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 GPP Pitcher

Alex Wood (P), Dodgers

FanDuelDraftKingsOppFIPK%GB%Opp Run TotalMoneyline
$9,700$12,100Pirates2.1928.9%57.5%3.5-172

I know what you're going to say. $12,100 for a guy who hasn't been the same he was in the beginning of the season. Well he hasn't been bad either. And we get him against a Pirates offense that struggles against lefties. Marte and Harrison can hit lefties, but they strike out a lot too. The main guy I'm worried about here is Andrew McCutchen. I think McCutchen can take him yard here, but I'm not worried about one guy. Wood should be chalk in my eyes, but who knows with a lot of top-priced offenses on the slate. $9,700 on FanDuel is automatic for me though. Just hit the green plus sign and move on.

Top GPP Hitters

Manny Machado (3B), Orioles

FanDuelDraftKingsOpp Pitcher
& Handedness
wOBA vs RHP



ISO vs rHP



wRC+ vs RHP



Batting
Order
Team
Run Total
$4,100$5,600Smith-R0.3440.21510426

Manny Machado has been scorching lately. he had a three-home run game on Friday night, and has a great chance to go deep again here. Chris Smith has been bad, and hasn't even hit his peak of "AAA pitcher for life". He has a 5.26 ERA while supporting a 0.228 BABIP(Batting Average of Balls In Play). So essentially, he's been terrible, and still getting lucky. Machado, and his hefty price tag, is my favorite 3B on the slate by a mile. In play in all formats.

Jonathan Schoop (2B), Orioles

FanDuelDraftKingsOpp Pitcher
& Handedness
wOBA vs RHP



ISO vs RHP



wRC+ vs RHP



Batting
Order
Team
Run Total
$3,300$4,600Smith-R0.3620.20412936

I love Schoop here tonight. He's having a career year, and should add on to that here tonight. Smith faced the Orioles on August 10 in Oakland (massive pitcher's park). Smith proceeded to do what he does best (give up HR), but was fortunate that all four homers he gave up were solo shots. I don't see him having that kind of luck here. Baltimore is my favorite offense of the night, and Schoop is one of only three 2B even in consideration for me tonight (Chris Taylor, Robinson Cano). Stack them up in GPP's and cash games.

Adam Jones (OF), Orioles

FanDuelDraftKingsOpp Pitcher
& Handedness
wOBA vs RHPISO vs RHPwRC+ vs RHPBatting
Order
Team
Run Total
$3,200$4,500Smith-R0.3470.18610546

Can you tell I love them? I don't think I've ever been so all in on a team (hopefully this doesn't turn out bad). Seriously though how can it? Smith struggles against righties, and doesn't strike people out. That's all Baltimore does is mash fly-ball pitching right-handers. I gave you two popular Baltimore guys, but I also like Adam Jones here. I think he tends to be the forgotten one over there, but he's quietly putting together an Adam Jones-like season. He's in play everywhere for me.

Cameron Maybin (OF), Angels

FanDuelDraftKingsOpp Pitcher
& Handedness
wOBA vs LHP



ISO vs LHP



wRC+ vs LHP



Batting
Order
Team
Run Total
$2,200$3,300Hamels-L0.2840.0518115

Wait not a Baltimore guy? Yeah I know, but I have to give you guys some other kind of plays here. Cameron Maybin is the guy I'm looking at here. I think a lot of people are going to be on Hamels here, considering he pitched well against them last time out, but I want a hitter against the chalk. Maybin should lead off here, and his stolen base upside is what I'm really looking for on this slate. He's going to be super low-owned, and fits in perfectly with Baltimore.



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