Welcome to another edition of Bales’ Top GPP plays. In this article, I will outline my favorite MLB GPP plays for today’s games. If you want all of my core plays along with our staff’s Final Thoughts article with access to our Discord, click here.
Sonny Gray
Gray is coming off of his worse game of the season but still has allowed only 18 runs (15 earned runs) over 42.1 innings while recording 56 strikeouts. His 3.19 ERA is backed by a 3.15 xFIP and a 3.70 SIERA. Gray also owns an elite 31.6% strikeout rate to go along with an 11.2% swinging-strike rate. He was better at home in 2019 but still boasted a 3.92 xFIP on the road. He saw similar splits against either handedness but found slightly more success against left-handed batters last season.
Gray gets a great matchup against the Chicago Cubs, who rank second on the slate in strikeouts per at-bat. They do rank second on the slate in team wOBA but Chicago’s offense has been struggling a bit recently. The wind is also expected to be blowing in around 15 mph tonight. Gray is currently a -138 favorite in a game set at only 7 runs, giving the Cubs an implied team total only slightly north of 3 runs tonight. Gray scored -13.3 fantasy points in his last game while struggling a bit overall recently. He posted 39.2 fantasy points in his only matchup against Chicago this season. Gray is a pitcher that will go overlooked with Gerrit Cole on this slate but he makes an elite tournament option in a great matchup tonight.
Luke Voit
Voit has been struggling, posting a .195 average with a .293 slugging percentage and a .591 OPS over his last 10 games. He owns two extra-base hits (one home run) and four RBIs in those games. Voit posted a .250 average with a .435 slugging percentage and a .789 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2019. He also ended last season with a .336 wOBA and a .185 ISO against lefties.
Voit gets a matchup against Keegan Akin, who has thrown limited innings in the MLB. He has allowed right-handed batters to hit for a .212 average with a .424 slugging percentage and a .349 wOBA. Voit is expected to hit second in the New York Yankees lineup tonight. Most importantly, he’s returning home where he boasts a .353 average with a .794 slugging percentage and a 1.200 OPS this season.
DJ Stewart
Stewart has been one of the hottest hitters in the MLB in recent games, hitting for a .400 average with a 1.150 slugging percentage and a 1.750 OPS over his last 10 games. Over that span, he owns five home runs and seven RBIs. Throughout his career, Stewart is hitting for a .220 average with a .487 slugging percentage and a .833 OPS against right-handed pitching. He also owns a career .352 wOBA and a .267 ISO against righties.
Stewart gets a terrible matchup against Gerrit Cole on this slate. He hasn’t been untouchable this season, though, allowing left-handed batters to hit for a .224 average with a .577 slugging percentage and a .365 wOBA. He’s also given up a .245/.468/.325 line in New York in 2020. Stewart is expected to hit sixth in the Baltimore Orioles lineup tonight. He owns five home runs over his last six games, and his power could give Cole fits in this matchup. He’ll go overlooked with Cole on the mound but Stewart makes an elite tournament option tonight.
SuperDraft
Matt Joyce (2x)
Joyce has seen mixed results in recent games, recording a .250 average with a .417 slugging percentage and a .774 OPS. He posted two extra-base hits (one home run), five RBIs, and one stolen base over that span. In 2019, Joyce hit for a .298 average with a .461 slugging percentage and a .871 OPS. He possessed a .377 wOBA and a .163 ISO against righties last season, as well.
Joyce gets a great matchup against Jake Arrieta, who has struggled throughout the 2020 season. He’s allowing left-handed batters to hit for a .276 average with a .500 slugging percentage and a .343 wOBA. Joyce is expected to hit fourth in the Miami Marlins lineup tonight. He comes with solid upside and a 2x multiplier on SuperDraft. Joyce is a player that will go overlooked but he’s a great option in tournaments tonight.
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