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Tonight’s slate is highlighted by some top pitchers, but does come with some nice hitting matchups. If paying up for pitching, you will need to find some low salary options, so I tried to add a few more of those, and less of the top priced players. Please know that the stud players that are not listed are typically always in play, but just focusing on others tonight. The Detroit/Minnesota game has some early weather concerns, so keep an eye on that closer to roster lock. I really like the idea of going contrarian with hitters in your gpp’s tonight. There are some great matchups against top pitchers that you can roster with low ownership. With the Red Sox, Cubs, and Rangers being the popular teams to roster players from tonight, going the high risk high reward route may be the surprise way to go tonight with hitters. Good luck!
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| James McCann | DET | R | A | MIN | Jose Berrios | R | 320 | .222 | .274 | .366 | .640 | .280 | .144 | 6.60% | 29.30% | 44.50% | 38.90% | 16.60% | 14.60% | .282 | $2,200 | $3,100 | $3,800 |
| Gary Sanchez | NYY | R | A | TB | Alex Cobb | R | 162 | .327 | .399 | .710 | 1.109 | .462 | .383 | 9.80% | 24.00% | 48.70% | 33.60% | 17.60% | 42.50% | .353 | $3,900 | $4,600 | $4,900 |
| Jonathan Lucroy | TEX | R | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 464 | .286 | .362 | .563 | .925 | .370 | .277 | 8.90% | 18.40% | 39.40% | 36.60% | 24.00% | 17.60% | .326 | $3,800 | $5,000 | $4,600 |
| Sandy Leon | BOS | B | A | BAL | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | 232 | .328 | .383 | .509 | .892 | .384 | .181 | 7.70% | 22.80% | 45.40% | 31.00% | 23.60% | 13.00% | .411 | $2,500 | $3,500 | $4,350 |
| Brian McCann | NYY | L | A | TB | Alex Cobb | R | 401 | .234 | .328 | .409 | .737 | .325 | .175 | 10.90% | 20.20% | 35.80% | 43.50% | 20.70% | 14.60% | .258 | $3,100 | $3,500 | $4,450 |
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 once again tonight.. Tonight I’ll look at James McCann for salary relief. McCann was a cheap option that paid off with a homer last night, and if the weather holds up, he has the chance to pay off his price again tonight, as he went 3-3 with a homer in his first matchup with Berrios. If paying up, look to ride the Gary Sanchez train againHe went deep last night to make it three straight games with a homer, and 17 in his first 44 games.
GPP plays: A nice pivot off Sanchez would be Jonathan Lucroy. He’s 2-5 off Weaver, and Vegas expects Weaver to give up quite a few runs tonight. The other possible starting Yankees catcher Brain McCann, is 4-10 with 2 HR’s off Cobb lifetime.
Value Plays: In the same situation as Lucroy is Sandy Leon, although he is hitless over his last 12 AB’s. Best to use only in a Red Sox stack with McCann being the better cheap option.
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| David Ortiz | BOS | L | A | BAL | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | 497 | .318 | .403 | .634 | 1.037 | .430 | .316 | 12.80% | 13.00% | 35.00% | 42.00% | 23.00% | 20.10% | .310 | $4,500 | $5,600 | $5,350 |
| Albert Pujols | LAA | R | A | TEX | Derek Holland | L | 569 | .264 | .319 | .452 | .771 | .332 | .188 | 7.50% | 11.90% | 45.20% | 37.10% | 17.60% | 16.40% | .255 | $3,500 | $4,700 | $4,800 |
| Freddie Freeman | ATL | L | A | NYM | Bartolo Colon | R | 557 | .302 | .397 | .566 | .963 | .405 | .264 | 12.60% | 24.50% | 32.80% | 36.90% | 30.30% | 21.20% | .370 | $3,900 | $4,800 | $5,200 |
| Jose Abreu | CWS | R | A | PHI | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 586 | .300 | .354 | .485 | .839 | .359 | .185 | 6.30% | 18.20% | 47.60% | 31.20% | 21.20% | 17.40% | .334 | $3,500 | $4,200 | $4,700 |
| Mike Napoli | CLE | R | H | KC | Ian Kennedy | R | 525 | .246 | .340 | .486 | .826 | .356 | .240 | 11.90% | 30.70% | 36.60% | 41.00% | 22.40% | 24.50% | .307 | $3,300 | $4,300 | $4,800 |
| Josh Bell | PIT | B | A | MIL | Jimmy Nelson | R | 93 | .312 | .416 | .462 | .878 | .384 | .150 | 15.90% | 8.90% | 50.60% | 25.90% | 23.50% | 9.10% | .325 | $3,200 | $2,900 | $3,800 |
First Base
Cash/GPP Plays: Freddie Freeman will be a popular play as a mid-tier option at first tonight. He is 14-30 with a HR lifetime off Colon, and has now reached base in 40 consecutive games. David Ortiz would be my preferred play over Anthony if paying up tonight. Ortiz has homered in two straight games, and two of his three career hits in 23 AB’s off Jimenez have gone deep. They both come with an extremely hard to pay for price tag though, and best for gpp’s. Josh Bell has a great DK and Aces price tag, and has been consistently scoring points due to having some big bats behind him, and his ability to draw walks. On FD, I don’t mind rolling out Albert Pujos, who is 9-31 with 4 HR’s lifetime off Holland, and looking to get back on track after going hitless for the first time in five games last night.
