There are three pitchers on tonight’s main slate with a salary of $11,000 or more, and the one I prefer — namely in GPPs — is the only one of the trio who’s a betting underdog. Rostering him won’t require sacrificing the big bats at Coors Field thanks to a pair of cheap SP2 options highlighted in today’s piece. Also, I’ll kill the suspense by sharing that, yes, I do hype Matt Olson again.

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Pitchers

Madison Bumgarner (SFG): $11,000 vs. Diamondbacks

Bumgarner’s made back-to-back bad starts allowing 11 earned runs in 11.0 innings, but he walked only three batters and struck out nine with a 12.6% SwStr%, according to FanGraphs. In other words, while he was bad, he was still missing bats at an elite rate. His start before the two-start skid was at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks, and he held them to just two earned runs on five hits, one walks, and seven strikeouts in seven innings. The Snakes have been one of the worst offenses against lefties ranking 28th in wRC+ (80) while striking out at the fourth highest clip (24.8%) against them. They’ve also been lost offensively on the road ranking tied for 25th in wRC+ (82) while punching out at the seventh highest rate (24.3% K%). The Giants are small underdogs with Zack Greinke serving as a -135 favorite, per Pinnacle. The game’s over/under total of 7.5 runs is quite inviting for using either pitcher, though.

R.A. Dickey (ATL) : $6,700 vs. Mets

There’s no such thing as a “safe” bargain arm on this slate. Having said that, it makes sense to embrace some volatility with upside, and Dickey fits the bill as offering both volatility and upside. Over the last month, he’s made five starts spanning 29.1 innings and owns a ghastly 6.14 ERA, but his 4.21 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, and 4.05 SIERA are more palatable. He’s been undone by a .393 BABIP and 1.53 HR/9 in that time frame. Over that five-start stretch, he’s tallied a solid 23.5% K% and 9.9% SwStr%. The Mets’ lineup lacks firepower, and the game is almost a pick ’em with Jacob de’Grom opposing Dickey. The over/under total of 8.5 runs supports using Dickey, too. Again, he’s not safe, but he has some upside, and certainly enough upside to provide value on a modest salary commitment.

Parker Bridwell (LAA) : $5,700 vs. Rangers

Bridwell’s allowed 42 earned runs this year, and 13 of them were scored in six innings pitched in back-to-back starts against the A’s wrapping up August and starting off September. Bridwell bounced back in his last start holding the Mariners to two earned runs on seven hits, one walk, and two strikeouts in six innings. Out of 16 starts this year, 11 have been of the quality variety for Bridwell. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a 15.4% K%, but he avoids free passes with only a 5.8% BB%, and he could have a bit more strikeout upside tonight against the visiting Rangers. Texas is tied for the second-highest strikeout rate (25.6%) on the road this year, and they rank 23rd in wRC+ (85) on the road. I believe 15-20 fantasy points are within reach, and that’s a great output at his tiny salary. Furthermore, his bargain price opens the door to using one of the top arms and plenty of top hitters.

Hitters

Matt Olson (OAK) : $4,700 @ Phillies

Folks, this guy might be pretty good at mashing taters. Olson ripped his 19th homers of the year in just 184 plate appearances. He’s been especially good since returning to the A’s as a regular in late July. Since July 21 (and not including yesterday’s homer), he’s sporting a .385 OBP, .398 ISO, 184 wRC+, 46.2% FB%, and 42.5% Hard%. He’s torched right-handed pitchers for a .367 OBP, .385 ISO, 168 wRC+, 47.6% FB%, and 44.1% Hard%. His pop will be aided tonight by Citizens Bank Park’s left-handed batter park factor of 128 for homers, according to StatCorner’s 3-year rolling average, as well as a matchup with Ben Lively. Lively’s served up five homers, a .351 OBP, .470 SLG, and .352 wOBA to 152 left-handed batters faced this year, and he’s struggled at home with a .530 SLG, six homers, and .357 wOBA allowed to 95 batters.

Matt Chapman (OAK) : $2,900 @ Phillies

Lively’s struggles at home play into the hands of the contrarian pick at the hot corner. Nolan Arenado will absorb a ton of ownership — for good reason — at third base, but Chapman makes for a great and cheap pivot. Lively has allowed a 47.5% FB% and 31.2% Hard% to right-handed batters this season, and Chapman .269 ISO, 47.8% FB%, and 35.7% Hard% play well against Lively. CBP offers him a right-handed batter park factor of 134 for homers.

Jabari Blash (SDP) : $3,200 @ Rockies

Blash is a TTO-machine who’s best served as a platoon hitter. The right-handed slugging outfielder has a favorable matchup against lefty Tyler Anderson tonight. In 65 plate appearances against lefties this year Blash has a .354 OBP, .224 ISO, 127 wRC+, 43.6% FB%, and 43.6% Hard% with three homers. The sample is obviously very small, but he does a good job of making hard contact and putting the ball in the air. That’s a good combination for Coors Field. Getting back to Anderson, though, facing him is a plus for Blash as well. Anderson has yielded a .366 OBP, .549 SLG, .384 wOBA, and 10 homers to 219 right-handed batters faced this season. Blash is a high-upside play priced in punt territory.

Charlie Blackmon (COL) : $5,600 vs. Padres

The suggested plays round out with a couple of pricey left-handed batters from the Rockies. Blackmon is the top play of the two, and he’s arguably the top offensive option on the slate. The Rockies are -185 favorites at home in the only game with a double-digit over/under total (12). Blackmon received a night off last night against lefty Clayton Richard, but he should be right back in the leadoff spot against righty Jordan Lyles. The righty has been pummeled by left-handed batters this year surrendering a .407 OBP, .624 SLG, and .430 wOBA to the 118 of them he’s faced. Blackmon’s the owner of a .415 OBP, .266 ISO, and 141 wRC+ at home against righties since 2015.

Carlos Gonzalez (COL) : $4,600 vs. Padres

Gonzalez’s price tag has shot up of late, and that’s because his bat has woken up from its first-half slumber. In the second half, he has a .372 OBP, .202 ISO, and 112 wRC+. In 145 plate appearances against righties in the second half, he’s ripped off a .428 OBP, .228 ISO, and 145 wRC+. Expect him to continue his second-half success tonight.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.