While last night provided an abundance of runs, I have a feeling tonight’s scores will be much lower.  There is no Coors field game to worry about, and even though we have a 9 run total, as well as multiple 8.5 total games, I don’t think any game will come close to the multiple high scoring ones last night.  If I had to choose, I like the Red Sox as the obvious play, with the Pirates as the sneaky stack.  The only problem with Pitt is that they have multiple banged up players that may not start or play a full game.  Good luck tonight, and have a nice weekend!

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Jonathan LucroyMILCRAPHIVince VelasquezR181.304.361.530.891.376.2268.40%19.30%37.00%37.80%25.20%17.60%.338$3,500$3,900$4,800
Derek NorrisSDCRHCOLChris RusinL159.195.257.346.603.252.1516.90%25.70%40.20%36.60%23.20%12.20%.234$2,500$3,600$4,200
Wilson RamosWSHCRACINBrandon FinneganL151.338.383.536.919.395.1986.80%11.70%55.40%20.00%24.60%26.90%.352$3,400$4,200$4,650
Yasmani GrandalLACBHATLJulio TeheranR114.184.288.351.639.285.16712.90%23.50%54.80%29.80%15.50%16.00%.213$2,500$2,700$4,450
Victor MartinezDETCBHCWSCarlos RodonL187.337.379.529.908.388.1925.90%10.30%36.80%35.60%27.60%13.80%.344$3,200$4,400$4,950

Catcher

I’m sticking with my top targets from last night in Jonathan Lucroy and Derek NorrisBoth came through last night, and in nice spots again.  Yasmani Grandal is only batting .184, but is 4-9 with 3 doubles vs Teheran.  Carlos Rodon has been pitching better, but like Victor Martinez as part of a mini Tigers stack. Wilson Ramos is in play with Washington stack, but concentrating on my top two targets tonight.

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
                         
Miguel CabreraDET1BRHCWSCarlos RodonL200.310.385.550.935.398.24010.60%15.00%47.50%26.50%25.90%27.90%.323$3,600$4,800$5,750
Freddie FreemanATL1BLALAKenta MaedaR199.251.338.432.770.331.1819.80%25.80%33.10%37.40%29.50%17.30%.311$2,900$3,500$4,750
Carlos SantanaCLE1BBHKCEdinson VolquezR190.226.336.426.762.334.20014.20%11.10%43.90%42.10%14.00%13.00%.214$3,500$4,100$4,650
John JasoPIT1BLHLAAJered WeaverR166.301.368.434.802.351.1339.10%12.90%63.30%18.70%18.00%11.50%.336$3,000$3,700$4,300
Matt AdamsSTL1BLHSFJohnny CuetoR114.316.368.553.921.392.2377.20%24.00%36.50%35.30%28.20%20.00%.380$3,100$2,600$4,400
Albert PujolsLAA1BRAPITFrancisco LirianoL200.230.311.420.731.316.19010.20%12.40%49.70%32.20%18.10%20.00%.216$3,700$4,000$4,650
David OrtizBOSDHLHTORR.A. DickeyR185.335.415.7301.145.471.39512.30%15.10%32.90%44.10%23.00%23.90%.333$4,600$5,500$5,650

First Base

I wish David Ortiz’s price wasn’t as high as it is.  It’s tough to fit a few top Red Sox players without fully punting, but he still checks in as a top play, and has taken Dickey deep 3 times in his career.  Albert Pujos makes for a nice GPP target that will be low owned.  He is a career .376 hitter at PNC, and also has almost an 100 point AVG increase while playing at 1B this season.  The risk is due to his poor stats vs Liriano.  Matt Adams also checks in as another low owned GPP target.  Cueto has struggled at Busch, and Adams is 5-14 with a HR off of him.  If looking for a solid and safe mid-tier option, you can’t go wrong with John Jaso at lead-off.