Value Play: Bell is currently my favorite value play, but keep an eye on lineups once posted.
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| Brian Dozier | MIN | R | H | DET | Buck Farmer | R | 577 | .281 | .353 | .572 | .925 | .390 | .291 | 9.10% | 19.20% | 37.60% | 46.20% | 16.20% | 19.60% | .291 | $4,200 | $5,200 | $5,250 |
| Ben Zobrist | CHI | B | H | CIN | Robert Stephenson | R | 495 | .263 | .377 | .420 | .797 | .350 | .157 | 14.90% | 13.30% | 48.80% | 27.70% | 23.50% | 12.80% | .284 | $3,600 | $4,100 | $4,800 |
| Howie Kendrick | LA | R | H | SF | Matt Moore | L | 451 | .266 | .337 | .384 | .721 | .318 | .118 | 9.50% | 17.50% | 60.90% | 17.40% | 21.80% | 12.70% | .313 | $2,500 | $3,700 | $4,300 |
| Joe Panik | SF | L | A | LA | Kenta Maeda | R | 429 | .242 | .318 | .382 | .700 | .305 | .140 | 9.70% | 9.00% | 46.90% | 35.50% | 17.60% | 7.30% | .247 | $2,500 | $3,400 | $4,300 |
| Dee Gordon | MIA | L | H | WSH | Max Scherzer | R | 293 | .256 | .289 | .314 | .603 | .265 | .058 | 4.50% | 16.20% | 62.30% | 19.70% | 18.00% | 0.00% | .307 | $2,700 | $3,300 | $4,750 |
Second Base
Cash Plays: Brian Dozier extended his hitting streak to 23 games yesterday, and is only one HR shy of the record for AL-2B. He’s 2-3 against the spot starter Farmer. For slightly cheaper there is Ben Zobrist. He comes with more risk that Dozier, but in a nice spot to finally break out of his slump tonight.
GPP/Value Plays: Plenty of contrarian options at second to look at tonight. All are considered value plays, and come with some risk. Dee Gordon’s price dipped a bit due his facing Scherzer. Gordon is 8-26 with a HR and only 2 K’s against Scherzer. Howie Kendrick should get the leadoff role tonight vs Moore, who he is 6-18 against. Currently has only one game with an XBH in September. Joe Panik, if playing, went 2-3 with a HR in his first game vs Meada, and is currently in an 0-18 slump. T.J. Rivera makes for a safer punt play at second on FD.
