The last few times I have written the Hitting Coach, I have noticed a lack of options in the outfield. Today’s edition features 13 names, but only two who cost more than $5,000 on FantasyAces. I would have loved to have added a couple more expensive options, but there just weren’t any I felt great about. I will feel a bit silly when Nelson Cruz or Charlie Blackmon hit a couple of home runs, but I’m not going to overpay for them when there are other players I like better.
A lot of the players I like better are at first base. Unlike the outfield, where I struggled to get to 13 names, I left off some really good players who I like quite a bit. On a site like FantasyAces I could easily see myself playing three first basemen, including two from the same team.
| CATCHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Anthony Recker | ATL | R | A | WSH | Tanner Roark | R | 43 | .349 | .442 | .535 | .977 | .415 | .186 | 13.00% | 20.40% | 40.00% | 28.60% | 31.40% | 10.00% | .438 | $2,200 | $2,400 | $3,800 |
| A.J. Pierzynski | ATL | L | A | WSH | Tanner Roark | R | 236 | .216 | .233 | .301 | .534 | .231 | .085 | 1.60% | 11.00% | 53.70% | 25.90% | 20.40% | 3.80% | .233 | $2,000 | $2,400 | $4,300 |
| Juan Centeno | MIN | L | H | KC | Edinson Volquez | R | 120 | .275 | .310 | .400 | .710 | .310 | .125 | 3.90% | 20.50% | 51.60% | 24.70% | 23.70% | 8.70% | .337 | $2,900 | $3,100 | $3,400 |
| Buster Posey | SF | R | H | BAL | Wade Miley | L | 379 | .288 | .366 | .454 | .820 | .353 | .166 | 11.10% | 11.50% | 48.90% | 29.70% | 21.40% | 12.40% | .301 | $3,400 | $4,400 | $4,650 |
Anthony Recker and A.J. Pierzynski are 4-for-6 and 7-for-10 respectively against Tanner Roark. Both guys are batting over .300 in the last week, and whoever starts for the Braves will be a nice, cheap catcher option.
Juan Centeno is 5-for-11 over his last three games and he has a .342 wOBA against righties.
Buster Posey is 9-for-25 against Wade Miley and he has a .382 wOBA against lefties this season.
| FIRST BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Freddie Freeman | ATL | L | A | WSH | Tanner Roark | R | 436 | .284 | .377 | .537 | .914 | .382 | .253 | 11.50% | 25.50% | 33.80% | 36.10% | 30.10% | 21.10% | .352 | $3,600 | $4,900 | $5,000 |
| Mike Napoli | CLE | R | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 407 | .263 | .346 | .528 | .874 | .374 | .265 | 11.00% | 32.00% | 38.40% | 38.40% | 23.10% | 29.60% | .336 | $3,700 | $5,100 | $5,250 |
| Carlos Santana | CLE | B | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 418 | .242 | .338 | .474 | .812 | .352 | .232 | 12.80% | 15.50% | 43.70% | 39.60% | 16.70% | 18.50% | .236 | $3,800 | $4,700 | $4,950 |
| Joey Votto | CIN | L | A | MIL | Wily Peralta | R | 385 | .301 | .428 | .504 | .932 | .396 | .203 | 17.50% | 21.30% | 45.70% | 27.50% | 26.80% | 23.70% | .363 | $3,800 | $4,900 | $5,100 |
| Jose Abreu | CWS | R | A | MIA | Tom Koehler | R | 450 | .280 | .334 | .436 | .770 | .332 | .156 | 5.80% | 18.90% | 49.70% | 30.50% | 19.80% | 13.20% | .321 | $3,000 | $4,100 | $4,950 |
| Justin Morneau | CWS | L | A | MIA | Tom Koehler | R | 78 | .295 | .341 | .487 | .828 | .346 | .192 | 5.90% | 21.20% | 45.80% | 28.80% | 25.40% | 17.60% | .345 | $2,700 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | R | A | TEX | A.J. Griffin | R | 436 | .312 | .386 | .548 | .934 | .394 | .236 | 10.70% | 17.20% | 45.80% | 32.70% | 21.60% | 23.20% | .334 | $3,900 | $5,500 | $5,000 |
| A.J. Reed | HOU | L | A | TOR | Marcus Stroman | R | 70 | .171 | .272 | .286 | .558 | .235 | .115 | 12.30% | 32.10% | 47.40% | 42.10% | 10.50% | 12.50% | .233 | $2,300 | $3,100 | $3,700 |
Mike Napoli is 11-for-32 with three home runs against Jered Weaver. Napoli is 17-for-42 with 12 runs, five home runs and 11 RBI in August.
