Author: Todd Zola

Tonight marks the return to Tuesday night for Tout Daily as the July 4 slate and the break sent us to Friday the past two contests. It’s fitting that the return will end with three more entries into our championship tourney.

Todd Zola (Mastersball, @toddzola)

Pitcher: Lucas Giolito – Don’t love the Mets lineup for strikeouts, but the innings should be there

Hitter: LaMonte Wade – Fading Coors, picking on Luke Weaver instead, and hoping the Giants don’t amend their usual lineup after the suspended game was finished.

Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire, @JeffBoggis)

Pitcher: Bailey Ober – Not the most glamorous starting pitcher out there, but Ober is a decent option on a night that lacks any aces. At $9,100, he’s reasonably priced and is sporting at solid 2.61 ERA and 0.97 WHIP on the season.

Hitter: Adley Rutschman – He had me at the home run derby. He’s not cheap at $5,200 tonight, but he’s already had 2 home runs after the all star break. He’s one of those players where it is feast or famine. Let’s hope it’s more of a feast night than famine.

Erik Halterman (Rotowire, @erik_halterman)

Pitcher: Bryan Woo – I want one half of the Ober/Woo matchup and I’m not picky which half. Two interesting pitchers facing two mid-tier offenses at the league’s best pitchers’ park. Woo is cheaper, and his 24.1 K-BB% is seventh-best among starters if you set the minimum to 30 IP, so he gets my vote.

Hitter: Padres Stack – Three stacks stand out: Houston at Coors, Atlanta vs. Zach Davies, and this one, which makes the bet that Alek Manoah’s out-of-nowhere gem in his return to action doesn’t outweigh his awful performances up to that point. This one has the most downside but could be less popular.

Rob Leibowitz (Rotoheaven, @rob_leibowitz)

Pitcher: Tarik Skubal – Skills and velocity up over the small sample in his return. I’ll chance it against the Royals.

Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton – Mashing lefties – hitting over .300 and slugging nearly .800 agaist them. Sandoval as inconsistent lefty looks like a prime target for him.

Welcome to the weekly FAB report. All of the winning bids are included below. If you want to see the standings, rosters and all the moves, just click on the league header.

American League

Player	Team	Bid
MManning, Det	Rob Leibowitz	77
DSolano, Min	Doug Dennis	69
JDiaz, Oak	Andy Andres	43
DLynch, KC	Eric Samulski	31
OCabrera, NYY	Joe Sheehan	16
CHernandez, KC	Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton	13
MCabrera, Det	Eric Samulski	11
GOtto, Tex	Jason Collette	8
BWhite, Det	Jeff Erickson	5
CEPerez, Oak	Jason Collette	3
TMcKenzie, Cle	Patrick Davitt	2
TCabbage, LAA	Eric Samulski	1
JMarisnick, Det	Jeff Erickson	1

National League

Player	Team	Bid
KAllard, Atl	Rick Graham	139
KWinn, SF	Rick Graham	93
JYoung, ChC	Ian Kahn	31
DFletcher, Ari	Brian Walton	25
PJohnson, Col	Peter Kreutzer	23
JIrvin, Was	Brian Walton	20
KLewis, Ari	Ian Kahn	11
JJimenez, Atl	Wilderman/Prior	8
RAdams, Was	Grey Albright	2
JTriolo, Pit	Tristan H. Cockcroft	2
TMarcano, Pit	Erik Halterman	2
ZDavies, Ari	Tristan H. Cockcroft	0
DrSmith, NYM	Phil Hertz	0
RWalker, SF	Derek Carty	0
PBickford, LAD	Derek Carty	0

Mixed Salary Cap

Player	Team	Bid
AWood, SF	Nick Pollack	56
NMadrigal, ChC	Bret Sayre	47
DFletcher, Ari	Scott Engel	14
KAllard, Atl	Jeff Zimmerman	12
KWinn, SF	Jeff Zimmerman	12
DFletcher, LAA	Scott Engel	9
TyAnderson, LAA	Kev Mahserejian	9
DLeMahieu, NYY	Brent Hershey	8
AIbanez, Det	Scott Chu	7
CCarrasco, NYM	Scott Engel	6
GCooper, Mia	Scott Chu	6
ZRemillard, CWS	Scott Pianowski	5
AFrazier, Bal	Kev Mahserejian	2
FFermin, KC	Kev Mahserejian	1

Mixed Draft

Player	Team	Bid
CSantana, Pit	Anthony Aniano	35
DJameson, Ari	Anthony Aniano	5
DPeterson, NYM	Tim McLeod	11
NGonzales, Pit	Dr, Roto	14
JPayamps, Mil	Dr, Roto	15
AWood, SF	Mike Gianella	13
BLively, Cin	Mike Gianella	5
CRea, Mil	Mike Gianella	5
CCarrasco, NYM	Ray Murphy	12
TGrisham, SD	Ray Murphy	24
GAshcraft, Cin	Anthony Aniano	5
ZMcKinstry, Det	Shelly Verougstraete	1
HHarris, Oak	Rudy Gamble	3

