The Touts start with a clean slate as we begin the first week of Period 2. Here’s how some of the participants plan on starting this four-week contest off on a strong note.
Anthony Aniano (Rotoballer, @AAnianoFantasy)
Pitcher: Justin Verlander – The chalk play of the night but it’s too tough to ignore his 23.8 FPPG and Minnesota averaging only 2.33 runs over their last 3 games.
Hitter: Aaron Judge – Judge and the Yankees (I stacked them tonight) face Kikuchi tonight with a 4.35 ERA, a 5.37 xERA and 1.74 HR/9 and Judge has 4 HRs in only 33 plate appearances versus lefties this season.
Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire, @JeffBoggis)
Pitcher: Lucas Giolito – Lucas Giolito is averaging 8.7 strikeouts per game over his last 3 starts. Worth the $9,700 investment tonight.
Hitter: Aaron Judge – My top hitting play of the evening. His salary is a modest $5,900. Judge is one of 4 players tied with the most home runs this season at 9. Let’s hope he breaks the log jam with a home run or two tonight!
Steve Gardner (USAToday Fantasy Sports, @SteveAGardner)
Pitcher: Robbie Ray – High strikeout potential against the free-swingin’ Phillies in Seattle. Ninth-most expensive pitcher ($8300) on the slate too.
Hitter: Mike Zunino – Best catcher value on the board at $3700, hitting sixth vs. lefty Reid Detmers.
Brad Johnson (Patreon/BaseballATeam, @BaseballATeam)
Pitcher: Wright/Verlander – I like to focus on “what is very good and maybe an uncommon combo.” Usually, the top 2 SP are over-rostered as a tandem, but I think the arms available in this slate will lead most people in other directions.
Hitter: Tommy Edman – Bradish brings some funk, but he also makes a lot of mistakes over the plate. The O’s bullpen is exploitable. Robby Chirinos has a long history of poor CS rates. Plus, I like that Edman has pop now.
Howard Bender (Fantasy Alarm, @RotobuzzGuy)
Pitcher: Mike Clevinger – Second outing should go better than the first and the first was just fine until the Steven Wilson let the inherited runners score. Good strikeout numbers coming as well since we all know the Cubs stink.
Hitter: Eduardo Escobar – Good value for a guy who usually hits well against lefties and is facing Corbin tonight
Jeff Erickson (Rotowire, @Jeff_Erickson)
Pitcher: Jesus Luzardo – Arizona has a 66 WRC+ against lefties and 67 WRC+ at home so far. That checks a couple of boxes.
Hitter: Juan Yepez – Yepez is batting cleanup for $2,500 against Kyle Bradish, in warm weather. I’m going with a Cardinals stack (1-5), with the arms being relatively affordable.
Todd Zola (Mastersball, @toddzola)
Pitcher: Aaron Nola – My system, (THE FUNGO, because it’s not as robust as THE BAT) has Nola as the No.1 arm on the board, irrespective of Price
Hitter: Francisco Lindor – THE FUNGO also says Lindor is the highest ranked batter, who am I to argue?