$2 gets you in the door at FanDuel in a game of 160, that pays $4 for each entry in the top 72. It’s a great way to try out daily fantasy baseball, with a decent chance to win a little.
Follow the link to sign up! http://fanduel.com/tout-challenge And play against Adam Ronis, Al Melchior, Gene McCaffrey, Jake Ciely, Todd Zola, Lawr Michaels and others in tonight’s challenge!
Todd Zola and the crew at Mastersball list the bids and write about them every week, and this week, too.
Jeff Erickson surveys the leagues he plays in FAAB results, which included Tout NL.
Mike Gianella’s BP FAAB round up is now posted at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=26451.
When the dust cleared it was Lenny Melnick atop the heap in the Tout Daily by Fanduel, Phase 2 Week 3 contest, well ahead of Lawr Michaels. Michaels, however, remains the leader in Phase 2, with one week remaining. The top 3 teams in each Phase earn a ticket to the August 28 Championship week, in which $2,000 of prizes will go to the top 5 finishers.
Melnick, of course, had the week’s top pitcher, Gerrit Cole, as well as Kendrys Morales’s (owned by 2.4 percent of teams) surprisingly huge week (15.75 points). He also had Evan Longoria and AJ Pollock, which was enough to give him a nine point win.
Michaels also had Longoria, as well as the week’s second most favorited pitcher, Max Scherzer, and solid contributions from Logan Morrison and Steve Souza, plus across the board goodness. Only Brad Miller failed to contribute to his team.
Here’s the contest leaderboard, sorted by the Phase 2 leaders.
Here’s the winning squad:
We asked the Touts to share their picks for best pitcher and best hitter tonight’s Tout Daily Week 7 contest. You can follow the results here tonight. For more about Tout Daily visit here.
Pitcher: Gerrit Cole ($9,400–New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates) – Love Scherzer today but the Phils don’t strike out that much so in a tourney, I’ll save the bucks and take a guy at home, in an extreme pitcher’s park facing a team that fans at an above average rate.
Hitter: Anthony Rizzo ($4,400–Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks) – Batting 3rd on the road should give Rizzo five cracks in a park that boosts lefty power by 16 percent with at least a couple chances against Josh Collmenter who’s surrendered six homers over his last three starts.
Pitcher: Max Scherzer ($11,700–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals). It’s tempting to go with a cheaper alternative, such as Noah Syndergaard at $7,700, but in this case the opposing pitcher was the tiebreaker for me (Scherzer vs. Sean O’Sullivan; Syndergaard vs. Gerrit Cole). In a tournament-style game like this, where only the top 25% or so finishers win money, it’s imperative to have your pitcher get a Win. Other alternatives considered were Ubaldo Jimenez ($7,200) @ Mia, Rick Porcello ($7,900) vs. LAA, and Alex Wood ($7,700) vs. Mil. In all cases I was looking for opponents w/ low team batting averages who don’t score many runs or hit many home runs.
Hitter: Nolan Arenado ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies). He has 7 homers in 137 at-bats, he’s playing at home at Coors Field, and he’s facing an opposing pitcher (Ryan Vogelsong) who’s given up 9 home runs in just 39 innings. I’m in.
Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez ($7,200–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) Scherzer is tempting, but the price difference makes Jimenez irresistible. Riskier, too, but a full Anthony Rizzo cheaper despite pitching in a good ball park against a weak hitting team featuring a pitcher who is still working out the kinks.
Hitter: Mike Trout ($5,200–Los Angeles Angels at Boston Red Sox) The wind is blowing out in Boston, and Rick Porcello doesn’t have the stuff to contain Trout.
Pitcher:Gerrit Cole ($9,400–New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates) – If you don’t want to pay the price on Max Scherzer (and it may be a good idea to do so, given the home matchup against the Phillies, with Sean O’Sullivan as the opposing pitcher, and with the Phillies coming directly from Coors Field), look at Cole. The Mets have all sorts of troubles against RH starters, and you might get the benefit of Cole being lesser-owned, given how many other good SPs are going Friday, including Cole’s opposite-number Noah Syndergaard.
Batter: Jimmy Paredes ($3,300–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) – I’m going back to the well on Paredes. Did you know that only five batters are averaging more fantasy points per game on FanDuel than Paredes (Harper, Goldschmidt, Cruz, Adrian Gonzalez and Rizzo)? At $3,300 against Henderson Alvarez, it’s worth going with him again Friday.
Honorable mention to the San Francisco Brandon’s, who get Kyle Kendrick in Coors Field. Only the weather worries me.
