(Kathy Willens, AP)
Leading off
Playoff overview: Contests at FantasyScore will combine multiple MLB playoff games, sometimes over more than one day. The rules, however, remain the same. Starting lineups consist of two pitchers, plus a hitter at every position.
Wild-card round: The one-game American League playoff will be played on Tuesday night in New York and the NL game will be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Registration for the combined wild-card contest will close at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Players from either game can be used, but a complete lineup must all be entered before first pitch on Tuesday.
Strategy: In a single-elimination game, managers will likely go to their bullpens early and often. With so many potential pitching changes, platoon advantages may not be as great as they might be in a regular season game.
The season is in the late innings. Close it out with a championship.
Pitchers
1. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates
$9,700 salary | 19.4% of cap
2. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
$9,600 salary | 19.2% of cap
3. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
$8,800 salary | 17.6% of cap
4. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
$9,500 salary | 19.0% of cap
No matter how you slice it, you’re going to have to spend big for two pitchers. It’s hard not to like Arrieta, considering he just put up the best second half in baseball history (12-1, 0.75 ERA). The two NL aces are more likely to go deep into the game — and they’ll get to face each other at the plate instead of a DH. Most owners will avoid Keuchel, who’s starting on three days’ rest for the first time in his career.
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Batters
1B Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
$6,200 salary | 12.4% of cap
2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
$6,200 salary | 12.4% of cap
SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
$5,100 salary | 10.2% of cap
These three are clearly the best at their positions. It may not be possible to include all of them in a winning lineup, but having at least one (and maybe two) builds in a lot of security.
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Value picks
OF Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
$4,700 salary | 9.4% of cap
OF Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs
$4,400 salary | 8.8% of cap
2B Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
$4,200 salary | 8.4% of cap
OF Evan Gattis, Houston Astros
$3,900 salary | 7.8% of cap
3B Luis Valbuena, Houston Astros
$3,700 salary | 7.4% of cap
C Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs
$3,700 salary | 7.4% of cap
Keuchel has dominated the Yankees in two starts this season, so Gardner (who hit lefties better than righties this season) is the only New York player recommended. The Pirates outfielders are all above $5,000 and are risky plays against Arrieta, although Harrison is worth considering at his price.
Houston’s Gattis is a threat to hit one out against any pitcher and Valbuena has 20 homers against right-handed pitchers.
Catcher could be a wasteland, so go cheap there. Kyle Schwarber ($5,600 salary, 11.2% of cap) will likely be replaced for defense in the late innings.
