This is the third week of Period 3, so not are we at the halfway point of the period, we’re halfway through the 20-week Tout Daily regular season. So far, six different Touts have claimed an invite to the Championship Tournament. Will some earn their second Golden Ticket, or will there be three more first-timers? Tonight’s 14-game slate will go a long way toward determining the next three entrants. Here are some of the picks.
Erik Halterman (Rotowire, @erik_halterman)
Pitcher: Joe Musgrove – Musgrove has pitched well on American soil this season. Take out his disaster in Mexico City and his ERA drops from 4.35 to 3.08 ERA. A matchup against the Guardians (ranked 27th by team wRC+) makes him my preferred inexpensive option.
Hitter: Anthony Rendon – Rendon has just one homer in 35 games, but he’s also underperforming his xSLG by 99 points, so more power should be on the way. Meanwhile, he’s cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 11.3%, so the version of him we’ve seen so far is already enough to justify his cheap price ($3,200) against unimposing lefty Cody Bradford.
Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire, @JeffBoggis)
Pitcher: Max Scherzer – Max Scherzer (NYM – SP) – ($9,800) – Big time game for a big-time player. Scherzer loves the spotlight and tonight’s subway series with the Yankees is about as big as it gets. I’ll take his 9.8 K/9 tonight at home against the Yankees.
Hitter: Elly De La Cruz – Elly De La Cruz (CIN – SS) – ($4,700) – This top prospect is fun to watch and can carry your team on any given night. He has 4 stolen bases in 7 games this season.
Todd Zola (Mastersball, @toddzola)
Pitcher: Edward Cabrera – The blister from the last start is a bigger concern that the Mariners lineup
Hitter: Rafael Devers – Just feelin’ it. Barely missed depositing one into the bullpen last night. Well, it would have made it, if not for a fine play by Nolan Jones.
Sara Sanchez (bleedcubbieblue.com, @BCB_Sara)
Pitcher: Pablo Lopez – Lopez has been sneaky good this year and the Brewers aren’t exactly a fearsome offense.
Hitter: JD Martinez – Has been doing damage against righties this year and Lance Lynn has not been great. Factor in the time zone change and I think the Dodgers should have a good night tonight and Martinez looks to be in the middle of it.