Pitcher: Max Scherzer ($11,700–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals)- I hate using up so much salary on one player, but this is about as good a matchup as you could imagine. He pitches at home against baseball’s worst offense and is opposed by a mediocre minor league pitcher. I’ll see what kind of lineup I can put around him, but Scherzer is in line for a great day. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right answer.
Hitter: Brandon Belt ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies and Kyle Kendrick (RHP) – Belt has not gotten the power going, but everything else is pointing up. Belt is hitting .358 in May and .347 with all of his homers against right-handed hitters. Add in Kyle Kendrick and Coors Field and you have the makings of a big day.
Pitcher: Max Scherzer ($11,700–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals) I’m always trying to come up with optimal lineups through various daily strategies. Over the previous weeks, the days when I finished in the money was when I had my pitcher have an outstanding outing, regardless of the points generated from my hitters. So I don’t want to skimp today on starting pitching, regardless of salary. For my team, I’m going with Scherzer tonight at $11,700 against Philadelphia. I like to use 2 weeks of pitching stats to analyze pitchers and to avoid a 7 day analysis due to 2 starts for some pitchers. Over the past 2 weeks, Scherzer has 14 innings pitched, 2 wins, 17 strikeouts, an ERA of 0.64 and a WHIP of 0.86. He is at home tonight and faces a Phillies team that ranks last in slugging percentage (.355) and home runs (24) on the season. Scherzer has averaged 17.5 fantasy points over his past 4 starts and has 2 outings this season with 20+ fantasy points. If you want to save a few dollars, I’d also recommend Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer at $9,100. He faces the Oakland A’s at home, but has a tough matchup as he faces Oakland’s Scott Kazmir. Archer has not been able to put it all together for a single outing for fantasy owners this season. He’s pitched well in his last 2 starts, but his run support and strikeouts have been inconsistent. I’d like to see Archer go at least 7 innings tonight as he has pitched 7 innings in 4 out of his 9 outings this season.
Hitter: Hunter Pence ($3,300–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies). When a quality hitter can be rostered at a bargain price, I have to add this team to my starting lineup. Hunter Pence is being priced as he returns from the DL. I am getting a quality hitter at a DL price. Pence has multiple hit games in 3 of the 5 games since his return from the DL. He has a favorable matchup tonight against Kyle Kendrick and is playing tonight in the hitter’s park of Colorado.
Hitter: Danny Espinosa ($2,900–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) Thirteen second basemen are priced higher than Espinosa tonight, and the switch-hitter’s power comes against RHP. He faces Philly’s RHP Sean O’Sullivan (9.64 ERA vs. LH hitters, with 3 HRA in just 4.2 IP).
Pitcher: Zack Greinke ($9,900–San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers). It’s all about the strike outs and innings pitched, and when Greinke pitches against San Diego, there is a good chance you’ll get lots of both, and perhaps a win. Zack is 5-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 9 starts against the Padres, and only given up 1 run is 13 innings against them this year. And in that San Diego has the 4th most strike outs in MLB, it makes it worth the price to make him a good play tonight.
Hitter: Nolan Arenado ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies). This game should be a slug fest with Vogelsong or Kendrick having a combined ERA over 12. Nolan has two dingers vs Vogelsong and comes in with a day of rest yesterday. He’s been in a rut lately with only 1 hit in his last 15 AB’s, which has caused his salary to drop. Vogelsong should be just what he needs to break out of the mini-slump!
Hitters: Brandon Belt ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) and Charlie Blackmon ($3,800–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) For Friday night offense, Coors is the place to be, especially with Kyle Kendrick opposing Ryan Vogelsong. On the Giants’ side, I will go with a player I own in NL Tout Wars, first baseman Brandon Belt, at $3900. Kendrick has been bad everywhere this season, but worse at home and worse against left-handed hitters. Enter Belt, who has a 1.018 OPS in 24 career games at Coors.
In an equal-opportunity view, I am backing Charlie Blackmon against Vogelsong. This season, the Giants’ starter’s splits between left- and right-handed hitters (1.143 vs. .649 OPS) are about as extreme as one could have. The lefty-swinging Blackmon has performed well against right-handed pitchers in 2015 (.317/.375/.505/.880).
Pitcher:
Pitcher: Gerrit Cole ($9,400–New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates) My Pitcher tonite. Ks and wins are the name of the game at Fanduel Mets can be beaten away from Home and with erratic bats, the Ks will come as well. No need to spend the extra bucks on bigger names.
Hitter: Hunter Pence ($3,300–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) Has made a nice return from injury and will light it up at Coors. Good Value.