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| Kris Bryant | CHI | R | H | CIN | Robert Stephenson | R | 571 | .296 | .388 | .562 | .950 | .405 | .266 | 10.60% | 22.10% | 32.40% | 44.20% | 23.40% | 20.20% | .338 | $4,100 | $4,500 | $5,400 |
| Adrian Beltre | TEX | R | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 555 | .299 | .358 | .515 | .873 | .374 | .216 | 7.70% | 10.50% | 42.60% | 36.60% | 20.90% | 16.90% | .293 | $3,100 | $4,600 | $5,150 |
| T.J. Rivera | NYM | R | H | ATL | Ryan Weber | R | 68 | .338 | .333 | .515 | .848 | .357 | .177 | 1.40% | 9.70% | 42.20% | 29.70% | 28.10% | 15.80% | .328 | $2,800 | $3,100 | $4,300 |
| Jose Reyes | NYM | B | H | ATL | Ryan Weber | R | 211 | .265 | .322 | .450 | .772 | .332 | .185 | 7.80% | 19.60% | 37.00% | 44.40% | 18.50% | 9.70% | .306 | $2,700 | $4,500 | $4,750 |
| Jake Lamb | ARI | L | A | SD | Luis Perdomo | R | 491 | .251 | .330 | .517 | .847 | .359 | .266 | 10.30% | 26.50% | 46.70% | 32.50% | 20.90% | 25.00% | .297 | $3,300 | $4,400 | $4,350 |
| Martin Prado | MIA | R | H | WSH | Max Scherzer | R | 569 | .309 | .365 | .418 | .783 | .342 | .109 | 7.80% | 10.40% | 50.50% | 26.10% | 23.40% | 5.40% | .337 | $2,500 | $2,700 | $4,000 |
Third Base
Cash/GPP Hybrid Plays: Kris Bryant costs a little too much on FD tonight, but is definitely in play on DK and Aces. He went 3-5 with two doubles last night, and look for him to turn a double into a HR tonight. On FD, you can save a little bit, and target either Adrian Beltre or Jose Reyes. While Beltre doesn’t have great career numbers vs Weaver (22-90), he’s 4-6 through the first two games of the series, and Vegas likes the Ranger’s tonight as mentioned earlier. The Met’s are in a nice spot to put up some runs finally tonight, and Reyes in the leadoff spot can provide that spark early on. Like him best in a Met’s stack.
Value plays: A nice pivot over Reyes would be T.J. Rivera if playing for the Mets again tonight. He has gone deep in two of his last three games, with at least one hit over his last five games.
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| Adam Frazier | PIT | L | A | MIL | Jimmy Nelson | R | 114 | .351 | .403 | .491 | .894 | .390 | .140 | 7.30% | 15.30% | 45.10% | 20.90% | 34.10% | 10.50% | .409 | $2,200 | $3,500 | $4,200 |
| Addison Russell | CHI | R | H | CIN | Robert Stephenson | R | 498 | .245 | .325 | .430 | .755 | .326 | .185 | 9.20% | 22.60% | 42.70% | 36.80% | 20.50% | 15.40% | .285 | $2,500 | $3,800 | $4,750 |
| Elvis Andrus | TEX | R | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 479 | .299 | .359 | .426 | .785 | .341 | .127 | 8.30% | 12.10% | 49.60% | 26.30% | 24.10% | 5.50% | .330 | $3,100 | $4,000 | $4,300 |
| J.J. Hardy | BAL | R | H | BOS | Clay Buchholz | R | 367 | .275 | .316 | .420 | .736 | .319 | .145 | 6.10% | 14.70% | 47.40% | 33.90% | 18.70% | 8.60% | .303 | $2,200 | $3,500 | $4,350 |
| Tim Anderson | CWS | R | A | PHI | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 362 | .279 | .303 | .406 | .709 | .308 | .127 | 3.10% | 27.50% | 60.20% | 21.50% | 18.40% | 12.70% | .375 | $2,900 | $3,400 | $4,450 |
| Asdrubal Cabrera | NYM | B | H | ATL | Ryan Weber | R | 477 | .279 | .335 | .470 | .805 | .347 | .191 | 6.50% | 18.90% | 39.90% | 36.50% | 23.50% | 14.50% | .313 | $3,100 | $4,200 | $4,600 |
Shortstop
Cash Plays: Xander Bogaerts is one of those top plays not listed, but in play tonight. SS tonight for me though is a salary relief position led by Adam Frazier if leading off for the Pirates tonight. He’s recorded three hits in two of his last three starts, and 1-2 in only game vs Nelson. Addison Russell at his price in the heart of the Cub’s lineup always looks juicy on paper. He’s not the most consistent yet, but don’t need much to pay off his price tag on FD and DK.
GPP Plays: Might as well go all in on the Met’s infield tonight, and add Asdrubal Cabrera to the Met’s stack. He took Weber deep in his only AB vs him, and coming off a 3-3 game last night. Elvis Andrus works best in a Ranger’s stack, but has been swinging the bat well lately going 4-7 with a HR and SB so far in this series.
