We have a nice looking slate on this Wednesday night. The Rangers check in as having the highest implied run total at just over 6 runs tonight, but I’m really liking the Cubs as a team to watch tonight. They face Nolasco who has been hit or miss this year with more misses, including giving up 3 HR’s in his Angel’s debut. The Brewers have a higher than usual run total tonight, but not fully sold on them as a stack option. With a slate like tonight, I feel that ownership levels will be spread out enough for hitters that you don’t need to take multiple risks to win a tournament. 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 |
| Stephen Vogt | OAK | L | H | BAL | Yovani Gallardo | R | 324 | .272 | .317 | .432 | .749 | .324 | .160 | 5.70% | 14.30% | 31.00% | 46.40% | 22.60% | 7.10% | .295 | $2,600 | $3,800 | $4,200 |
| Jonathan Lucroy | TEX | R | H | COL | Jorge De La Rosa | L | 363 | .240 | .269 | .640 | .909 | .362 | .400 | 8.50% | 18.90% | 40.70% | 35.00% | 24.30% | 16.30% | .331 | $3,500 | $4,700 | $4,700 |
| Willson Contreras | CHI | R | H | LAA | Ricky Nolasco | R | 151 | .265 | .351 | .444 | .795 | .349 | .179 | 9.90% | 24.00% | 56.90% | 24.80% | 18.30% | 22.20% | .327 | $2,900 | $3,800 | $4,600 |
| Travis d'Arnaud | NYM | R | H | ARI | Robbie Ray | L | 158 | .234 | .278 | .323 | .601 | .267 | .089 | 5.30% | 16.00% | 52.30% | 30.30% | 17.40% | 7.50% | .264 | $2,300 | $2,600 | $4,350 |
Catcher
Cash Play: Jonathan Lucroy checks in as the top catcher of the night. Three of his last five hits went for homers, and gets to face the lefty De La Rosa who he is 3-9 lifetime against. While Lucroy’s price is up there, Stephen Vogt has a nice price tag next to his name. He is 3-6 with a HR off Gallardo, and is 3-5 with a HR in the first two games of the series.
GPP plays: Willson Contreras went deep last night finally, and no reason not to go back to him tonight against another HR prone pitcher. I like Vogt slightly more, but feel Contreras can be used in cash as well. With Lucroy’s price, he also makes for a nice gpp play.
Value Plays: On DK only, I would consider punting with Travis d’Arnaud if batting in the middle of the lineup. He comes with a risk, and best used if wanting to fit an extra big bat on your team.
| 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 |
| Anthony Rizzo | CHI | L | H | LAA | Ricky Nolasco | R | 395 | .289 | .398 | .572 | .970 | .410 | .283 | 12.70% | 16.50% | 37.90% | 41.70% | 20.40% | 18.60% | .304 | $4,600 | $5,500 | $5,450 |
| Hanley Ramirez | BOS | R | H | NYY | Nathan Eovaldi | R | 380 | .271 | .347 | .439 | .786 | .341 | .168 | 9.10% | 20.10% | 50.70% | 29.60% | 19.70% | 16.10% | .314 | $3,200 | $3,700 | $5,000 |
| Freddie Freeman | ATL | L | A | MIL | Chase Anderson | R | 425 | .275 | .363 | .501 | .864 | .366 | .226 | 10.70% | 26.30% | 34.40% | 35.70% | 29.90% | 18.10% | .350 | $3,900 | $4,400 | $4,850 |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | R | A | SEA | Felix Hernandez | R | 425 | .311 | .384 | .551 | .935 | .395 | .240 | 10.60% | 17.00% | 46.40% | 32.20% | 21.30% | 23.90% | .330 | $3,500 | $4,900 | $5,000 |
| Mark Reynolds | COL | R | A | TEX | Martin Perez | L | 355 | .279 | .350 | .442 | .792 | .346 | .163 | 9.60% | 26.20% | 44.30% | 29.70% | 26.00% | 16.40% | .361 | $3,200 | $3,700 | $4,500 |
| Yonder Alonso | OAK | L | H | BAL | Yovani Gallardo | R | 337 | .255 | .314 | .362 | .676 | .300 | .107 | 7.90% | 13.60% | 45.80% | 30.60% | 23.60% | 5.70% | .285 | $2,400 | $3,000 | $3,900 |
First Base
Cash Plays: Just like Lucroy, Anthony Rizzo is the top 1B for tonight, but his price tag is a tough one to fit in. He’s 3-7 with a HR off Nolasco. His last four hits all went for doubles, including 2 last night. Hopefully one goes a little bit farther tonight. If it wasn’t for him going 0-10 over last three games, I feel that due to his price, Hanley Ramirez would be a popular play at first tonight on DK, and possibly FD as well. I don’t think it’s worth paying up for the higher priced players. Hanley is 8-19 with a HR off Eovaldi.
