DFS MLB Hitting Coach: September 5

    Happy Labor Day!  Today’s slate is dependent on what site you play, as the FD main slate does not include the early games while other sites do.  I’ll try to recommend players from the entire slate to help on all sites.  As it has been this entire week, look for value players once lineups come out, but be aware that they are more likely than others to be pinch hit for with the expanded rosters.  With the full slate, the late night players usually go low owned, which makes them high risk/high reward type players.  Keep an eye on the Houston/Cleveland game for some late night options.   Good luck!

Catcher

Cash Play:  Wilson Ramos faces the spot starter in Weber today with the Nationals in a great spot to put up runs.  Nick Hundley has four HR’s over his last eight starts, and if in the lineup, makes for a great play vs the lefty Moore.  Buster Posey is only 1-16 over his last, and only four XBH’s since August 10^th.  A trip to Coors can help turn his slump around.  If looking to go cheaper, feel free to look at Stephen Vogt, who is 10-31 with 2 HR’s vs Weaver, and was on a nice game hit streak before an O’fer yesterday.

GPP plays:  So gave plenty of options for cash games, and they all work as well for gpp’s.  A player not listed above that I like is Yasmani Grandal.  His matchup is not ideal, but he is hot from the plate with homers in back to back games.  Victor Martinez has great numbers vs Sale and is worth a look as well.

Value Plays: Once lineups come out, there should be some punt options.  For now, I like Tucker Barnhart in the early matchups.

First Base

Cash Plays:  First is pretty stacked tonight with great players at similar prices which leaves it as a personal preference option.  Brandon Belt is your Coor’s option, but price may be too inflated on FD to use him in cash.  Anthony Rizzo is 3-8 off Davies, and is 5-10 over his last two games.  For roughly the same price there is always the Joey Votto option for cash games.  He is 2-3 off Colon, and comes in with a .423 wOBA with RHP.  For cheaper, take a look at the hot hitting Jose Abreu.  He is 10-27 with 4 HR’s off Verlander, and has at least 2 or more hits in four of his last five games, with four HR’s. 

GPP Plays:  Chris Davis and C.J. Cron check in as my favorite gpp plays of the names not listed above.  There are multiple routes you can go including players loss Moss that aren’t listed, but can’t include everyone.  Davis has taken Andriese deep in their first matchup, and coming off a 4-11 series against the Yankees.  Cron vs Pujols is a tough call with both hot from the plate.  I’ll stick with what I hope would be the lower owned option of the two. 

Value Play:  The Rays are in a nice spot today, and that includes Logan Morrison, who is 4-6 off Jimenez, and has a HR in two of his last three games.

Second Base  

Cash plays:   Brian Dozier is on fire, and don’t think it is just due to the terrible White Sox.  He is on a 9 game hit streak, with a HR in 5 of those games including the last 3 days.  Funny that Joe Panik and D.J. LeMahieu comes with a higher price tags on DK than Dozier.  Panik though, has a great price on Aces.  If playing the early slate on FD, Dee Gordon is a steal at only $2500. 

GPP plays: If many will be on Dozier that really opens up your gpp options if looking to stand out.  Fading Coors 2B would be the best route for low owned options, including Daniel Murphy and Jason Kipnis.  Murphy is looking for his first XBH in September, and in a great spot to do so.  Kipnis has hit safely in 7 of his last 9 games, and works well in an Indian’s stack. 

Value Plays:  Jose Peraza leading off vs Colon makes for an interesting option, and almost a must play on Aces.  Waiting on lineups, but if pure punting, Joey Wendle is dirt cheap.  More of a play against Weaver than pro Wendle.

Third Base

Cash Plays:  I believe you should pay up at third for either Nolan Arenado or  Kris Bryant.   Noaln would be my preferred option the lefty Moore who he is 2-3 lifetime against.  He tripled last night making it his first series in the last four in which he didn’t go deep.  Expecting that trend to end today.  Bryant is 4-9 with a HR off Davies, and finally doesn’t have any wind effects to deal with.  He’s hit safely in 16 of last 17 games. 

GPP plays: Going to be hard to fade the above two in cash games, and possibly even gpps, but with their prices being up there, we have a few cheaper options in nice matchups as well.  Trevor Plouffe is 6-14 with a HR off Kennedy, and had two dongs in the series vs the Sox.  Makes for great pair with Dozier.  Todd Frazier and Wilmer Flores are also in nice spots in their team stacks.  Flores has cooled off lately which means he will be low owned, and Frazier is your HR or bust player in a Sox stack.

Value Play:  The value plays today may be with Oakland, picking on Weaver.  Ryon Healy fits that option for third, but don’t recommend punting for cash at all at third today.

Shortstop

Cash Plays: While I’m nowhere close to punting at third today, SS looks to be my salary relief option position.  Addison Russell is 2-6 off Davies, but more importantly, is dirt cheap on FD as an early only option.  Marcus Semien is my last A’s player mentioned, but my favorite.  His price is great across the board if leading off again, and is 6-17 vs Weaver.  The one player I’ll pay up for is Trea Turner.  Yes, I know his position eligibility is not as a SS on all sites, but think he is in play across the board.  Like his price most on Aces. 

GPP Plays: I really like Corey Seager, to go along with the Dodgers as sneaky gpp options vs Grienke.  Seager is 2-3 with a homer off him, and in a major slump currently, with failing to record a hit in 6 of last 7 games.  Asdrubal Carbrera’s price has jumped up a bit lately, but still has a very solid price on Aces if looking at the Met’s today.      

Value Play:  Alcides Escobar is on a 12 game hit streak that included a HR last night to make it three over this streak.  Stinks he doesn’t bat leadoff, but will work as salary relief or in a Royal’s stack.   

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Outfield

Sorry, but couldn’t access the spreadsheet for OF today.  Please click on their name or on the lineup page if looking for detailed info on them. 

The Coor’s game to me is a fade the Rockies OF, and target the Giant’s.  The two righty hitters for Colorado are ones that can get pinch hit for early, while on the flip side, the Giants are in a much better spot.  Hunter Pence would be my must play OF today.  He is 5-11 with a HR off Bettis.  Other Giant’s OF like Angel Pagan and Denard Span are in play as well.  The Met’s OF with Alejandro De Aza and Jay Bruce are both in nice spots. De Aza is dirt cheap.  Lately, there has been a Philly or two that is low priced, but in a nice spot.  Today, that is Aaron Altherr.  He’s not a must play, but my favorite of the cheaper options to punt with in that game is Tyler Holt.  Both are better used for gpp’s but if need relief, they are available.  Kevin Kiermaier has taken Jimenez deep before, and is on a nice 8 game hit streak.  On the other side of that game is Adam Jones, who went 3-5 in first matchup vs Andriese, and has three straight 2 hit games.  Last, but not least, are your later game top players in Mike Trout, Miguel Sano, and George Springer.  Trout disappointed last night, but still had a nice game.  Sano and Springer are best used in their team stacks. 

Value Plays: Jarrod Dyson has been hot lately if in the leadoff spot, and is in there again today.    I mentioned some other value plays above, with Holt leading the way, but once lineups come out for the later games, there should be some more value.