Freddie Freeman is 7-for-11 with four home runs during his four-game hitting streak. Freeman is 9-for-25 against Tanner Roark.
Joey Votto is 10-for-26 against Wily Peralta and 11-for-22 during his five-game hitting streak.
Carlos Santana is 15-for-27 with two home runs against Jered Weaver.
Justin Morneau is 6-for-13 over his last four games while Jose Abreu is 12-for-29 during his six-game hitting streak.
Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-7 with two home runs against A.J. Griffin. Cabrera is 7-for-17 with a home run over his last four games.
A.J. Reed is 4-for-10 over his last two games.
| SECOND BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| DJ LeMahieu | COL | R | A | PHI | Adam Morgan | L | 407 | .332 | .405 | .477 | .882 | .380 | .145 | 10.80% | 13.10% | 55.50% | 17.50% | 27.00% | 13.10% | .372 | $3,500 | $4,600 | $4,900 |
| Jose Altuve | HOU | R | A | TOR | Marcus Stroman | R | 457 | .365 | .431 | .578 | 1.009 | .424 | .213 | 9.60% | 9.60% | 46.00% | 30.10% | 23.90% | 15.70% | .376 | $3,800 | $5,500 | $5,600 |
| Chase Utley | LA | L | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 373 | .255 | .329 | .383 | .712 | .313 | .128 | 7.90% | 18.70% | 43.60% | 32.40% | 24.00% | 8.60% | .302 | $2,800 | $3,600 | $4,950 |
| Devon Travis | TOR | R | H | HOU | Mike Fiers | R | 247 | .300 | .336 | .486 | .822 | .355 | .186 | 5.30% | 20.20% | 45.60% | 33.70% | 20.70% | 15.40% | .346 | $3,200 | $4,400 | $4,850 |
DJ LeMahieu is 9-for-20 with a home run during his five-game hitting streak.
Jose Altuve is 14-for-26 during his five-game hitting streak.
Chase Utley is 6-for-17 over his last four games.
Devon Travis is 9-for-26 over the last week and he has a .904 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
| THIRD BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Kris Bryant | CHI | R | H | STL | Mike Leake | R | 434 | .286 | .382 | .544 | .926 | .400 | .258 | 11.10% | 24.00% | 33.00% | 43.90% | 23.10% | 21.10% | .334 | $4,100 | $5,100 | $5,500 |
| Alex Bregman | HOU | R | A | TOR | Marcus Stroman | R | 73 | .178 | .247 | .247 | .494 | .225 | .069 | 8.60% | 23.50% | 34.70% | 40.80% | 24.50% | 0.00% | .236 | $2,800 | $3,500 | $3,650 |
| Wilmer Flores | NYM | R | H | SD | Clayton Richard | L | 235 | .255 | .309 | .434 | .743 | .319 | .179 | 6.60% | 14.10% | 35.80% | 44.70% | 19.50% | 12.90% | .258 | $2,700 | $3,900 | $4,150 |
| Evan Longoria | TB | R | A | NYY | Luis Severino | R | 446 | .285 | .337 | .534 | .871 | .368 | .249 | 7.20% | 21.80% | 32.00% | 45.90% | 22.20% | 16.80% | .318 | $3,800 | $4,400 | $5,300 |
| Hernan Perez | MIL | R | H | CIN | Cody Reed | L | 237 | .291 | .315 | .456 | .771 | .331 | .165 | 3.90% | 22.80% | 46.50% | 31.90% | 21.60% | 15.30% | .345 | $3,000 | $4,400 | $4,550 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert | KC | R | A | MIN | Hector Santiago | L | 316 | .301 | .336 | .459 | .795 | .344 | .158 | 5.30% | 19.60% | 46.80% | 30.80% | 22.40% | 13.00% | .351 | $3,200 | $3,700 | $3,750 |
Kris Bryant is 4-for-11 against Mike Leake and 9-for-26 with a home run over the last week.