GPP Plays: Miguel Cabrera was listed here yesterday and went 3-6 with a HR. He is 11-26 lifetime against Felix, but without a HR vs him. Mark Reynolds has the same price as Hanley on DK, and should be lower owned. He has struggled in this series after a great one vs the Marlins, but gets a nice matchup vs the lefty Perez.
Value Play: Yonder Alonso is 8-22 with a HR off Gallardo, and makes for a nice pairing with Vogt.
| 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 |
| Ben Zobrist | CHI | B | H | LAA | Ricky Nolasco | R | 376 | .279 | .386 | .449 | .835 | .364 | .170 | 14.30% | 12.50% | 48.10% | 26.50% | 25.30% | 15.10% | .297 | $3,700 | $4,900 | $5,000 |
| Dustin Pedroia | BOS | R | H | NYY | Nathan Eovaldi | R | 434 | .297 | .368 | .445 | .813 | .356 | .148 | 10.10% | 12.20% | 48.00% | 26.90% | 25.10% | 11.90% | .321 | $3,300 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Devon Travis | TOR | R | H | TB | Blake Snell | L | 234 | .303 | .341 | .500 | .841 | .362 | .197 | 5.60% | 20.10% | 45.90% | 33.90% | 20.20% | 16.10% | .349 | $3,000 | $4,300 | $4,750 |
| Matt Carpenter | STL | L | H | CIN | Anthony DeSclafani | R | 300 | .293 | .414 | .553 | .967 | .411 | .260 | 16.30% | 17.10% | 32.00% | 41.10% | 27.00% | 14.10% | .329 | $4,100 | $4,500 | $5,100 |
| Brian Dozier | MIN | R | H | HOU | Dallas Keuchel | L | 418 | .261 | .335 | .507 | .842 | .359 | .246 | 8.90% | 16.70% | 36.10% | 47.80% | 16.10% | 14.10% | .268 | $3,300 | $5,000 | $4,950 |
| Josh Harrison | PIT | R | H | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 366 | .271 | .300 | .383 | .683 | .296 | .112 | 3.40% | 15.00% | 46.30% | 34.10% | 19.60% | 3.80% | .308 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $4,550 |
Second Base
Cash plays: I’ll roll out Devon Travis again tonight if he continues to leadoff. Didn’t do anything great last night going 1-4 with a RBI, but is still in a plus matchup tonight. Dustin Pedroia is cheaper than Travis on DK, and is 5-13 with a HR off Eovaldi. He went 2-4 with 2 doubles in the first game of the series.
GPP plays: Ben Zobrist is cash playable, but I’ll take the discounted price with the two listed above for cash. He is 5-12 off Nolasco, and has doubled in three of his last four games. Matt Carpenter and Brian Dozier also make for nice gpp plays. Carpenter works well in a Cards stack, while Dozier is more here for his 5-11 with a HR lifetime stats vs Kuechel. He also went deep last night.
Value Plays: Josh Harrison checks in as more of a DK value play, but should be low owned across the board. He has 5 hits and 4 runs over his last three games, and makes for great pivot off Travis if also in the leadoff spot.
