MLB GPP Tournament Picks: 7-1-15

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.

Top Pitcher

While it seems there are more GPP pitchers than cash game pitchers this evening, I am looking towards Chris Heston tonight. He has solid numbers, and has been a big reason for the Giants' success through their injuries. His struggles against lefties is the only knock against him, but the Marlins don't have many threats to scare me away. A Marlins lineup without Giancarlo Stanton is a huge difference from one with him in it. Heston has a solid 9.2% swinging strike rate, and he can rack up his share of strikeouts from time to time. In terms of being consistent, he has been consistent in throwing well against the teams we expect him to throw well against. He has yet to allow a run to the NL East, but he has only thrown against the Mets and the Braves.

Top Hitters

Paul Goldschmidt is basically the object sitting in store windows that you want so bad, but the price tag keeps you passing by. While tonight's pitching slate is not too pricey, he can surely be managed into your lineups tonight. He is certainly one of the top five players in baseball and can make a case for top three. He has a 49% hard hit ball rate off lefties this year and has not shown any drops in performance since the season started. There is a reason why he is priced this way every night. He is top five in RBI, homers and batting average.

Before the season started, many said Alex Rodriguez will have to do his damage against lefties. That has not been the case. He has a .386 wOBA off right-handed pitching this year and a hard hit ball rate of 39%. Pretty impressive. While Matt Shoemaker has calmed down in giving up the long ball here in June, he is allowing a .337 wOBA to right-handed bats. His ground-ball rate has improved, but not long enough for it to keep me away from some Yankees' bats.

A team run total of five, a bad lefty on the mound, and Yasiel Puig at an affordable price? Sign me up! Puig has been dominant against left-handed pitching, and that is the case in 2015, with a .471 wOBA. While his line drive rate against lefties this year is sitting at 46.7%. Right-handed bats have a 40% hard hit ball rate off Ray this season, and he only possesses a 35% ground-ball rate. Arizona is a very favorable place to hit, so expect balls to fly from both sides.

Anytime you pay up for a catcher, it is likely in GPPs, or if Buster Posey is in Coors. He has gone under the radar over the last two months, improving from his sluggish April, and turning into the elite hitter he is. He has a .389 wOBA against right-handed pitching with a 32% hard hit ball rate. While he is not getting a boost moving to Miami from San Francisco in park factor, he still has a favorable matchup with Dan Haren. Since 2012, he has allowed a .330 wOBA to right-handed bats with a 40% ground-ball rate.

Value and Platoon Plays

Scott Van Slyke (OF - LAD) FD: $3,100 DK: $3,900

If you have been around the DFS world for a while, you have heard of Scott Van Slyke. He has always been one of the top value names when the Dodgers face left-handed pitching, and for good reason. In 270 plate appearances, he has a .393 wOBA with a massive .263 ISO. He will get Robbie Ray, who has been hit hard by right-handed bats, despite his moderate success this year.

Robinson Chirinos (C - TEX) FD: $2,500 DK: $3,300

If you are looking for a punt play behind the dish, head to Baltimore, where this series has been high scoring over the first two games. Since coming into the league, Robinson Chirinos has a .323 wOBA against lefties, but a solid .219 ISO. I may have different views of Wei-Yin Chen, as I think he is slightly better than people give him credit for, but still prone to giving up the long ball.

Jhonny Peralta (SS- STL) FD: $3,400 DK: $3,700

Since 2012, Jhonny Peralta has had a .359 wOBA off lefties with an ISO over .200. He is right in the heart of the Cardinals' order, and in a good spot to do some damage. Jose Quintana is allowing a .359 wOBA to right-handed bats this year with a 24% line drive rate.

Chris Davis (1B/3B - BAL) FD: $3,300 DK: $4,200

With Mitch Moreland facing the lefty, his home run binge will have to head to the other dugout today. Looking at Chris Davis' numbers this year, Camden Yards has had a huge benefit in his power numbers. He has hit 14 of his 18 homers at home, while his average jumps from .185 on the road, to .280 at home. Davis has those boom-or-bust qualities for a tournament first baseman, and he has a lot going for him tonight.