It’s the second week of the second period of Tout Daily. Here are some of the picks the Touts will trust in tonight’s contest.
Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire, @JeffBoggis)
Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani – There are 3 things certain in life: Death, Taxes, and Shohei Ohtani when he’s pitching. He’s 4-0 on the season with a 2.54 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and 59 Ks. At a salary of $11,600, he’s the highest starting pitcher by far in our contest, but I am willing to pay up this week for his high ceiling at home against Houston. It should be a great pitcher’s duel tonight against Framber Valdez.
Hitter: LaMonte Wade Jr. – He is facing Patrick Corbin tonight who is boasting a 6.30 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. More Gatorwade tonight please.
Steve Gardner (USA TODAY Sports, @SteveAGardner)
Pitcher: Clarke Schmidt – Ohtani is the class of tonight’s starting pitchers, so I’ll go against the grain and save money with a $6K Schmidt against the Swingin’ (and Missin’) A’s.
Hitter: Gleyber Torres – Dare to go with Aaron Judge in his first game off the IL? It’s at home vs. Oakland. I’m guessing his presence makes a difference, but Torres provides the pop.
Howard Bender (Fantasy Alarm, @RotoBuzzGuy)
Pitcher: Andrew Heaney – Seattle ranks dead-last in wOBA (.272) and wRC+ (74) against southpaws and they are fanning at a 27.7-percent clip. Securing the win could be tough, but we should get enough strikeouts to help make up for it.
Hitter: Anthony Rizzo – Solid price for Rizzo. His .358 wOBA should give him the upper hand against a tomato can like Drew Rucinski and once the Yankees chase him from the game, Rizzo gets that weak Oakland bullpen.
Todd Zola (Mastersball, @toddzola)
Pitcher: Andew Heaney – I found ample bats to support Ohtani, so it was Logan Webb vs. Heaney. My gut says Webb, but THE FUNGO says Heaney. What’s THE FUNGO, you ask? It’s my version of Derek Carty’s THE BAT, but it’s not as robust and snaps easily under pressure.
Hitter: Austin Slater – Hitting leadoff against Patrick Corbin for $2700? Yes, please.
Erik Halterman (Rotowire, @erik_halterman)
Pitcher: Brandon Pfaadt – Sure, maybe he isn’t an instant impact starter, and yes, his MLB debut didn’t go as planned. But a pitcher with his talent level coming in as the cheapest arm on the slate against the Marlins? I can’t turn that down.
Hitter: Aaron Judge – The savings from going with the cheapest starter on the board have to go somewhere. Tons of respect for Drew Rucinski fighting his way back to the majors at age 34 after four strong seasons in Korea, but the Yankees are tougher opponents than the Hanwha Eagles, so I want as many as I can fit in tonight.