DFS MLB Hitting Coach June 24

Two interesting facts heading into tonight’s slate:

 The Padres are leading the NL in runs scored in June.

Colorado pitcher Tyler Anderson has yet to allow a HR though his first two starts.

 I think the second fact won’t be around much longer, but the first one continues to hold up.  Good luck!

Catcher

Cash Play:  Last night for cash games I recommended both Welington Castillo and Derek Norris.  While Castillo disappointed, Norris paid off with a homer in his second straight game.  Tonight he gets to face a prospect in Reed where the matchup is just as juicy as last night.  Castillo is in play as well, but if off Norris, I would rather take my chances paying down for Wilson Contreras.  His salary is still cheap across the board for a player that has homered twice while recording hits in all 5 games he has played this season.

GPP plays:  I’m going to try to make sure I roster a catcher from a team I already have a few players in my lineups.  While any of the above fit that mold, the veteran catchers: Russell Martin, Matt Wieters, and Yadier Molina stand out to me tonight.  All three are up against shaky pitchers, and have batters around them that I can pair up with.  Wieters is 8-20 with 2 HR’s vs Moore and has the best chance of the three to go deep.  Martin has hit safely in his last 7 games, and went deep last night.  Molina will be the lowest owned of the three due to his 1 hit over his last 20 AB’s.  He is 2-2 vs LeBlanc, and provides the late night hammer option.

Value Plays:  Eric Surkamp is not a good pitcher making Carlos Perez, who has taken him deep before, a nice value option at minimum price.  Wilson Contreras will be a popular value play, and can definitely pay off, but have to take risks on large slates for tourneys.

First Base

Cash Plays:  Yesterday I said Paul Goldschmidt at Coors field is all you need to know for your cash games tonight. He produced 3 hits, but unfortunately for DFS, all singles.   I’m thinking those singles turn into XBH’s tonight.  While I recommend paying the hefty price tag for Goldschmidt, both Will Myers, and Hanley Ramirez make for nice cash game plays as well I feel.  Both are slightly riskier plays, but provide a cheaper option.

GPP Plays:  John Jaso and Brandon Belt are my favorite GPP options outside of the three listed above.  Most will pay up for 1B, so I’ll look at Jaso leading off for cheap against a spot start pitcher.  Belt has been swinging a hot bat lately, and the Giants are in a great spot to put up another double digit run effort. 

Value Play:  Jaso checks in as a value play, but continuing to pick on Surkamp, C.J. Cron is cheap, and great to pair with Trout.

Second Base  

Cash plays:  I think I’m going to wait until lineups come out to really choose which route I’m going to go at second base tonight.  Jonathan Schoop was inserted into the three spot last game while batting.320 in June, but Machado is back tonight.  While Schoop is currently my preferred DK and Aces play, D.J. LeMahieu is my top FD target.  He has been a singles machine with three each in his last 3 of 4 games. 

GPP plays:  If Devin Travis is leading off for the Blue Jays, then I’m rolling him out in my Jay’s stack.  Joe Panik has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, and provides the late night hammer option with Belt. 

Value Plays:  Depending on where he is in the lineup, I will be tempted to give Philip Gosselin a shot.  I like him most on DK.  Don’t think I’m not going to include another Angel in the value play spot with Johnny Giavotella.  His 4 homers in June matches his total for all of last season.

Third Base

Cash Plays:  I won’t have the salary to pay up for Nolan or Josh Donalson who are both in play for cash games, but Alex Rodriguez  is 4-9 with 2 Hr’s vs Milone, and has an affordable price.  Outside of A-Rod, I believe there are a few other options in Yunel Escobar who should be batting leadoff with a six game hit streak, and a more riskier option in Travis Shaw.  Shaw hasn’t been in the lineup lately, but should get a chance tonight vs a righty.

GPP plays:   Yangervis Solarte on the high scoring Padres offense is priced towards the low end, and should have plenty of opportunities tonight.  Jhonny Peralta is a nice FD option in a mini Cards stack, but his DK price is up there.

Value Play:  Jung-Ho Kang is priced slightly above some other players listed above that are also value plays, but Kang may bat in the heart of a Pirate’s lineup against a poor pitcher. Has both the power and speed you look for in a cheaper player.

Shortstop

Cash Plays:  Even though he didn’t produce last night, Trevor Story will be the popular play on FD once again due to his $3300 price tag. If you decide to pivot off of Story, Tim Anderson is the way to go on any site.  He has 2 or more hits in five of his last nine games.   

GPP Plays:  I have a feeling that both Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts will be lower owned than usual tonight.  Both come with a high price tag that I don’t think single entry GPP tourney players will roster.  This is due to the two cash game players listed, as well as the popular Troy Tulowitzki and Zack Cozart.  Tulu has homered in 2 of his last 3 games, and is a career lefty crusher.   

Value Play:   I recommend sticking with Anderson if punting, or wait to see if any value opens up when lineups come out.

Outfield

Cash Plays:  I’m sticking with the roughly the same names as last night.  Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon provides you with Coors exposure, and both are in great spots vs Bradley.   Matt Kemp and Adam Duvall both were in this section last night and both went deep.  Nothing changes my thought that it will happen again tonight.  I also have no issues rolling with Mike Trout or Adam Jones tonight.  Trout has the juicy matchup vs Surkamp who he is 3-6 against, but Jones has the BvP special batting 11-27 with 2 HR’s vs Moore. 

GPP Plays:  The GPP ownership levels for OF tonight may be pretty low across the board again tonight. All of the above players mentioned are in play, as well as the players listed in the table.  My favorite play based on value and ownership would be Bryce Harper.  He is up against a hot pitcher in Davies, but he can double his June HR total tonight in a very hitter friendly park.  Marcell Ozuna should be a must play due to his recent performance, but think the Marlins tag next to his name and opponent just draws people off.  He has a triple and 4 HR’s over the last four games he started. 

Value Plays:  I believe the the Dodger’s OF’s in Yasiel Puig, Trayce Thompson, and Joc Pederson are all in play.  It’s a risk, but having your OF be cheap, and all more than likely less than 3% owned could be huge.  Joey Rickard has hit safely in his last six games and has taken Moore deep before.  I like him paired with the other 3 O’s mentioned.