MLB GPP Tournament Pick: 9-25-15

Pitchers

There are enough higher-end pitching options to hopefully drive down Carrasco's ownership percentage enough to make him a viable tournament option, as the largest risk is the potential he is over owned. The Royals clinched the AL Central Thursday, so you can expect KC to rest a number of everyday players Friday.

Through three starts against Kansas City this season, Carrasco owns a 2.25 ERA with 23 punchouts over 20 innings and three wins. Add his 30.3% strikeout rate in the second half, and Carrasco projects to cruise through the KC lineup and pad the fantasy point column.

Those willing to live on the edge with Sabathia can open up plenty of cap space and grab a mound favorite at the same time. He has fared well in consecutive road starts against admirable opponents, and the White Sox are the 26-ranked scoring offense against southpaws.

While it is foolish to suggest Sabathia is anything but a shell of his former self, the setting won't be beyond him, and the veteran has fanned more than a batter per inning through his past three outings. With the wind projected to be blowing in, a tidy outing in winning fashion will return the necessary value.

Top Hitters

Just because you might expect Ethier to be highly owned, doesn't mean it'll be the case, and there is a lot going for him Friday.

Firstly, he doesn't break the bank and owns a .305/.383/.503 slash line against right-handed pitchers this season. Plus, he'll slot into the heart of the order at Coors Field with the slate's highest over/under total.

Hale has served up a .571 slugging percentage and .396 wOBA to left-handed batters at Coors this season, and he has allowed 35 runs over 46 1/3 innings at home.

Look for Piscotty to follow up his strong showing Thursday, with another solid game Friday. The outfielder has somewhat quietly posted a .500 slugging percentage through his first 58 big league games, and he lands in a plus-matchup Friday. Best of all, he has been even better at Busch Stadium (.351/.385/.544 slash line) and is affordable.

Pena hasn't been beat around yet, but he has a 1.40 WHIP with 10 walks through 15 innings over his three starts. The writing is likely on the wall against an opportunistic Cardinals lineup, though.

Fade the public with Sano at third base, as the position is loaded with options. He owns target-worthy pop against lefties (.530 slugging percentage and .227 ISO), and he lands in a high-end matchup against Boyd Friday. Boyd enters the tilt having allowed 39 runs over 48 innings as a starter this season with a .976 OPS against.

What might truly push the needle for Sano's low ownership are the reverse splits both Sano and Boyd boast.

Nuno allowed five runs over 3.1 innings in his last start, and now the lefty draws Los Angeles who has showed signs of life offensively with 4.86 runs per game over the past week. The numbers don't highlight a significant handedness advantage for Pujols (.661 OPS versus southpaws this season), but Nuno has still allowed a .462 slugging percentage to right-handed bats.

Plus, with Pujols in a monster skid (.513 OPS over his past 24 games), his salary is ridiculously low. He is in need of a slump-busting matchup, and expect such a showing from the veteran.

Value and Platoon Plays

Jordan Zimmermann (SP - WAS) FD: $9,600 DK: $8,600

View this as a revenge start after the Philadelphia Phillies tuned up Zimmermann for six earned runs and two long flies in their last meeting Sept. 14. However, the righty also fanned eight batters and has struck out 21 batters over his past 17.2 innings. If you feel like his DraftKings salary is staring at you … it is.

Corey Seager (SS - LAD) FD: $3,900 DK: $6,400

Note the salary difference. Seager's stat line since joining Los Angeles is gaudy, and he will make his Coors Field debut Friday. In his home series against the Rockies, he went 6-for-13, so expect even more fireworks. He is a tough fade at FanDuel, but a true high-risk, high-reward play at DraftKings.

Brett Wallace (1B/3B - SD) FD: $2,300 DK: $2,000

A real rest risk, Wallace owns a 1.079 OPS, a .316 ISO and a .453 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season. He faces Rubby De La Rosa who has served up a .569 slugging percentage and .404 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Don't let us down Pat Murphy.

Corey Dickerson (OF - COL) FD: $3,900 DK: $4,000

Another cost-effective option at Coors Field, Dickerson has produced whenever he is in the lineup over the past two seasons and owns a .523 slugging percentage in September. Opposing starter Mike Bolsinger has allowed 10 runs through his past 13 innings pitched over three September starts, and hitters own a .940 OPS against him during the stretch.

Stephen Vogt (C/1B - OAK) FD: $2,200 DK: $3,500

0-for-9 with a walk since returning from a groin injury, Vogt's salary is in the basement, which makes him a great speculative flier Friday. Even with his second-half swoon (.652 OPS), the backstop still boasts a .272/.355/.495 slash line against righties this season, and the weather is projecting to be gushing out at O.co Coliseum.