Welcome to the MLB GPP Pivots article, where we’ll be looking to uncover some sneaky-good DFS plays away from the popular lifts. These recommendations are usually risk/reward commodities meant to be used in large-field tournaments. Typically, blending these low-owned hidden gems with well-aligned staples contributes to a viable GPP strategy.
Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our MLB News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
[[ad:athena]]
We will be looking at the nine-game main slate (early afternoon) starting at 1:05 ET.
PITCHER
Jesse Chavez – Texas (at Tampa Bay)
Chavez has been asked to occupy a spot in the Texas rotation, and he has met that request with some pretty good results. The 35-year-old righty has allowed just one earned run with 10 strikeouts across 11.1 innings through his last two starts. Sure, there’s some risk today while taking an over-the-hill, recycled starter turned reliever turned back into a starter, but Chavez has been pitching great lately. He’s still very cheap on most DFS sites, and you’ll be able to stack top dollar hitters around him.
FIRST BASE
Neil Walker – Miami (vs. Philadelphia)
The Marlins’ offense has been better lately, and Walker helped that statement while going 2-4 with a homer, two runs, and three RBIs yesterday. He’ll look to rekindle that upside in a sneaky-good matchup against Jake Arrieta’s .365 wOBA split to left-handed bats. Walker is a switch-hitter who has always profiled better from the left side of the plate, leading to an intriguing situation here.
UPDATE: Walker is not in the lineup today. Lucas Duda (1B - KC) is an alternative while facing Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez‘s .370 wOBA split to left-handed bats with a park upgrade as well.
SECOND BASE
Adam Frazier – Pittsburgh (at Milwaukee)
Most people will be looking towards the Milwaukee side of this matchup, but the Pirates could easily produce some runs as well. Frazier steps in as a multi-hit candidate while facing the recent struggles of Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies, who has surrendered nine earned runs and 15 hits through 6.2 innings over his past two starts.
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez – Cincinnati (vs. Chicago Cubs)
Cubs’ LHP Jon Lester looked good in his most recent start, but I’m still not sold on the veteran southpaw. Lester allowed four or more earned runs in five of his seven previous starts, so there’s certainly blow-up potential with the one-time ace. Starting in hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark could inspire regression, and Suarez is an interesting mid-range pick (with the platoon advantage) to inflict some of that damage.
SHORTSTOP
Jonathan Villar – Baltimore (vs. Cleveland)
Cleveland RHP Shane Bieber is pretty good, but he still carries an exploitable .360 wOBA split to left-handed bats. That’s something we can use to gain an advantage in tournaments. Villar is a moderately priced switch-hitter who will benefit from that vulnerability. The journeyman shortstop has been swinging a hot bat lately with five hits, one double, one homer, five runs, four RBIs, and one stolen base over his past three starts. Villar has extreme upside when things are falling his way, as the speedster is able to contribute in every hitting category. You’ll definitely want to keep him on your tournament list this afternoon.
OUTFIELD
Anthony Santander – Baltimore (vs. Cleveland)
Santander follows the exact same rationale in Villar’s write-up above. Similar to his teammate, Santander is also a switch-hitter who is heating up with five hits, one double, two homers, and five RBIs over his past two games. He’s hitting fifth for the Orioles today, looking to rack up more RBIs in this sneaky-good draw.
Corey Dickerson – Pittsburgh (at Milwaukee)
In case you haven’t noticed, Baltimore and Pittsburgh represent a pair of low-owned stacks capable of surprising this slate. As mentioned earlier, Milwaukee RHP Davies has really struggled lately with high-contact tendencies that have translated to runs and overall regression. There’s a chance that continues in hitter-friendly Miller Park, and Dickerson is a prime candidate to take advantage. The Pirates’ lefty slugger has swatted five doubles with a homer and seven hits over his past five starts, and this is an excellent spot to keep thriving.
