MLB Mobile Sports Betting Toolkit
The purpose of this column is to highlight some players with upside and well-suited for tournaments. While the majority of the hitter picks will likely have power upside, that's not necessarily the case for all the listed options. Other contextual factors such as batting order, ballpark, opposing pitcher, price, speed, etc also come into play, and you'll see these items sprinkled into the write-ups below. Along with that, we'll be gauging the ownership levels, giving you some plausible pivots from the popular choices in a given game slate.
Tournament Pitchers
Charlie Morton - SP - Tampa Bay Rays
FD: $10,100 / DK: $10,700
This is just a strong spot for Charlie Morton, as the Jays present a chance for double digit strikeout upside. He has over a 30% strikeout rate on the season, and faces a team striking out 24% of the time against right-handed pitching. Morton has a 35% strikeout rate at home, and has owned Tropicana Field. Ownership will be high, but that is fine given the upside is far better than most arms going tonight.
Top GPP Hitters
Bryce Harper - OF - Philadelphia Phillies
FD: $4,000 / DK: $4,500
Merril Kelly has allowed a .329 wOBA and .164 ISO to lefties. Kelly has figured out something over his last few starts, but he still remains someone to target with above average offenses. Lefties have a 46% hard-contact rate and he owns a 38% groundball rate. Bryce Harper has been getting going of late, and has a .366 wOBA and .201 ISO off right-handed pitching.
Michael Chavis - 2B - Boston Red Sox
FD: $3,000 / DK: $4,300
Michael Chavis is a boom or bust arm, but the fact he faces Mike Montgomery tonight, he is well in play. Chavis has a .247 ISO off southpaws, but a 35% strikeout rate. Mike Montgomery has allowed over an 80% contact rate and has just a 13% strikeout rate this season. He is allowing a .364 wOBA and .211 ISO to righties in 2019. Boston is an offense to target for a get right game after a brutal week.
Jake Lamb - 1B - Arizona Diamondbacks
FD: $2,600 / DK: $4,200
If you are looking for a single digit owned power threat, Jake Lamb is one of them. He is on the cheaper side. Lamb has a 51% hard-contact rate against right-handed pitching, and 36% groundball rate. He has a .381 xwOBA based on his prior stats, suggesting he should have had better numbers. Vince Velasquez has allowed over a .200 wOBA dating back to last season to left-handed hitters. Lamb has been heating up in the second half, and his price hasn't adjusted yet.
Jason Heyward - OF - Chicago Cubs
FD: $3,100 / DK: $3,700
Jason Heyward has been crushing the ball, and is in the leadoff spot. He has a .378 wOBA and .208 ISO off right-handed pitching this year. Chris Bassitt continues to do well, but has allowed a .202 ISO to lefties. Hard-contact and flyball rates are up as well. Wind blowing out enough to make a difference in Wrigley tonight.
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