.  Edwin is 2-7 with a HR and 2 BB’s vs Walker, but is probably best used for gpp’s or late night only games. 

Value Play:  Freddie Freeman is on a 22 game hit streak, while reaching base in 38 straight games.  He went 1-3 with 2 K’s vs Thor in their only matchup.  If going with a Houston stack, Marwin Gonzalez makes for a sneaky play paired with a few teammates. 

Second Base  

Cash/GPP Hybrid Plays:   Second base is pretty loaded tonight providing you with multiple routes to go based on who you can fit in salary wise.  DJ LeMahieu is 4-7 off Martinez, and has reached base at least twice in 8 of past 9 games.  Rougned Odor should be in the 5 hole tonight on a high projected scoring team, but for cheaper on FD, I’m always a fan of taking Jose Altuve in cash games.  He’s in a 0-7 slump, but was 6-11 before that.  Dustin Pedroia has cooled off a bit lately, but still in a nice spot tonight, and especially in Sox stack.  He is 4-8 lifetime off Bundy. 

Value Plays:  Even though FD raised his price a bit, Dee Gordon is still a value at $2,800.  He’s on a 10 game hit streak and had 6 steals in three game before failing to record one in his last game. 

Third Base

Cash/GPP Hybrid Plays:  There are many top 3B players that I did not list that are in play like Donaldson and Arenado, but would rather target Kris Bryant if paying up.  He is on a 7 game hit streak including two triples.  Still looking for his second multi-hit game for the month though.  On FD, you can save a little bit, and target either Adrian Beltre or Kyle Seager.  Beltre went 7-13 with 3 HR’s in his last series vs the Angels while Seager works best in a gpp paired with Cruz.  Jedd Gyorko has a nice mid-tier price if you want Coors exposure.  He has only recorded one XBH and RBI since going deep on September 5^th. 

Value plays:  Joey Wendle continues to be a fine punt option if leading off for the A’s.  He’s shown both power and speed potential since coming up, and if riding the A’s, Wendle is a must play in your team stack.  The same goes for Yulieski Gurriel with the Astros.  He’s on a nice four game hit streak while also recording a RBI in each of those four games.  A nice pivot over Reyes would be T.J. Rivera if playing for the Mets tonight.  He’s coming off a nice series vs the Twins in which he went 6-13 with a HR. 

Shortstop

Cash Plays:  Aledmys Diaz will more than likely be the popular play at SS tonight.  Five of his last seven hits went for XBH with 2 doubles and three HR’s.  Pretty much a plug and play at his price on Aces.

GPP Plays:  A nice pivot off Diaz would be Xander Bogaerts.  He’s 3-9 with a HR off Bundy, and has scored six runs over his past four games.  Troy Tulowitzki has a much better price on FD than DK, and can make for a nice low owned late night option in a Jay’s stack. 

Value Play:   Daniel Descalso has a nice price on DK, but would prefer Tulo for the same price in a gpp on FD.  Descalso is on a 7 game hit streak with 2 HR’s.  Addison Russell has a great cheap price on FD, and will work well if wind is blowing out at Wrigley. 

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Outfield

Cash/GPP Hybrid Plays:  Trea Turner is on a tear, and could/should be a top priced player worth paying up for.  He went 8-12 with a triple, 3 HR’s, 7 runs,  and 3 SB’s in the series against the Braves.  Don’t think the lefty Chen will be slowing him down.  His best price is on Aces, but affordable on FD.  The Rockies and Cardinal’s outfielders are all in play tonight with my top choice being Charlie Blackmon.  He’s 4-8 off Martinez, and recorded at least one XBH in six of last seven games.  For much cheaper though, you can look at Nelson Cruz.  Cruz is 5-8 with a HR off Estrada, and ended his 0-7 slump with a three hit game yesterday. 

            Mark Trumbo, Khris Davis, and Alex Dickerson all are in nice spots to continue to add to their HR numbers.  Trumbo took Porcello deep last week in their 1-0 win.  Davis hit his 39^th and 40^th HR’s yesterday, making it 5 HR’s over his current 8 game hit streak.  He’s also scored a run in all of those games.  Dickerson is the wild card of the group.  Jankowski is in play, but like Dickerson with the discount.  He’s1-3 with a HR off Shipley, and best used for gpp’s only due to having the worst matchup of the three.    

Value plays:  Colby Rasmus may not get a full allotment of AB’s, but is your current minimum price FD option.  There may be others once lineups come out, but for now Colby checks in as a sneaky low owned value play.  First, please note he hasn’t recorded a single hit since September 8^th (0-17), but 5 of his last 10 hits have went for homers.  High risk/high reward type play in a Houston stack on a slate with a Coor’s game and wind blowing out at Wrigley.