| 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 |
| Kyle Seager | SEA | L | H | DET | Justin Verlander | R | 422 | .284 | .361 | .512 | .873 | .372 | .228 | 9.50% | 15.60% | 35.90% | 42.50% | 21.60% | 14.20% | .302 | $3,300 | $3,100 | $4,800 |
| Evan Longoria | TB | R | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 435 | .283 | .335 | .531 | .866 | .366 | .248 | 7.20% | 22.10% | 31.40% | 46.00% | 22.60% | 16.60% | .317 | $3,600 | $4,000 | $5,300 |
| Josh Donaldson | TOR | R | H | TB | Blake Snell | L | 423 | .296 | .407 | .570 | .977 | .416 | .274 | 14.70% | 17.00% | 38.00% | 39.80% | 22.30% | 20.10% | .315 | $4,100 | $4,800 | $5,650 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert | KC | R | H | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 296 | .301 | .339 | .449 | .788 | .342 | .148 | 5.70% | 19.90% | 48.10% | 30.50% | 21.50% | 12.70% | .354 | $2,600 | $2,800 | $3,750 |
| Kris Bryant | CHI | R | H | LAA | Ricky Nolasco | R | 415 | .284 | .385 | .547 | .932 | .399 | .263 | 11.50% | 23.50% | 33.40% | 44.00% | 22.50% | 21.70% | .327 | $4,400 | $5,100 | $5,500 |
| Nolan Arenado | COL | R | A | TEX | Martin Perez | L | 431 | .288 | .360 | .573 | .933 | .393 | .285 | 9.90% | 13.40% | 35.70% | 44.20% | 20.10% | 18.60% | .277 | $3,900 | $5,200 | $5,500 |
| Jake Lamb | ARI | L | A | NYM | Bartolo Colon | R | 363 | .284 | .358 | .587 | .945 | .398 | .303 | 9.80% | 25.00% | 48.10% | 28.60% | 23.30% | 32.00% | .331 | $3,400 | $5,000 | $5,100 |
Third Base
Cash Plays: Kyle Seager’s price on DK puts him in close to a plug and play position. He is 6-12 with 2 HR’s off Verlander, and now has 2 or more hits in three of his last four games. On the other sites, I can see both Evan Longoria and Jake Lamb being used. Longo is 10-26 with a HR off Happ, and coming off of a 3-5 night. Lamb has a crazy high DK price, but reasonable on FD. He was 5-9 before going 0-4 last night. Gets a nice matchup vs Colon tonight, but probably best used for gpp’s.
GPP plays: Kris Bryant was listed here last night as someone who can go on HR streaks. Well, he went deep last night to make it two games in a row, and nothing in this matchup makes me think he can’t do it for a third straight night. Nolan Arenado may go low owned due to more being likely on Bryant or Josh Donaldson, who has a great matchup himself. Nolan though, has taken Perez deep in the past, and is 4-7 in the series with 1 run and 2 RBI’s in both games.
Value Play: Cheslor Cuthbert is cheap across the board, and is 3-9 with 2 HR’s vs Quintana. He’s also 5-9 over his last two 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 |
| Carlos Correa | HOU | R | A | MIN | Ervin Santana | R | 413 | .269 | .364 | .465 | .829 | .360 | .196 | 12.10% | 20.90% | 50.00% | 26.60% | 23.40% | 19.50% | .318 | $3,600 | $4,100 | $5,200 |
| Tim Anderson | CWS | R | A | KC | Ian Kennedy | R | 212 | .264 | .278 | .396 | .674 | .292 | .132 | 1.40% | 28.20% | 57.20% | 24.30% | 18.40% | 13.50% | .352 | $2,900 | $3,200 | $4,550 |
| Marcus Semien | OAK | R | H | BAL | Yovani Gallardo | R | 392 | .235 | .298 | .452 | .750 | .324 | .217 | 8.40% | 23.30% | 42.20% | 42.90% | 14.90% | 18.50% | .256 | $3,200 | $3,200 | $4,400 |
| Orlando Arcia | MIL | R | H | ATL | Joel De La Cruz | R | 28 | .214 | .290 | .250 | .540 | .250 | .036 | 9.70% | 12.90% | 62.50% | 12.50% | 25.00% | 0.00% | .250 | $2,700 | $3,600 | $4,000 |
| Tim Beckham | TB | R | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 153 | .216 | .277 | .412 | .689 | .299 | .196 | 7.20% | 33.50% | 45.20% | 43.00% | 11.80% | 12.50% | .304 | $2,700 | $2,900 | $3,550 |
Shortstop
Cash Plays: Short stop is pretty thin in my mind tonight with no clear cut picks. Sure, Xander Bogearts is in play, but not sure if I can afford him. Carlos Correa would be my preferred option of the two. He is 3-4 off Santana, and homered last night to make it three straight games with an XBH.
GPP Plays: Believe the two listed above are still the top gpp plays, but also like the potential lower owned Tim Anderson and Marcus Semien. Anderson went 2-3 in his first matchup with Kennedy, and after at little bump, has now hit safely in three straight games. Semien is always better used when batting towards the top of the lineup, but paired with other A’s, makes for nice gpp play. He is 4-11 off Gallardo.
Value Play: Orlando Arcia was listed in this spot yesterday and went 1-4 with a single. Making it five straight games with a hit. Tim Beckham is listed as a SS on DK, and is 4-10 with a HR off Happ. Four of his last five hits went for XBH. Unfortunately, those are his only five hits since July 30th.
