MLB GPP Tournament Picks 8/9/19: FanDuel & DraftKings GPP Strategy

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

Yu Darvish - SP - Chicago Cubs

Plenty of aces on tonight's slate, but Yu Darvish will go low owned in a hitters park and given how he has been up and down this season. He has a 28% strikeout rate this season, and the Reds projected lineup strikeout at a 21.6% clip against right-handers. Love the potential tonight, and the fact he is under $10,000. There is general risk, so avoid in cash games and roll in tournaments.

Top GPP Hitters

Albert Pujols - 1B - Los Angeles Angels

Albert Pujols has been sneaky good against southpaws this season, sitting with a .346 wOBA and .237 ISO. He is on the cheaper side, and Fenway Park is a solid bump for right-handed power. He also takes on Brian Johnson, who has allowed over a .350 wOBA and .200 ISO to righties since last season.

Ryan Braun - OF - Milwaukee Brewers

Ryan Braun has a .250 ISO off southpaws since 2018 and gets a young lefty tonight who doesn't have much big league experience. He has struggled in his limited time in the majors, and overall hasn't shown any sort of minor league upside that would keep me away. The Brewers right-handed bats are in a good spot tonight.

Whit Merrifield - OF - Kansas City Royals

The Royals come in with over a 5.5 total, because Edwin Jackson is on the hill. For some reason he is back starting again this season. This season alone he is allowing a .584 wOBA and .500 ISO to right-handed hitters. Merrifield is a solid speed threat as well, but has a .367 wOBA off right-handed pitching.

Bo Bichette - SS - Toronto Blue Jays

The young Jays bats have been rolling, and Bo Bichette is out here setting records already. J.A. Happ has been okay this season, but a 4.94 xFIP and allowing a .354 wOBA and .230 ISO to right-handers. The Jays will go overlooked tonight and are solid tourney options.