Head to Head

Player	Team	Bid
DGerman, NYY	Ariel Cohen	60
JOutman, LAD	Ryan Hallam	58
MSoroka, Atl	Sky Dombroske	51
JCandelario, Was	Ariel Cohen	33
KAllard, Atl	Lauren Auerbach	24
MGarcia, KC	Greg Jewett	9
DJameson, Ari	Sky Dombroske	8
LOrtiz, Pit	Michael Govier	6
PCorbin, Was	Michael Govier	4
JBell, Cle	Frank Stampfl	3
AGomber, Col	Geoff Pontes	2
TKemp, Oak	Geoff Pontes	1
BBaty, NYM	Frank Ammirante	1
CSantana, Pit	Greg Jewett	0
NPivetta, Bos	Greg Jewett	0

Mixed with IP & Saves+Holds

Player	Team	Bid
YDiaz, Hou	Jennifer Piacenti	36
MGarcia, KC	Chris Clegg	31
GWilliams, Cle	Jennifer Piacenti	24
BDrury, LAA	Chris Towers	7
DKremer, Bal	Brian Entrekin	6
JHicks, StL	Dylan White	3
PBailey, SF	Brian Entrekin	2
JWiemer, Mil	Chris Clegg	1
CWong, Bos	Matt Trussell	0

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?

Each week, we’ll share the winning bids for the five Tout Wars league using FAAB, along with providing the links so you can see the full report and standings for each league.

American League

LTaveras, Tex	Patrick Davitt	715
BDalbec, Bos	Mike Gianella	443
DDunning, CWS	Jeff Erickson	237
JDyson, CWS	Doug Dennis	102
RArozarena, TB	Rob Leibowitz	76
NMargevicius, Sea	Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton	76
MPineda, Min	Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton	76
RGuzman, Tex	Chris Liss	75
JFleming, TB	Jeff Erickson	67
DGarcia, NYY	Jason Collette	62
KPlawecki, Bos	Rob Leibowitz	31
JPanik, Tor	Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton	26
JHeim, Oak	Doug Dennis	22
JHahn, KC	Mike Gianella	18
LNewsome, Sea	Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton	16
CHernandez, KC	Doug Dennis	8
BOGrady, TB	Jason Collette	5
MAndujar, NYY	Doug Dennis	5
KSmith, TB	Jason Collette	3
MPerez, TB	Mike Gianella	1
LRengifo, LAA	Chris Liss	1
YRamirez, Sea	Mike Gianella	0
GGreiner, Det	Patrick Davitt	0

National League

MMoreland, SD	Phil Hertz	734
IAnderson, Atl	Fred Zinkie	374
TRosenthal, SD	Tristan H. Cockcroft	342
JAlbMartinez, ChC	Steve Gardner	197
JIGarcia, Cin	Peter Kreutzer	131
TClarke, Ari	Peter Kreutzer	103
TRogers, Mia	Peter Kreutzer	77
JMateo, SD	Peter Kreutzer	73
TMilone, Atl	Brian Walton	52
JOviedo, StL	Tristan H. Cockcroft	32
MGivens, Col	Grey Albright	27
BHolt, Was	Grey Albright	2
CCasali, Cin	Grey Albright	2
SCoonrod, SF	Fred Zinkie	2

Mixed Auction

IAnderson, Atl	Brent Hershey	189
TRogers, SF	Brent Hershey	110
DCastillo, TB	Tim Heaney	96
ELongoria, SF	Brent Hershey	87
SHaggerty, Sea	Jeff Zimmerman	79
MMargot, TB	Brent Hershey	79
SBarlow, KC	Brent Hershey	77
DDunning, CWS	Tim Heaney	67
TMilone, Atl	Michael Rathburn	60
LTaveras, Tex	Scott Engel	51
DWilliams, Mil	Al Melchior	48
JHapp, NYY	Derek VanRiper	44
DGarcia, NYY	Derek VanRiper	44
GSoto, Det	Eric Karabell	36
JFleming, TB	Eric Karabell	32
NMargevicius, Sea	Michael Rathburn	29
BDalbec, Bos	Al Melchior	22
JHahn, KC	Scott Pianowski	6
JDiekman, Oak	Ron Shandler	5
CFerguson, LAD	Ron Shandler	5
LTrivino, Oak	Ron Shandler	5
YGomes, Was	Michael Rathburn	4
RGuzman, Tex	Scott Engel	4
JGant, StL	Jeff Zimmerman	2
TBarnhart, Cin	Tim Heaney	0

