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!

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
James McCannDETRAMINJose BerriosR320.222.274.366.640.280.1446.60%29.30%44.50%38.90%16.60%14.60%.282$2,200$3,100$3,800
Gary SanchezNYYRATBAlex CobbR162.327.399.7101.109.462.3839.80%24.00%48.70%33.60%17.60%42.50%.353$3,900$4,600$4,900
Jonathan LucroyTEXRHLAAJered WeaverR464.286.362.563.925.370.2778.90%18.40%39.40%36.60%24.00%17.60%.326$3,800$5,000$4,600
Sandy LeonBOSBABALUbaldo JimenezR232.328.383.509.892.384.1817.70%22.80%45.40%31.00%23.60%13.00%.411$2,500$3,500$4,350
Brian McCannNYYLATBAlex CobbR401.234.328.409.737.325.17510.90%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.

 

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
David OrtizBOSLABALUbaldo JimenezR497.318.403.6341.037.430.31612.80%13.00%35.00%42.00%23.00%20.10%.310$4,500$5,600$5,350
Albert PujolsLAARATEXDerek HollandL569.264.319.452.771.332.1887.50%11.90%45.20%37.10%17.60%16.40%.255$3,500$4,700$4,800
Freddie FreemanATLLANYMBartolo ColonR557.302.397.566.963.405.26412.60%24.50%32.80%36.90%30.30%21.20%.370$3,900$4,800$5,200
Jose AbreuCWSRAPHIJerad EickhoffR586.300.354.485.839.359.1856.30%18.20%47.60%31.20%21.20%17.40%.334$3,500$4,200$4,700
Mike NapoliCLERHKCIan KennedyR525.246.340.486.826.356.24011.90%30.70%36.60%41.00%22.40%24.50%.307$3,300$4,300$4,800
Josh BellPITBAMILJimmy NelsonR93.312.416.462.878.384.15015.90%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. 

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Brian DozierMINRHDETBuck FarmerR577.281.353.572.925.390.2919.10%19.20%37.60%46.20%16.20%19.60%.291$4,200$5,200$5,250
Ben ZobristCHIBHCINRobert StephensonR495.263.377.420.797.350.15714.90%13.30%48.80%27.70%23.50%12.80%.284$3,600$4,100$4,800
Howie KendrickLARHSFMatt MooreL451.266.337.384.721.318.1189.50%17.50%60.90%17.40%21.80%12.70%.313$2,500$3,700$4,300
Joe PanikSFLALAKenta MaedaR429.242.318.382.700.305.1409.70%9.00%46.90%35.50%17.60%7.30%.247$2,500$3,400$4,300
Dee GordonMIALHWSHMax ScherzerR293.256.289.314.603.265.0584.50%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.

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Kris BryantCHIRHCINRobert StephensonR571.296.388.562.950.405.26610.60%22.10%32.40%44.20%23.40%20.20%.338$4,100$4,500$5,400
Adrian BeltreTEXRHLAAJered WeaverR555.299.358.515.873.374.2167.70%10.50%42.60%36.60%20.90%16.90%.293$3,100$4,600$5,150
T.J. RiveraNYMRHATLRyan WeberR68.338.333.515.848.357.1771.40%9.70%42.20%29.70%28.10%15.80%.328$2,800$3,100$4,300
Jose ReyesNYMBHATLRyan WeberR211.265.322.450.772.332.1857.80%19.60%37.00%44.40%18.50%9.70%.306$2,700$4,500$4,750
Jake LambARILASDLuis PerdomoR491.251.330.517.847.359.26610.30%26.50%46.70%32.50%20.90%25.00%.297$3,300$4,400$4,350
Martin PradoMIARHWSHMax ScherzerR569.309.365.418.783.342.1097.80%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.

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Adam FrazierPITLAMILJimmy NelsonR114.351.403.491.894.390.1407.30%15.30%45.10%20.90%34.10%10.50%.409$2,200$3,500$4,200
Addison RussellCHIRHCINRobert StephensonR498.245.325.430.755.326.1859.20%22.60%42.70%36.80%20.50%15.40%.285$2,500$3,800$4,750
Elvis AndrusTEXRHLAAJered WeaverR479.299.359.426.785.341.1278.30%12.10%49.60%26.30%24.10%5.50%.330$3,100$4,000$4,300
J.J. HardyBALRHBOSClay BuchholzR367.275.316.420.736.319.1456.10%14.70%47.40%33.90%18.70%8.60%.303$2,200$3,500$4,350
Tim AndersonCWSRAPHIJerad EickhoffR362.279.303.406.709.308.1273.10%27.50%60.20%21.50%18.40%12.70%.375$2,900$3,400$4,450
Asdrubal CabreraNYMBHATLRyan WeberR477.279.335.470.805.347.1916.50%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.

 

PlayerTmBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Mookie BettsBOSRABALUbaldo JimenezR635.317.358.542.900.384.2256.30%11.60%42.10%37.40%20.50%14.90%.320$4,100$5,600$5,500
Bryce HarperWSHLAMIATom KoehlerR479.240.374.441.815.348.20117.60%18.00%42.00%38.80%19.10%16.70%.255$3,800$4,600$5,400
Tyler NaquinCLELHKCIan KennedyR297.300.371.535.906.385.2359.50%31.60%49.00%26.60%24.50%27.50%.419$2,900$3,700$4,450
Trea TurnerWSHRAMIATom KoehlerR264.345.366.572.938.400.2273.30%18.50%44.40%31.40%24.20%16.90%.392$4,400$5,500$5,000
Carlos BeltranTEXBHLAAJered WeaverR524.304.344.546.890.364.2425.90%16.90%42.50%33.60%23.90%18.60%.318$3,400$4,100$4,500
Domingo SantanaMILRHPITChad KuhlR202.257.355.455.810.355.19812.40%30.80%45.70%22.50%31.80%31.00%.352$3,200$3,900$3,650
Kevin KiermaierTBLHNYYMasahiro TanakaR334.243.330.419.749.329.17610.30%18.20%43.10%37.70%19.20%12.20%.272$3,900$4,000$4,350
Jackie Bradley Jr.BOSLABALUbaldo JimenezR525.276.355.505.860.368.2299.70%22.80%48.60%33.90%17.50%19.70%.323$3,600$4,800$4,700
Adam JonesBALRHBOSClay BuchholzR572.275.317.455.772.334.1805.70%17.10%43.90%39.60%16.50%15.30%.290$3,500$4,900$4,700