Value Play: J.J. Hardy has at least 2 hits in 6 of his last 11 games, and is 8-24 with 3 HR’s off Buckholtz.
| Player | Tm | Bats | H/A | Opp | Opp Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| Mookie Betts | BOS | R | A | BAL | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | 635 | .317 | .358 | .542 | .900 | .384 | .225 | 6.30% | 11.60% | 42.10% | 37.40% | 20.50% | 14.90% | .320 | $4,100 | $5,600 | $5,500 |
| Bryce Harper | WSH | L | A | MIA | Tom Koehler | R | 479 | .240 | .374 | .441 | .815 | .348 | .201 | 17.60% | 18.00% | 42.00% | 38.80% | 19.10% | 16.70% | .255 | $3,800 | $4,600 | $5,400 |
| Tyler Naquin | CLE | L | H | KC | Ian Kennedy | R | 297 | .300 | .371 | .535 | .906 | .385 | .235 | 9.50% | 31.60% | 49.00% | 26.60% | 24.50% | 27.50% | .419 | $2,900 | $3,700 | $4,450 |
| Trea Turner | WSH | R | A | MIA | Tom Koehler | R | 264 | .345 | .366 | .572 | .938 | .400 | .227 | 3.30% | 18.50% | 44.40% | 31.40% | 24.20% | 16.90% | .392 | $4,400 | $5,500 | $5,000 |
| Carlos Beltran | TEX | B | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 524 | .304 | .344 | .546 | .890 | .364 | .242 | 5.90% | 16.90% | 42.50% | 33.60% | 23.90% | 18.60% | .318 | $3,400 | $4,100 | $4,500 |
| Domingo Santana | MIL | R | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 202 | .257 | .355 | .455 | .810 | .355 | .198 | 12.40% | 30.80% | 45.70% | 22.50% | 31.80% | 31.00% | .352 | $3,200 | $3,900 | $3,650 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | TB | L | H | NYY | Masahiro Tanaka | R | 334 | .243 | .330 | .419 | .749 | .329 | .176 | 10.30% | 18.20% | 43.10% | 37.70% | 19.20% | 12.20% | .272 | $3,900 | $4,000 | $4,350 |
| Jackie Bradley Jr. | BOS | L | A | BAL | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | 525 | .276 | .355 | .505 | .860 | .368 | .229 | 9.70% | 22.80% | 48.60% | 33.90% | 17.50% | 19.70% | .323 | $3,600 | $4,800 | $4,700 |
| Adam Jones | BAL | R | H | BOS | Clay Buchholz | R | 572 | .275 | .317 | .455 | .772 | .334 | .180 | 5.70% | 17.10% | 43.90% | 39.60% | 16.50% | 15.30% | .290 | $3,500 | $4,900 | $4,700 |
Player News
TJ Friedl went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs and a walk in a 4-3 win over the Braves on Wednesday.
This was the ‘TJ Friedl’ show as he opened the game by homering off a hanging curveball from Grant Holmes in a game the Reds would never trail. He took Holmes deep again in his next at-bat and this was his first multi-home run game since August 14th of last season. While his tools will never jump off the page, he’s still hitting lead-off nearly every day for the Reds.
Emilio Pagán allowed one hit and struck out two batters in one inning of work to earn the save against the Braves on Wednesday.
Pagán did well here to put yesterday’s blown save behind him. He worked around a two-out single from Michael Harris to set the Braves down with ease and is running a 31.7% strikeout rate, which would be his highest since way back in 2019. The team clearly still trusts him to be their guy in the ninth inning.
Drake Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a solo home run on Wednesday against the Reds.
Baldwin’s solo home run in the fifth inning started the Braves comeback that would eventually be for naught, but he has managed to keep hitting despite falling into a back-up role since Sean Murphy returned from injury. He’s only playing one of every three games – very standard for a back-up catcher – yet has maintained some relevance in two-catcher formats with his .796 OPS on the season and three home runs in his last 15 starts.
Grant Holmes allowed seven hits and four runs with one walk and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Reds on Wednesday.
TJ Friedl burned Holmes for a lead-off home run on a hanging curveball and not much came easily after that. Friedl got Holmes for another homer in his next at-bat and in all, he’d given up four runs through the first four innings. He did manage to pitch into the sixth inning though and still forced 12 swings-and-misses, but that curveball command was spotty all game and forced him to lean on his slider a bit more than he would’ve liked. He’s set for a two-start week against the Nationals and then Red Sox in Fenway Park.
Orioles acquired RHP Luis F. Castillo from the Mariners for cash considerations.
Castillo heads to Triple-A Norfolk as quality extra starting pitching depth for the Orioles, who are struggling to find solutions for the back of their rotation which currently features struggling veterans Charlie Morton and Kyle Gibson. The 30-year-old righty holds a career 5.06 ERA in five appearances (two starts) in the majors.
Orioles designated LHP Walter Pennington for assignment.
Pennington has been jettisoned from Baltimore’s 40-man roster to make room for the club to acquire Luis F. Castillo from the Mariners. The 27-year-old lefty was claimed off waivers last week from the Rangers.