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Dustin PedroiaBOS2BRHTORR.A. DickeyR217.318.376.488.864.376.1708.40%13.90%48.10%27.30%24.60%14.00%.350$4,000$4,900$5,000
Ian KinslerDET2BRHCWSCarlos RodonL208.317.367.538.905.390.2216.20%15.50%31.00%44.60%24.40%14.70%.337$4,000$4,700$5,400
Daniel MurphyWSH2BLACINBrandon FinneganL198.394.427.6361.063.451.2424.70%10.80%31.20%40.60%28.20%13.00%.411$4,400$4,500$5,100
Neil WalkerNYM2BBAMIATom KoehlerR180.283.345.522.867.369.2398.60%23.40%31.30%41.20%27.50%24.10%.314$3,500$4,300$4,750
Gordon BeckhamATL2BRALAKenta MaedaR95.284.382.432.814.361.14810.90%10.00%48.80%29.30%22.00%8.30%.305$2,200$2,500$3,500
Jurickson ProfarTEX2BBHSEATaijuan WalkerR28.357.357.571.928.397.2140.00%17.90%55.00%25.00%20.00%20.00%.409$2,500$3,200$0
Chase d'ArnaudATL2BRALAKenta MaedaR57.351.431.474.905.397.12312.30%15.40%43.20%29.50%27.30%0.00%.426$2,200$3,500$4,000

Second Base  

The easiest and probably smartest play in my opinion is just to plug and play Daniel Murphy, and his ML best .394 AVG.  The lefty/lefty matchup doesn’t really bother me tonight.  If looking for a other solid options at a similar price, look to target either Dustin Pedroia or Ian KinslerIf punting, I really like Jurickson ProfarSmall sample size, but hopefully leading off, and is batting .357 for the season.

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Evan LongoriaTB3BRAMINRicky NolascoR209.273.319.493.812.346.2206.20%24.30%32.00%43.80%24.20%14.90%.322$3,700$3,800$4,900
Todd FrazierCWS3BRADETJordan ZimmermannR200.220.314.500.814.349.28011.40%17.90%35.00%49.40%15.60%21.50%.189$3,900$3,800$5,350
Kyle SeagerSEA3BLATEXYu DarvishR200.295.369.535.904.384.2409.80%13.30%32.40%46.50%21.20%12.70%.304$3,900$4,200$5,100
Danny ValenciaOAK3BRAHOUDoug FisterR133.346.380.579.959.408.2335.60%16.90%43.50%29.60%26.90%25.00%.373$3,600$4,000$4,850
Andres BlancoPHI3BBHMILJimmy NelsonR70.271.338.457.795.346.1865.20%22.10%49.10%26.40%24.50%7.10%.346$2,100$2,500$3,600

Third Base

 Kyle Seager is swinging a hot bat lately, and has gone 7-22 vs Yu in the past.  Another hot batter is Evan LongoriaHe went deep last night, and Nolasco has a 7.33 ERA in 8 starts vs Tampa.  A much lower owned pivot play can be Todd Frazier who only hits HR’s now.  Danny Valencia has been a big part of the A’s winning streak with a .667 AVG, but is only 1-8 vs Fister so many will shy away.  If looking for a cheap option, Andres Blanco makes for a cheap option who bats towards the top of the lineup.

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Xander BogaertsBOSSSRHTORR.A. DickeyR227.348.397.507.904.392.1597.30%16.20%55.70%27.30%16.90%12.00%.401$3,900$5,300$5,300
Corey SeagerLASSLHATLJulio TeheranR215.274.331.465.796.343.1917.60%17.40%51.40%24.90%23.70%20.90%.299$3,400$3,800$4,850
Jonathan VillarMILSSBAPHIVince VelasquezR190.305.409.432.841.372.12714.50%23.70%61.00%16.20%22.80%13.60%.410$3,400$4,500$4,550
Zack CozartCINSSRHWSHGio GonzalezL170.306.333.524.857.362.2183.80%12.00%39.60%32.90%27.50%14.30%.310$3,600$3,900$4,650
Didi GregoriusNYYSSLABALChris TillmanR166.259.287.367.654.287.1083.40%11.90%50.30%31.70%17.90%8.70%.275$2,500$2,900$4,300
Eduardo NunezMINSSRHTBJake OdorizziR169.331.358.509.867.373.1782.80%16.70%48.60%32.10%19.30%13.30%.370$3,200$3,900$4,350
Brad MillerTBSSLAMINRicky NolascoR160.250.310.450.760.329.2008.00%24.10%49.10%32.80%18.10%13.20%.310$3,100$3,900$4,150