Paul Sporer’s Selections:
Pitcher: Gerrit Cole ($9,400–New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates) Cole’s making his ace transformation before our eyes. He hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in a single outing, he’s fanned 6+ in seven of eight starts, and the NYM offense has regressed from their early “decent” start w/a .615 OPS v. righties this month (second-worst in MLB).
Hitter: Bryce Harper ($6,000–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals) Versus Scott O’Sullivan: Lefties have owned SOS forever and Harper is owning everyone right now. It’s a bit of an easy pick, but easy doesn’t make it wrong!
The Pickboard
Pitcher (Cost–Game) Votes (FanDuel Points)
Gerrit Cole ($9,400–New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates) 7 (22.33)
Max Scherzer ($11,700–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals) 6 (17)
Zack Greinke ($9,900–San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers) 3 (11.66)
Ubaldo Jimenez ($7,200–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) 2 (5)
Carlos Carrasco ($8,700–Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Indians) 1 (15)
Hitter (Cost–Game) Votes
Brandon Belt ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies and Kyle Kendrick (RHP) 3 (10.5)
Nolan Arenado ($3,900–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 2 (-1)
Hunter Pence ($3,300–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 2 (4.25)
Nick Hundley ($3,000–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 1 (2.25)
Carlos Gonzalez ($3,300–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 1 (2.25)
Charlie Blackmon ($3,800–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 1 (2.25)
Justin Maxwell ($3,000–San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies) 1 (dnp)
Anthony Rizzo ($4,400–Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks) 1 (.75)
A.J. Pollock ($4,000–Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks) 1 (10.5)
Bryce Harper ($6,000–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals) 1 (6.75)
Ryan Zimmerman ($3,300–Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals) 1 (.5)
Mike Trout ($5,200–Los Angeles Angels at Boston Red Sox) 1 (6.25)
Jimmy Paredes ($3,300–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) 1 (3.5)
Danny Espinosa ($2,900–Baltimore Orioles at Miami Marlins) 1 (-.75)
Kyle Seager ($2.900–Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays) 2 (2.5)
Evan Longoria ($3,200–Oakland Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays) 1 (11.75)
The Only Problem With Colorado Tonight
Three teams beat all 23 touts in last night’s #toutchallenge at FanDuel.
demps2001 had big nights from James Shields, Nick Hundley, David Ortiz, Maikel Franco, Troy Tulowitzki, and Kole Calhoun, to finish first overall.
strombone1 featured Shields, Mark Reynolds, Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper, and Nelson Cruz.
frankiep2323 rode on the backs of Trevor Bauer, Nick Hundley, Willin Rosario, Maikel Franco, and Bryce Harper.
Doug Anderson, otherwise known as rotodaddy, rostered Shields, Franco, Desmond, Giancarlo Stanton, and Calhoun.
Phil Hertz was the other tout to finish in the Top 10, finishing seventh overall.
The rest of the touts who finished in the Top 50:
Adam Ronis
Scott Swanay
Lawr Michaels
Seth Trachtman
Gene McCaffrey
Peter Kreutzer
Join us on May 26th for another #toutchallenge!
Mastersball.com’s experts take on the four Tout Wars roto leagues with commentary and charts. I wish Brian Walton had pointed out that Kreutzer’s all-in bid would have been $28, just half of his winning $56 bid.
Mike Gianella goes all Fonzie over at Baseball Prospectus, covering the week’s transactions. Eh!
Plus, you get bonus LABR coverage in both pieces.
Face off tonight against 23 grizzled and hungry Touts in this week’s #toutchallenge. Use this link to sign up (http://partners.fanduel.com/processing/clickthrgh.asp?btag=a_7152b_984), and see how you fare in a one-day fantasy baseball contest!
Want to know who you’re playing against? Here’s a list of tonight’s Touts and their Fanduel names.
After six weeks of play, Mike Podhorzer is in first place in Tout Wars AL. He’s there, just two and a half points ahead of Rob Leibowitz, by virtue of an almost perfect offense, which has 58.5 of a potential 60 points.
Not only are Mike’s big bets on offense, like Prince Fielder, Hanley Ramirez and Jose Bautista, producing, but he’s getting outsized production from $1 endgame buys Devon Travis and Jose Iglesias.
The pitching staff, built around closers Koji Uehara and Sean Doolittle, with Scott Kazmir, Colby Lewis and CC Sabathia, has been good enough so far.
Mike’s team will be tested in coming weeks, having recently lost Alex Avila and Ike Davis to injury. Leibowitz and Jeff Erickson, who is also close, will be laying in wait for any stumble.
Get the complete standings and rosters here.