Mixed Draft

LTaveras, Tex	Ray Murphy	216
RRodriguez, Pit	Ray Murphy	126
GSoto, Det	Ray Murphy	126
TRogers, SF	Anthony Perri	125
IAnderson, Atl	Perry Van Hook	123
SHaggerty, Sea	Adam Ronis	53
VCaratini, ChC	Seth Trachtman	45
RTellez, Tor	Rudy Gamble	38
BDalbec, Bos	Scott White	37
DDunning, CWS	Rudy Gamble	37
MGivens, Col	Scott White	37
JLester, ChC	Perry Van Hook	27
DHudson, StL	Tom Kessenich	14
YHirano, Sea	Perry Van Hook	13
ROHearn, KC	Greg Ambrosius	11
JCandelario, Det	Perry Van Hook	7
BMiller, StL	Scott White	6
CAnderson, Tor	Charlie Wiegert	5
AlYoung, Ari	Charlie Wiegert	5
YKikuchi, Sea	Charlie Wiegert	5
JStaumont, KC	Adam Ronis	4
CCasali, Cin	Perry Van Hook	3
AKay, Tor	Tim McCullough	2
ABarnes, LAD	Tim McCullough	2
JFleming, TB	Adam Ronis	2
DWilliams, Mil	Scott White	0

Head to Head

IAnderson, Atl	Andy Behrens	541
DGarcia, NYY	Nick Pollack	150
ZEflin, Phi	Nick Pollack	125
BBelt, SF	Ian Kahn	73
DDunning, CWS	Frank Stampfl	62
TWilliams, Pit	Ariel Cohen	45
SPiscotty, Oak	Ariel Cohen	44
BMiller, StL	Ian Kahn	31
DWilliams, Mil	Alex Chamberlain	28
AKay, Tor	Ariel Cohen	23
JDunn, Sea	AJ Mass	20
DSolano, SF	Ariel Cohen	18
JStaumont, KC	Alex Chamberlain	13
TGonsolin, LAD	Frank Stampfl	13
SLugo, NYM	Frank Stampfl	12
KAllard, Tex	Ian Kahn	11
RMountcastle, Bal	Frank Stampfl	8
EFedde, Was	Ariel Cohen	8
TButtrey, LAA	Frank Stampfl	7
SHaggerty, Sea	Ralph Lifshitz	6
ELongoria, SF	Ralph Lifshitz	5
JTrevino, Tex	Ian Kahn	4
GHolland, KC	Ariel Cohen	4
JJunis, KC	Ralph Lifshitz	3
GSoto, Det	Clay Link	2
JHernandez, Tex	Clay Link	2
JStallings, Pit	Frank Stampfl	2

Full report for Draft and Hold League available here.

The first two Golden Tickets will be awarded at the conclusion of tonight’s action. It sure looks like it will come down to the wire. Here are the Top-8 heading onto the Tuesday slate.

Rank	Name	Total Period 1
1	Mike Gianella	219.95
2	Rob Leibowitz	219.7
3	Justin Mason	217.25
4	Jeff Erickson	197.3
5	Rick Wolf	192.1
6	Jeff Zimmerman	184.75
7	Andy Behrens	183.95
8	Derek Carty	171.1

Here are some of the players the Touts are using to try to secure a trip to the 2020 Tout Daily Championship.

Phil Hertz (BaseballHQ, @prhz50)

Pitcher: Ross Stripling – Not really enamored with any of the choices tonight, but I’ll go with Stripling and hope the Dodgers let him go long enough for the win.

Hitter: Bryce Harper – Harper’s always been a hitter who can go on big streaks – he’s been on a roll, and I think he’ll keep it up for awhile.

Todd Zola (Mastersball, @toddzola)

Pitcher: Brandon Bielak – Went five innings last time, albeit with just one strikeout. Giants more productive than expected, but for the price I’ll use Bielak as SP2.

Hitter: Travis d’Arnaud – He hasn’t showed it this season, but d’Arnaud is plug and play with a lefty (Montgomery) on the hill. Plus, stacking Braves big time.

Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire, @JeffBoggis)

Pitcher: Dylan Bundy – Apparently Bundy only needed a change in scenery to from the east coast to the west coast to salvage his career. I’ll take him at a decent price tonight at $9,700. He’s averaging over a strikeout per inning, to go along with his 2.08 WRA and 0.60 WHIP.

Hitter: Fernando Tatis Jr. – Tatis Jr. has 6 home runs in the last 7 games. Time for him to start a new streak tonight! Salaried at $5,800, he does not come cheap, but he’s averaging 14.1 fantasy points per contest.

Jeff Erickson (Rotowire, @Jeff_Erickson)

Pitcher: Zack Wheeler – I figure most people will be on either Scherzer or Stripling – I’m hoping to be a little different with Wheeler and Plutko.

Hitter: Jose Martinez – Martinez’s $4,000 salary helps me afford Trout, Harper and Realmuto, and is against LHP Martin Perez with the wind blowing out in Fenway.