BvP for MVP – July 29

This will be the final BvP for MVP before Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline. So far, Aroldis Chapman has been the biggest splash along with….Lucas Harrell?….and Eduardo Nunez, who went to the Giants late last night.

Chapman has already made an impact for the Cubs’ bullpen. I saw a stat yesterday that the Cubs had only thrown 12 pitches 100 mph or more since the early 2000s. Chapman threw 13 in one night.

And they are in the 103-105 mph range. That’s “The Scout” level of speed. All Aroldis needs is the ability to crush home runs 425 feet from both sides of the plate.

Who is your team and who are you hoping they get before the deadline?

Meanwhile, let’s not forget about daily fantasy baseball shall we? We have picks to make. Courtesy of dailybaseballdata.com, here are today’s BvP picks!

Josh Donaldson – 3B – Blue Jays – vs. Kevin Gausman

BvP: 4-for-12, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

Analysis: What do I really need to say about Josh Donaldson, the reigning AL MVP? He’s the top-priced 3B on most sites, but he’s a double dong option every single night. I love this matchup against Gausman, a reverse splits pitcher who gives up a 2.05 HR/9 to righties and has a .365 wOBA/.291 BAA as well. Gausman is in a very hitter-friendly park and is on the road, where he has struggles to the tune of a 4.94 ERA. Sounds like music to my ears and cash in my pocket!

Chris Davis – 1B – Orioles – vs. Marco Estrada

BvP: 2-for-10, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 BB

Analysis: I am still waiting for Estrada to blow up. I don’t mean burst onto the scene or spontaneously combust, I mean serve up 10 ER in 1.1 innings kind of blow up. He has a 2.94 ERA but a 4.29 SIERA and a 0.7 GB/FB rate! I don’t know how he has kept it up this long, but he is facing one of the best teams against RH pitching. Chris Davis is one of 3 first base BvP plays (lots of solid options to differentiate your lineups with). Davis hasn’t had a home run in….awhile. The Rogers Centre can cure what ails him and the 7 walks against Estrada in 10 ABs is enticing.

Francisco Lindor – SS – Indians vs. Kendall Graveman

BvP: 3-for-6, 1 2B

Analysis: The Indians keep rolling and Lindor has been one of the main reasons for their current run. Lindor has 13 hits in his past 10 games and owns a .353 batting average at home. Kendall Graveman has the road ERA to connect this puzzle together – a 5.25 ERA. Progressive Field favors lefty bats and Graveman owns a .362 wOBA against bats from the left side. Are you salivating yet?

Brian McCann – C – Yankees – vs. Jake Odorizzi (BvP DARLING OF THE NIGHT)

BvP: 12-for-23, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB

Analysis: I need a Darling Stamp of Approval for the BvP Darling of the Night. This new tradition has gone over with the crowds yet, but it will get there. Like, comment, share, tweet and retweet to spread the word! Yea, Brian McCann has taken Odorizzi to the woodshed. While Jake is a reverse-splits pitcher, McCann has had no problem serving up home runs to this opposing pitcher for awhile now and is starting to find his stroke against with hits in his last four games. McCann is super cheap though playing in a pitcher’s park, but no worries, in McCann I trust.

Jose Abreu – 1B – White Sox – vs. Ricky Nolasco

BvP: 5-for-14, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Analysis: The second 1B on the list is Jose Abreu. I thought about taking him off, but I figured that he would be the guy that would dominate his opposition because I decided to fade him from my list. Abreu is facing reverse-splits prone Ricky Nolasco (.363 wOBA, .307 BAA and 1.75 HR/9) who has struggled everywhere, especially home where he owns an ugly 5.66 ERA. Also in two starts against the White Sox, Nolasco has given up 12 ER in 10.1 innings. Need more info? Nolasco is a fly-ball pitcher with a 1.09 HR/9 while Abreu has a .339 wOBA vs. RH pitching. This game is at Target Field where the park favors RH bats, too.

Daniel Murphy – 2B – Nationals – vs. Jeff Samardzija

BvP: 5-for-9, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Analysis: Daniel Murphy has been destroying pitching. He’s one of the best cash game options out there and tonight he becomes a GPP plays as well considering park factors and the late start.  The Shark has been more like The Flounder in recent memory and owns a 4.26 SIERA this season. Sure this game is at AT&T Park, but Murphy is matchup and stadium proof these days. Samardzija has a .361 wOBA and a 1.68 HR/9 rate versus lefty bats.

Joey Votto – 1B – Reds – vs. Edwin Jackson

BvP: 9-for-22, 4 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB

Analysis: Don’t look now but Joey Votto might be the hottest hitter in baseball. Currently, Votto has 15 hits in his past 10 games, including 5 multi-hit efforts and 4 home runs. Edwin Jackson has made his illustrious return for us to start picking on him in DFS. He already has a 4.30 ERA but has a 6.18 SIERA. PETCO could keep the damage to down a tad, but I still expect the Reds to score 5 or 6 runs tonight and Votto should be the cause of that damage in the heart of the Reds’ lineup.

Alex Gordon – OF and Kendrys Morales 1B/OF – Royals – vs. A.J. Griffin

Gordon BvP: 6-for-7, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Morales BvP: 3-for-8, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB

Analysis: I almost didn’t include this little mini stack, but I felt it was necessary to get some bats against Rangers’ pitching considering Texas is reeling right now. It is not unexpected that the Rangers’ pitching staff is playing worse than mediocre. Early in the season, it wasn’t as hot or humid at the Ballpark, but now that we are in the middle of summer, those mistakes are flaring up into gobs and gobs of runs for the opposition. Meanwhile, the Rangers’ bullpen has been overworked and can’t keep leads or games close later in the game. For that, Gordon and Morales are exceptional options against A.J. Griffin and his .371 wOBA, 2.32 HR/9 and 43.2% hard contact rate against lefties. Luckily, we can roster Morales as an OF on DraftKings, so I won’t consider him my fourth 1B of the night. Gordon has been struggling all season, so I could see the merit in staying away, but he has owned Griffin early on in his ABs and I believe the trend continues tonight.

Lastly, here is tonight’s lineup. I had to rearrange some things on Wednesday due to weather concerns. We have cashed both nights this week, so I hope we can make this a trifecta!

Analysis: To fit in all of my top-priced picks and Velasquez (one of my favorite pitchers of the night), I had to go with Brault, who could be a cheap, sneaky option with his matchup and ability to fan batters. Matt Kemp is another very hot bat that faces a mediocre pitcher in lefty Brandon Finnegan. Everyone else is on the list tonight.