MLB GPP Tournament Picks: 9-2-15

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.

Pitchers

There are plenty of arms going tonight, which will create plenty of GPP plays among the top guys. Clayton Kershaw is by far the most notable lefty going tonight, but Cole Hamels is a great GPP play. He has plenty of upside facing the Padres in Petco Park, and he's coming off a start where he finally looked like his old self. Hamels has the third highest strikeout rate going among starters tonight. The Padres have the fourth highest team strikeout rate against left-handed pitching (23.1%) and rank 22nd in wRC+ (89). The money line is not as attractive as it is with guys like Matt Harvey and Kershaw, which should keep his ownership fairly low. I am looking at Hamels as one of the bargain aces going, and he allows an extra bat or two you wouldn't fit with the other guys.

Top Hitters

Brian Dozier will face a lesser southpaw tonight, in Carlos Rodon. On DraftKings, he will be a true GPP play due to his price, but his price on FanDuel should cause him to be heavily owned. I am not worried about the high ownership on FanDuel, I want him in my lineups there. He has a .349 wOBA off lefties this season with big time power. Carlos Rodon has been up and down this season, and he's allowed a .368 wOBA to right-handed bats. Hitters from the right side also have a 28% line drive rate, matched with a 33% hard hit ball rate.

The Orioles offense has been frustrating this season, but Manny Machado has stayed pretty consistent all year long. He has a .378 wOBA off right-handed pitching in 2015, and has a .223 ISO. He will face fly-ball pitcher, Erasmo Ramirez, who has allowed a .346 wOBA to right-handed bats this season. In a bandbox like Camden Yards, we should see some homers come off the bats of Baltimore, and Adam Jones would be my other honorable mention.

Lorenzo Cain versus a lefty always seems to fall on my day for GPP write-ups, which is fine, because he makes my life easier. He has monster numbers against southpaws this season, with a .416 wOBA and a .219 ISO. The Royals are facing lefty, Randy Wolf, who has actually pitched well in his first two starts of 2015. Wolf is your average lefty, who has had up and down years, but has allowed a .330 wOBA in his career to right-handed bats. I love Cain's price on FanDuel, making him a more economic play, compared to being a true GPP play on DraftKings.

I believe Ryan Braun will be fairly low owned in tonight's slate due to the arms race going on. Jeff Locke has allowed a career .319 wOBA to right-handed bats, and he's struggled on the road in 2015, allowing a .342 wOBA. Miller Park has had a 127 park factor for right-handed homers in the last three seasons. Braun has a whopping .429 wOBA off lefties this season, with a 45.3% hard hit ball rate. If you are paying up for an outfielder, give Braun a look.

Value and Platoon Plays

Kevin Gausman (SP - BAL) FD: $6,700 DK: $6,200

Kevin Gausman has the salary relief appeal by his name tonight, especially if you are looking to build bats around a Kershaw lineup. He faces the Rays, who struggle against right-handed pitching, with just a 92 wRC+. They also have a 21.6% strikeout rate against right-handers. Gausman has yet to put everything together, but does flash a bright future from time to time. He pitches better at home, with a 2.19 ERA, compared to a 6.28 ERA on the road.

Matt Wieters (C - BAL) FD: $2,200 DK: $2,600

Punt play, get your punt play here! Matt Wieters is capable of knocking one over the short fence in left field against Ramirez. Hitting fifth in the lineup, at this price is an amazing salary relief play. Wieters does not have the sexiest numbers against right-handed pitching, but he's still a proven hitter. With all the arms, you will need a bare-minimum play or two.

Adrian Gonzalez (1B - LAD) FD: $3,100 DK: $3,600

Adrian Gonzalez is a nice value first baseman tonight who has four hits and four RBI in the last two games. Mike Leake has been pitching excellent this season, but he's always been average against left-handed bats, allowing a career .334 wOBA. Gonzalez is quietly having a solid second half, with a .358 wOBA. Although he doesn't show off as much power or flare like the other bats at the position, he steadily gets it done most nights.

Trayce Thompson (OF - CHW) FD: $3,000 DK: $2,700

You should find Trayce Thompson in the lineup tonight against the lefty Tommy Milone. Thompson has had a big start to his career, hitting .455 in his first 13 games. His success has come off lefties, hitting .480. Ten of his 12 hits off southpaws have either reached the seats or went for extra bases. He is an excellent value play on DK, and is a tad bit overpriced for the sample size on FanDuel, but still a solid play.