Alex Bregman is 11-for-35 during his seven-game hitting streak, and it certainly helps that he is batting second.
Cheslor Cuthbert is 11-for-29 over the last week and he has a .383 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.
Hernan Perez is 6-for-12 with a home run over his last three games.
Wilmer Flores has a 1.039 OPS against lefties and he is coming off a 3-for-5 effort Saturday.
Evan Longoria is 8-for-23 with two home runs over the last week.
| SHORTSTOP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Tim Anderson | CWS | R | A | MIA | Tom Koehler | R | 228 | .272 | .289 | .399 | .688 | .293 | .127 | 2.10% | 28.50% | 57.60% | 24.70% | 17.70% | 12.80% | .365 | $2,700 | $3,100 | $4,550 |
| Alcides Escobar | KC | R | A | MIN | Hector Santiago | L | 473 | .254 | .282 | .311 | .593 | .258 | .057 | 3.70% | 13.20% | 55.40% | 26.40% | 18.20% | 1.90% | .289 | $2,900 | $2,700 | $4,000 |
| Corey Seager | LA | L | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 452 | .310 | .363 | .533 | .896 | .381 | .223 | 7.50% | 18.70% | 46.70% | 29.20% | 24.10% | 20.40% | .349 | $3,900 | $4,900 | $5,150 |
| Marcus Semien | OAK | R | H | SEA | Wade LeBlanc | L | 409 | .242 | .303 | .452 | .755 | .329 | .210 | 8.10% | 23.10% | 42.80% | 41.80% | 15.40% | 18.40% | .268 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $4,400 |
| Trea Turner | WSH | R | H | ATL | Tyrell Jenkins | R | 108 | .315 | .345 | .537 | .882 | .376 | .222 | 3.50% | 20.40% | 46.30% | 32.50% | 21.30% | 11.50% | .378 | $3,600 | $4,700 | $4,550 |
Tim Anderson is 9-for-27 during his seven-game hitting streak.
Alcides Escobar is 6-for-18 against Hector Santiago and 4-for-8 over his last two games.
Corey Seager has five consecutive multi-hit games, and he isn’t even the most expensive shortstop in the slate.
Marcus Semien is 10-for-27 over the last week and he has a .931 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season.
Trea Turner is 7-for-14 with a home run and two stolen bases over his last three games.
