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Jeff Erickson has the lead, a slim one.

Derek Carty has a ticket to the finals, and a bead on a second one.

Vlad Sedler hasn’t finished in the Top Five in any of this period’s three weeks, but is in third position, ahead of Derek VanRiper, Michael Beller, Ray Murphy, and let’s leave it at that, though Scott Pianowski, Steve Gardner and others are not out of it quite yet.

You can study the leaderboard right here. 

If you’re moved to try out Draft Kings, who are hosting Tout Daily this year, they have a special offer for new signups. Deposit $5 and gain free entry to a $3 contest. Click here to for more details and how to sign up.

Here are the picks from this week’s Touts:

LAWR MICHAELS

Sonny Gray ($8400): The trick for me today is picking players whom I both think will succeed, and those ideally no one else will take as I am 70 points off the pace, meaning I need a day like Jeff had last week. Gray has put up positive numbers his last five starts, and is coming off his best start since returning from the DL, going seven innings, allowing just a run while whiffing seven, and if he can keep his pitches down facing the Braves Friday should be a Gray day all around.

Alex Bregman ($3400): Bregman and his mates face the up-and-down Pineda, but against the Pinstripes, the Astro third sacker has averaged 4.25 points, and at home, facing a guy who allowed seven runs last start is a balance between the points I think Bregman can put up coupled with the hope no one else grabs Bregman for their team, balanced with the the idea that he has a big day at the dish..

PHIL HERTZ

Right now, Jacob deGrom is as good as any pitcher in baseball. He’s expensive, but the Phils are not exactly knocking the cover off the ball. I also think Stephen Drew is a sneaky value, since he’s likely going to start with Trea Turner out.

GENE MCCAFFREY

Having been wrong every Friday night so far, perhaps you’ll take my picks and go the opposite way. Perhaps I will. If not, I’m taking Mike Foltynewicz in Oakland against a team with 25.3% K’s, and I’m embracing Miguel Cabrera at $3900 because he’s coming around and someone is going to pay and Josh Tomlin is a likely bill-footer.

ROB LEIBOWITZ

Jacob Faria – $8,300 vs. Orioles – Pitching over his head, but hard to argue with that K/BB and overall strikeout rate at this price point.

Justin Smoak – $4,300 vs. Bos (Fister) – I like a match up of a declining pitch to contact pitcher vs. a lefty in the middle of a breakout season, especially at this price point.

Hunter Renfroe – $3,300 vs. LAD (Wood) – I was looking for lost cost options to balance out my spending. Went with a righty vs. lefty matchup in Renfroe who despite his very mediocre production, has still produced for power and has excellent splits against lefties. Hitting over .300, walking 12% of the time, making contact 87% of the time, and an isolated power of .311 (.229 at home). Wood though has handled righties better than lefties , so we’ll cross our fingers and see what happens.

CHARLIE WIEGERT

Top pitchers…going heavy on two pricey ones for tonight, Jacob Degrom and Robbie Ray.  both in good situations to get strikeouts and wins.

Top hitters…well with the top $ pitchers, picken’s are slim!  Most expensive guy is Scooter Gennett…Ouch.  I’m hoping to find lightning in a bottle with Hwang, Polanco, Puig, Molina and Grichuk.

DEREK CARTY

I’d kindly request that baseball acts normally tonight.  A repeat of last week’s shenanigans would not be appreciated.

JEFF ERICKSON

Keep Tout Daily Weird!

JEFF BOGGIS

Lance McCullers (HOU) $8,800 vs. New York Yankees – McCullers is the 7th ranked starting pitcher tonight on DraftKings and is priced just right. McCullers has not lost a game since April 26th and has recorded 4 games in a row with 8 strikeouts per game. Roster Lance McCullers tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 4 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

Jonathan Villar (MIL) $4,100 versus Miami – Fresh off the DL, Villar hit 2 home runs last night. His salary is still depressed as the 11th highest 2nd baseman. He faces Edison Volquez and his 1.43 WHIP. Look for Villar to get back in the stolen base column in tonight’s matchup. Any extra base hits will be a bonus. Roster Jonathan Villar tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 4 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

JEFF ERICKSON

UPDATE: Jeff wrote in at about 6pm ET: FYI I’m backing off of Miggy and deGrom because of the weather.

Pitcher: Sonny Gray has been striking out more batters lately, and I like the idea of attacking the Braves when they are on the road. I’ll pair him with one of the more expensive options on the slate – probably Jacob deGrom, though I might pivot down to Alex Wood for cash savings.

