Eric Hosmer’s price remains reasonable despite his hot streak

We’re finally through the deadline, and the month of August is right around the corner. Hard to believe it, but we’re approaching the home stretch of the MLB season. Let’s take a look at a few value plays for this weekend’s slate of action.

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Catcher

• Francisco Cervelli – Pirates @ Reds
  Cervelli has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games with five multi-hit games. Over that span he has two doubles, one home run, two runs driven in and six runs scored. The Pirates play in Cincinnati this weekend and the Great American Ballpark has a +121 park factor for Friday night. It should hover around that number for the weekend. Cervelli becomes much more interesting (and valuable) the higher he hits in the lineup. He’s been bouncing around as of late, hitting somewhere between sixth and eighth, which isn’t that appealing as that can limit his plate appearances. If I see he is hitting sixth in the lineup this weekend, I’ll be more confident with the pick. At his price I think he’s worth consideration especially in cash games.

• A.J. Pierzynski – Braves @ Phillies
  Pierzynski has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games with three multi-hit performances. The power hasn’t been there, but the Braves do get to play at Citizen’s Bank Park which could help. I think the lowered price has to do with his recent RBI numbers, as Pierzynski only has one in his last 10 games. He consistently hits around fourth to sixth in the batting order, a prime spot to drive in runs. The Braves offense has been sluggish since the All-Star break, but I think they put up some numbers on bad Phillies pitching this weekend.

First Base

• Eric Hosmer – Royals @ Blue Jays
  Hosmer has been on fire over his last 10 games, hitting safely in nine of them with five multi-hit games including three contests where he collected three hits. Over that span he has totaled four doubles, three home runs and one triple. His price is still within the middle of the pack of first baseman, and I think he’s a worthy play this weekend despite facing lefties Mark Buehrle and David Price on Saturday and Sunday. He’s a MUST play on Friday night against Drew Hutchison. Hosmer is locked in, and I’m betting on his hot streak.

Second Base

• Howie Kendrick – Dodgers vs. Angels
  Kendrick has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games with four multi-hit performances. He has scored and driven in five runs apiece during that span. He’s entrenched in the top third of the batting order, which is always a plus. This weekend he faces his former team for the first time, and you can bet he wants to play well against them. Statistics won’t be able to back up that claim, but I think it’s one of those unquantifiable pieces of information worth thinking about. The Angles will roll out three left-handed starters in Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney and C.J. Wilson. While there isn’t much difference for Kendrick with splits against right- and left-handed starters, his career average against lefties is 10 points higher. I like his price this weekend and think he’s worth consideration every day.

• Addison Russell – Cubs @ Brewers
  Batter number nine alert! Russell is off of many DFS radars due to his position in the batting order. His price definitely reflects that. Still, I think if you’re looking to punt at second base he’s worth consideration this weekend. He’s hit safely in seven of his last 10 games with two multi-hit performances. I’ll call him a “gamble punt” best used in cash games where you’re just looking for somebody super cheap at second base. The Cubs will face the struggling Matt Garza and Kyle Lohse on Saturday and Sunday respectively, which is very appealing.

Third Base

• Evan Longoria – Rays @ Red Sox
  Longoria’s power outage this season has been a bubbling story among the fantasy community, and his value price is at a point where I’m willing to gamble on him. He has hits in six of his last 10 games which includes a six-game hitting streak where he hit six home runs. The Rays face a trio of struggling Red Sox starters this weekend, and Longoria has fared well at Fenway Park in his career posting an .814 OPS. I like Longoria this weekend at his low price.

• Jake Lamb – Diamondbacks @ Astros
  I will try to find a way to get Jake Lamb into a lineup every day he plays this weekend, but there’s a chance he sits against lefty Dallas Keuchel on Saturday, so keep that in mind. He is a great value, hitting safely in six of his last 10 games with four multi-hit performances. He has a double, two triples, five runs scored and four runs driven in over that span. He’s a highly underrated third baseman buried beneath a large group of very talented players that will dominate DFS lineups all weekend. I think the Diamondbacks can roll into Minute Maid Park and spoil the Astros trade party by putting up some runs against a group of pitchers that have struggled since the All-Star break.

Shortstop

• Jhonny Peralta – Cardinals vs. Rockies
  I like Peralta at his current price as he’s been struggling, collecting hits in four of his last 10 games with only one multi-hit effort. His bat woke up last night in the first of a four-game series against the Rockies in St. Louis as Peralta went 2-for-4 four with two singles, one run scored, two runs driven in and a walk. I’m willing to bet on a nice series for Peralta against a putrid Rockies pitching staff (and bullpen).

Outfield

• Nick Markakis – Braves @ Phillies
  I will admit to being a big Markakis fan when I play DFS just because of his high floor in relation to his low price. He’s often very good for a positive point total. His last 10 games help the argument, as he’s hit safely in nine of them with five multi-hit efforts. The struggling Braves offense has limited the counting stats, as he’s driven in only three runs and scored six. The power hasn’t been there for Markakis this season either, although his lone home run did come in the last 10 games. Like I mentioned with Pierzynski, I think the Braves offense can perform this weekend against the Phillies and Markakis will be a part of it. He’s a great cheap outfielder to fill in around a high-priced group of players.

• Eddie Rosario – Twins vs. Mariners
  Rosario is locked in, hitting safely in seven of his last 10 games with four multi-hit performances including two three-hit games. He’s hit a triple in each of his last three games, while scoring six runs and driving in three along with a home run. He’ll face struggling pitchers Taijuan Walker and Mike Montgomery on Friday and Saturday, and Hishashi Iwakuma on Sunday.

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JP Gale is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from JP, check out his archive and follow him @gojpg.