Shortstop

I am not a huge fan of the SS position tonight.  Xander Bogaerts will be the popular play I feel for both cash and GPP games, and rightfully so.  He is on a 26 game hit streak, and has a .361 AVG vs Dickey. It will be hard to fade him, but it could be the move to help you win a tourney.  Both Brad Miller and Eduardo Nunez are solid plays, but not overly excited.  I wish Didi Gregorius batted towards the top of the lineup.  He is a nice cheap option that is 5-10 with 2 HR’s vs Tillman, and more than likely, will be on most of my rosters.  Zack Cozart is due for a heat check tonight after recording 8 hits in his series vs the Rockies.  Corey Seager is always a HR threat, but more of a late night hammer GPP only pick.

 

PlayerTmPosBatsH/AOppOpp PitcherThrowsABAVGOBPSLGOPSwOBAISOBB%K%GB%FB%LD%HR/FBBABIP$FD$DK$Aces
Mookie BettsBOSCFRHTORR.A. DickeyR237.287.336.544.880.376.2576.60%14.10%44.80%36.30%18.90%19.20%.287$4,700$5,500$5,800
Matt KempSDRFRHCOLChris RusinL221.240.249.466.715.299.2261.80%23.30%38.70%39.90%21.40%19.40%.252$3,200$4,600$4,750
Jon JaySDCFLHCOLChris RusinL209.301.351.416.767.337.1156.20%21.80%56.30%17.70%25.90%7.10%.386$3,100$3,400$3,900
Ian DesmondTEXLFRHSEATaijuan WalkerR206.291.341.471.812.350.1806.30%21.10%54.50%24.70%20.80%18.40%.346$4,000$4,700$4,800
Mark TrumboBALRFRHNYYNathan EovaldiR205.288.342.585.927.396.2976.80%26.60%40.00%37.90%22.10%32.10%.326$3,600$3,900$5,600
Jose BautistaTORRFRABOSDavid PriceL195.231.361.472.833.361.24116.80%16.40%41.40%35.70%22.90%19.60%.231$4,100$4,100$5,500
Melvin UptonSDCFRHCOLChris RusinL195.251.312.395.707.308.1448.30%25.00%50.40%29.50%20.10%14.60%.314$3,000$3,700$4,450
Corey DickersonTBLFLAMINRicky NolascoR156.199.242.442.684.288.2435.50%27.90%40.50%42.30%17.10%19.10%.218$2,800$3,600$4,600
Robbie GrossmanMINLFBHTBJake OdorizziR44.364.451.6361.087.463.27213.70%15.70%47.10%32.40%20.60%18.20%.412$3,000$2,500$3,000

Outfield

Way too many options for OF tonight again. Mookie Betts has a .323 AVG vs Dickey, and is still hot even though he didn’t homer last night.  Salary relief can be found with the Padres OF.  John Jay (5-6 2 2B’s), Matt Kemp (3-6 HR),  and Melvin Upton (3-6 2B) have all hit Rusin well in previous matchups, and the Padres offense has been scoring lately. Jose Bautista will be very low owned which makes him a great GPP target.  He actually has hit Price very well, with a .345 AVG with 6 HR in 55 AB’s.   If targeting some Rays players, Corey Dickerson should be part of your stack, and due for a HR.  DK finally raised Robbie Grossman’s price, but he is still at only $2500.