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| 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 |
| Matt Kemp | ATL | R | A | MIL | Chase Anderson | R | 439 | .262 | .285 | .489 | .774 | .325 | .227 | 4.30% | 23.60% | 41.40% | 37.40% | 21.20% | 19.70% | .288 | $3,800 | $4,300 | $4,850 |
| Andrew McCutchen | PIT | R | H | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 401 | .242 | .319 | .404 | .723 | .315 | .162 | 9.20% | 24.60% | 37.40% | 37.80% | 24.80% | 13.90% | .296 | $3,400 | $4,100 | $4,850 |
| Starling Marte | PIT | R | H | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 387 | .315 | .375 | .465 | .840 | .365 | .150 | 5.00% | 20.10% | 50.50% | 23.90% | 25.60% | 10.00% | .390 | $3,800 | $5,400 | $5,050 |
| Adam Jones | BAL | R | A | OAK | Ross Detwiler | L | 435 | .276 | .321 | .464 | .785 | .339 | .188 | 5.90% | 17.40% | 44.00% | 38.60% | 17.30% | 16.20% | .292 | $3,900 | $3,800 | $4,750 |
| Ian Desmond | TEX | R | H | COL | Jorge De La Rosa | L | 448 | .290 | .340 | .489 | .829 | .357 | .199 | 6.60% | 25.40% | 54.90% | 24.10% | 21.00% | 26.00% | .358 | $3,800 | $4,400 | $5,400 |
| Jason Heyward | CHI | L | H | LAA | Ricky Nolasco | R | 384 | .229 | .313 | .320 | .633 | .286 | .091 | 9.70% | 17.60% | 49.80% | 27.40% | 22.80% | 6.00% | .273 | $3,100 | $3,400 | $4,600 |
| Andrew Benintendi | BOS | L | H | NYY | Nathan Eovaldi | R | 16 | .500 | .500 | .563 | 1.063 | .466 | .063 | 0.00% | 18.80% | 38.50% | 15.40% | 46.20% | 0.00% | .615 | $2,500 | $2,600 | $4,000 |
| David Dahl | COL | L | A | TEX | Martin Perez | L | 59 | .373 | .403 | .610 | 1.013 | .434 | .237 | 4.80% | 29.00% | 51.30% | 23.10% | 25.60% | 33.30% | .500 | $3,200 | $3,400 | $4,600 |
| Steven Souza Jr. | TB | R | A | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 320 | .250 | .303 | .406 | .709 | .310 | .156 | 6.30% | 34.90% | 46.40% | 29.10% | 24.50% | 19.30% | .363 | $2,800 | $3,000 | $4,450 |
| Paulo Orlando | KC | R | H | CWS | Jose Quintana | L | 290 | .331 | .354 | .434 | .788 | .343 | .103 | 2.30% | 20.10% | 55.80% | 24.60% | 19.60% | 5.50% | .410 | $3,000 | $3,300 | $4,100 |
Outfield
Cash Plays: Outfield is stacked tonight. While there are some high priced players in nice positions tonight, I’ll focus on the mid-priced ones that are also in great matchups. Adam Jones is 5-13 with a HR off Detwiler, and after going deep last night, now has 2 or more hits in four of his last five games. Matt Kemp is 6-14 with 2 HR’s off Anderson, and has recorded at least one run in six of his last seven games for a Braves team that has been player much better lately. Jason Heyward and Andrew McCutchen are probably better used for gpp’s, but their prices and matchups are very friendly. McCutchen hasn’t had an XBH since July 27th, but coming off a three walk game, and is 13-31 with 3 HR’s lifetime vs Jackson. In the same boat is Heyward who is 8-23 with a HR off Nolasco, but has only one multi-hit game since July 9th.
GPP Plays: This is where I’ll look to pay up for some players like Ian Desmond and Starling Marte. Desmond is 6-15 off De La Rosa, and in great spot to go deep for the first time since July 27th. Marte is 9-22 lifetime vs Jackson, but like Pirates, on a slump of his own going 0 for his last 7. While Ryan Raburn will be a popular Colorado OF pick, if starting David Dahl makes for the nice pivot play. His triple last game makes it now nine straight games of at least one hit to start his career.
Value Plays: The other rookie, Andrew Benintendi, is 6-7 over his last two games. He will probably bat towards the back of the order, but makes for a nice fourth player in a Red Sox stack.