| OUTFIELD | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Chris Coghlan | CHI | L | H | STL | Mike Leake | R | 206 | .208 | .387 | .292 | .679 | .243 | .084 | 10.70% | 28.20% | 47.10% | 30.00% | 22.90% | 11.90% | .207 | $2,700 | $3,000 | $4,350 |
| Lonnie Chisenhall | CLE | L | H | LAA | Jered Weaver | R | 283 | .297 | .343 | .456 | .799 | .343 | .159 | 6.20% | 16.20% | 42.60% | 34.10% | 23.30% | 7.90% | .341 | $2,900 | $4,100 | $4,050 |
| Ryan Raburn | COL | R | A | PHI | Adam Morgan | L | 183 | .224 | .313 | .415 | .728 | .318 | .191 | 10.90% | 30.80% | 46.30% | 36.40% | 17.40% | 18.20% | .292 | $2,900 | $3,300 | $4,400 |
| J.D. Martinez | DET | R | A | TEX | A.J. Griffin | R | 289 | .298 | .368 | .533 | .901 | .385 | .235 | 9.50% | 24.20% | 40.20% | 35.40% | 24.40% | 18.90% | .362 | $3,800 | $4,300 | $4,800 |
| Keon Broxton | MIL | R | H | CIN | Cody Reed | L | 109 | .229 | .349 | .376 | .725 | .319 | .147 | 15.40% | 36.90% | 48.30% | 31.00% | 20.70% | 16.70% | .379 | $3,100 | $3,900 | $3,300 |
| Paulo Orlando | KC | R | A | MIN | Hector Santiago | L | 309 | .327 | .349 | .427 | .776 | .336 | .100 | 2.20% | 20.40% | 56.40% | 24.20% | 19.50% | 5.30% | .407 | $3,100 | $3,700 | $4,100 |
| Joc Pederson | LA | L | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 296 | .250 | .342 | .500 | .842 | .354 | .250 | 12.10% | 25.00% | 43.20% | 36.40% | 20.40% | 22.70% | .292 | $3,100 | $4,300 | $4,450 |
| Angel Pagan | SF | B | H | BAL | Wade Miley | L | 320 | .288 | .343 | .431 | .774 | .337 | .143 | 8.00% | 14.20% | 40.80% | 30.90% | 28.30% | 9.80% | .318 | $3,400 | $3,800 | $4,250 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | TB | L | A | NYY | Luis Severino | R | 207 | .217 | .315 | .382 | .697 | .308 | .165 | 11.80% | 17.70% | 43.30% | 36.00% | 20.70% | 10.20% | .244 | $3,000 | $3,900 | $4,250 |
| J.D. Martinez | DET | R | A | TEX | A.J. Griffin | R | 289 | .298 | .368 | .533 | .901 | .385 | .235 | 9.50% | 24.20% | 40.20% | 35.40% | 24.40% | 18.90% | .362 | $3,800 | $4,300 | $4,800 |
| Andrew Benintendi | BOS | L | H | ARI | Zack Greinke | R | 29 | .379 | .419 | .448 | .867 | .348 | .069 | 3.20% | 19.40% | 38.10% | 23.80% | 38.10% | 0.00% | .478 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $4,300 |
| Ryan Braun | MIL | R | H | CIN | Cody Reed | L | 362 | .323 | .387 | .550 | .937 | .398 | .227 | 8.90% | 16.10% | 56.60% | 20.90% | 22.60% | 32.30% | .348 | $4,000 | $5,300 | $5,300 |
| George Springer | HOU | R | A | TOR | Marcus Stroman | R | 466 | .260 | .357 | .468 | .825 | .359 | .208 | 11.70% | 22.50% | 53.20% | 28.50% | 18.20% | 23.70% | .303 | $3,800 | $3,800 | $5,400 |
Andrew Benintendi is 9-for-20 over his last six games. I don’t love the matchup against Zack Greinke, but you could do worse at this price.
Chris Coghlan is 10-for-16 with two home runs and a stolen base against Mike Leake. He is worth taking a chance if he starts.
Lonnie Chisenhall is 7-for-19 with two home runs against Jered Weaver and 4-for-10 with six RBI over his last three games.
Ryan Raburn has a .788 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season and he should have little trouble taking advantage against Adam Morgan.
J.D. Martinez is 6-for-17 with a home run during his four-game hitting streak and he has a .870 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season.
George Springer is 8-for-18 with a home run over his last four games.
Paulo Orlando is 4-for-9 over his last two games and he has a .892 OPS against lefties this season.
Joc Pederson is 8-for-18 with a home run over his last five games and he has a .903 OPS against righties this season.
Keon Broxton is 3-for-7 with a stolen base over his last two games and he has a .368 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.
Ryan Braun is 7-for-19 with two home runs over his last five games and he has a .425 wOBA against lefties this season.
Angel Pagan is 5-for-15 against Wade Miley and he is batting .325 with two home runs in August.
Kevin Kiermaier is 6-for-18 during his four-game hitting streak.