Batter: Going to go with at least a few Rays against Chris Tillman, and Miggy Cabrera against Josh Tomlin.

Entering week 3 of the contest hosted by Draft Kings, Derek Carty (who already has a ticket to the September 1 finals, has a strong 39 point lead. He’s the only Tout to finish in the Top 5 each of the period’s first two weeks.

In second place is Vlad Sedler, closely followed by Jeff Boggis, Andrea LaMont and Todd Zola. Zola has another of the four tickets to the final handed out so far.

Some of the Tout sent in pick for tonight’s contest.

LAWR MICHAELS

Jimmy Nelson ($8500): Despite a price-tag increase of $1700 from last week to this, Nelson has been so solid, coming off a 10-whiff complete game shutout at the hands of the Padres. The Braves are tougher, but young, and another team Nelson can exploit.

Steven Souza ($4200): Souza has been beyond steady, averaging 8.8 points per game, and going up against Ubaldo Jimenez and his 6.25 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 14 homers allowed over 63.3 frames.

PHIL HERTZ

I like Seth Lugo‘s price, especially given the Giants were playing past 12:30 am this morning in Atlanta.  I also like Yoenis Cespedes to have a big game against a lefty.

JEFF BOGGIS

2017 Tout Daily – Top Pitchers and Hitters

Stephen Strasburg (WAS) $11,700 vs. Cincinnati – Strasburg is always good for a lot of strikeouts, and is 8-2 on the season. He has 4 games this season with 10+ strikeouts per game. Roster Stephen Strasburg tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 3 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

Andrew McCutchen (PIT) $4,500 at St. Louis – McCutchen faces starting pitcher Adam Wainwright tonight. Over his career against Wainwright, McCutchen is batting .298 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI. Over the past 14 days, McCutchen is batting .444 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI. Roster Andrew McCutchen tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 3 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire) @JeffBoggis

TIM HEANEY

J.A. Happ ($8,000) at KC: If you want to play the midrange SP ploy tonight, choose the lefty at pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium.

Corey Dickerson ($4,700) vs. BAL: Ubaldo Jimenez is starting for the O’s. Talk about fuel for a big night for the surprise AL fantasy MVP candidate.

CHARLIE WIEGERT

Period 3 Week 2.

Here are the Tout’s picks (a raw dump this time, because time is short):

LAWR MICHAELS

Joe Biagini ($6900): Coming off a pair of pretty good starts over which he went seven innings each time, the Jays righty faces a White Sox team that is in the middle of the pack with respect to efficiency against right-handers. The Sox have some weapons, but I am guessing Biagini can pull off a quality start.

Jose Ramirez ($4000): Switch-hitting Ramirez, who is under-valued, faces Nik Turley, a lefty who has made one start, allowing eight hits and four runs over four innings.

GENE MCCAFFREY

Pitcher – A very tough slate with several good but no great choices. I’m inclined to go cheaper with two lefties at home, Steven Matz and Sean Manaea. Both have been sharp lately although both face tough lineups. Oh well, they always told me that good pitching beats good hitting. That’s not really true but dominant pitching does.

Hitter – Another tough call with an abundance of excellent possibilities even for a Friday. Pay up for Nolan Arenado against Samardzija and a depleted Giant bullpen. Arenado’s numbers are about to get that summer boost that Coors Field always provides.

BRIAN WALTON

While many will be loading up on a strong SP1 in Max Scherzer ($12,900), I am instead using the money on hitting and leading my starters with Alex Wood ($9100). Wood, who is striking out 11.2 batters per nine to go with a 2.01 ERA this season, draws the struggling Reds at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

Getting Miguel Cabrera for just $3800 is a bargain I just cannot pass up. Detroit’s first sacker drew a lot of attention with his four doubles and a home run on Thursday, but also had multiple hits in his three prior contests. Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez could be in for a long night.

PHIL HERTZ

I’m going with Carlos Martinez against the struggling O’s and Brandon Crawford at Coors.

JEFF BOGGIS

Luis Severino (NYY) $11,500 at Oakland – There are much better starting pitcher choices tonight versus last Friday night. He’s not cheap at $11,500, making him the 2nd highest salaried starting pitcher in tonight’s contest. In his last 5 starts, Severino has posted either 7 or 8 strikeouts per game, and has won 3 out of his last 5. He’s going deep in games, averaging 7 IP per game over his last 5 starts. He travels to Oakland and takes on a weak A’s roster tonight. In Severino’s last 5 games, he’s averaged only 1 earned run per game. Roster Luis Severino tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 2 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

Aaron Judge (NYY) $5,000 at Oakland – Over the past 2 weeks, Judge is the hottest hitter in baseball with 17 runs scored, 5 home runs, 11 RBI, 2 stolen bases, and a .365 batting average. Judge will face left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea tonight. Judge is batting .341 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI against left-handed pitching this season. Roster Aaron Judge tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 2 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

The Tout Daily gang starts fresh in Period 3 of the contest hosted at Draft Kings.

So far, Todd Zola, Lenny Melnick, Howard Bender and Derek Carty have tickets to the September 1 final.

If you’re moved to try out Draft Kings, who are hosting Tout Daily this year, they have a special offer for new signups. Deposit $5 and gain free entry to a $3 contest. Click here to for more details and how to sign up.

Here are the picks from this week’s Touts:

CHARLIE WIEGERT

Top Pitchers…Not a lot of really good options today, so I’m going with Rich Hill ($8,100 vs. Cincinnati) against the Reds.  I’m hoping a blister does not pop up, and the Reds will be a little jet lagged flying to the West coast.  Montgomery is pitching at home against a Baltimore team that strikes out a lot, and he’s been really good lately, so I hope he has another stellar performance in him.

Top hitters…Aaron Judge ($5,300 vs. Baltimore) has been hot, he’s my money play.  Matt Adams has been hot too, and Matt Harvey has been giving up homers, hope that clicks also.  Justin Smoak returns to Seattle with 17 HR’s, perhaps he might have a little revenge in mind and hit #18!

PHIL HERTZ

Tanner Roark ($8,200 vs Texas) and Josh Donaldson ($4,800 @Seattle).

JEFF BOGGIS (@JeffBoggis)

Brian Johnson ($6,500 vs. Detroit) – If tonight’s starting pitcher was a movie, it would be called “Night of the living dead”. There are just no standout options and there are landmines everywhere. I wanted to roster Corey Kluber tonight, but there is a 70% chance of rain and I can take that chance. Rolling the dice on Brian Johnson for only $6,500. Let’s hope my team gets “back in black” in the DFS points total tonight! Roster Brian Johnson tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 1 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

Bryce Harper ($5,300 vs. Texas) – Harper takes on right-handed pitcher, Andrew Cashner tonight. Harper is batting .314 with 14 HRs and 40 RBI against right-handed pitching this season. Roster Bryce Harper tonight if you want to beat Lawr Michaels in period 3, week 1 of our Tout Wars DFS contest! #BeatLawr

TIM HEANEY

Brad Peacock ($7,900 vs. LA Angels) Methinks I will not be the only one to list him as a tournament play. The Angels’ lineup has no wings without Mike Trout, and Peacock is showing off with strikeouts.

Jay Bruce ($4,700 @Atlanta) Sure, this is spending up, but a powerful LHB like Bruce against the scuffling Julio Teheran, who also has allowed 8 HR at SunTrust Park already, feels like a safe floor.

RICK WOLF

Brad Peacock ($7,900 vs. LA Angels) He has 17Ks in two games with less than 11 IP.  He throws sliders for strikes in his first pitch 45.8% of the time keeping batters off guard.  He has allowed .111 SLG, .311 OPS, .200 OBP with a K rate of 42.4%.  I get it that it is only 30 plate appearances for his opponents, but why should we think that his groove isn’t the best in his third start.  They face a Troutless Angels team so this seems like a good start.

He has 17Ks in two games with less than 11 IP.  He throws sliders for strikes in his first pitch 45.8% of the time keeping batters off guard.  He has allowed .111 SLG, .311 OPS, .200 OBP with a K rate of 42.4%.  I get it that it is only 30 plate appearances for his opponents, but why should we think that his groove isn’t the best in his third start.  They face a Troutless Angels team so this seems like a good start.

LAWR MICHAELS

Ervin Santana ($12,000 @San Francisco): Big Erv should rebound from his tough start and handle the young and struggling Giants in a pitcher’s venue.

John Jaso ($3300 vs. Miami): The lefty Jaso, who is a pretty good OBP guy (.329), going up against righty Vance Worley and his 6.59 ERA. Yum.