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Sunday features an 11-game main slate starting at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Let’s go position-by-position and break down everything you’ll need to know to set your lineups.
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PITCHER
Stud
Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres @ Miami Marlins ($10,500) – There are three pitchers priced at $10,000 or greater on today’s slate, but Darvish stands out as the clear top option. He’s taking on the Marlins, which is one of the best possible matchups for a right-handed pitcher. He’s a sizable -190 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, and his opponent implied team total is the lowest mark on the slate. The Marlins have also struck out at the fifth-highest rate against right-handed pitchers. The Marlins lineup also remains weaker than usual with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Garrett Cooper on the IL. Darvish should be able to slice through this lineup like a hot knife through butter.
Other Options – Aaron Nola ($10,300), Sonny Gray ($9,800)
Value
Rich Hill, New York Mets vs. Toronto Blue Jays ($7,000) – There’s a massive drop-off after the top tier of pitchers. Hill is the only starter priced below $9,000 with an opponent implied team total of fewer than 4.8 runs, so he becomes the preferred value option by default. He faces a brutal matchup vs. the Blue Jays, but Hill has pitched better than his price tag indicates this season. He owns a 3.87 ERA and 8.59 K/9, and while his advanced metrics suggest he’s been a bit lucky, he still deserves to be priced above $7,000.
Other Options – Triston McKenzie ($7,900), Touki Toussaint ($5,900)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
CATCHER
Stud
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves ($4,800) – Realmuto has been hot since the start of the second half, posting a 125 wRC+ through his first 31 plate appearances. He’s also hit for more power over that time frame, increasing his ISO from .170 in the first half to .241 in the second. That’s obviously a small sample size, but Realmuto has been one of the best offensive catchers in the game for quite some time now. He’s also one of the few catchers with a top-three batting spot in his team’s lineup, and the Phillies are implied for 5.4 runs on today’s slate. That’s a nice combination.
Other Options – Willson Contreras ($5,700), Eric Haase ($4,500)
Value
Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($2,700) – Barnhart is very affordable at just $2,700, but he’s graded out as a strong hitter vs. right-handed pitchers this season. He’s posted a 108 wRC+ in that split, and he’ll be taking on a righty on Sunday in Johan Oviedo ($7,000). The Reds’ implied team total of 5.7 runs is also the second-highest mark on the slate.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Tucker Barnhart is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Cardinals.
Other Options – Ryan Jeffers ($3,300), Pedro Severino ($3,000)
FIRST BASE
Stud
Yuli Gurriel, Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers ($4,600) – Gurriel represents one of the best values on today’s slate. He’s facing a southpaw in Taylor Hearn ($4,000), and Gurriel has absolutely feasted on left-handed pitching this season. He’s posted a 148 wRC+ in those matchups, and his ISO jumps from .115 vs. a righty to .231 vs. a lefty. Six of his 10 homers have come against southpaws despite having nearly 120 more at-bats vs. right-handed pitchers. Hearn has also surrendered a .386 wOBA against right-handed batters this season, so this is a perfect matchup for him.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Yuli Gurriel is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Rangers.
Other Options – Anthony Rizzo ($4,700), Joey Votto ($4,400)
Value
Ji-Man Choi, Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Indians ($3,900) – Choi went absolutely bonkers last night, finishing with two doubles, a homer, three runs scored and three RBIs. He’s now homered in back-to-back games, and there’s no reason why he can’t do it again on Sunday. He’s posted an elite 154 wRC+ against right-handers this season, and Triston McKenzie ($7,900) has surrendered a .346 wOBA to left-handed batters.
Other Options – Ryan Zimmerman ($3,100), Miguel Cabrera ($2,900)
SECOND BASE
Stud
Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($4,500) – India has taken over as the Reds’ leadoff hitter, which is not surprising given his ability to get on base. He’s posted a prodigious .408 OBP in his rookie season, which is the fourth-highest mark in all of baseball. He’s underpriced at just $4,500 at the top of the Reds’ lineup.
Other Options – Jose Altuve ($5,300), Jonathan Schoop ($5,100)
Value
Kiké Hernández, Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees ($3,900) – The Red Sox own the top implied team total on the slate at 5.8 runs, which makes Hernández an excellent option as their leadoff hitter. He owns an excellent matchup vs. Domingo German ($6,300), who has not been able to keep the ball in the ballpark this season. He’s allowed 1.97 homers per nine innings against right-handed batters, resulting in a 5.20 FIP. Most of his struggles have come at home, but I’m not afraid of picking on him at Fenway Park.
Other Options – Nico Hoerner ($3,800), Alcides Escobar ($3,500)
THIRD BASE
Stud
Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks ($5,200) – Bryant is reportedly on the trade block, but he has had an excellent season. He completely overhauled his swing in the offseason, and he has destroyed lefties to the tune of a 193 wRC+ in 2021. He’ll be facing a southpaw in Caleb Smith ($7,400) on Sunday, and the Cubs are implied for 5.2 runs.
Other Options – Rafael Devers ($5,400), D.J. LeMahieu ($4,600)
Value
Jeimer Candelario, Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City Royals ($4,100) – The Tigers have some sneaky upside today vs. left-hander Daniel Lynch ($5,200). They have a handful of guys who rake against southpaws, including Candelario. He’s posted a 124 wRC+ in that split this season, and Lynch has also been hit extremely hard by right-handed batters to start his MLB career. They’ve posted a .540 wOBA with seven extra-base hits in just 41 plate appearances against Lynch this season.
Other Options – Hunter Dozier ($3,000), Abraham Toro ($2,900)
SHORTSTOP
Stud
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers ($4,500) – Correa is another member of the Astros who seems massively underpriced on Sunday. He’s had a huge year at the dish, and he’s posted a 139 wRC+ against southpaws in particular. Loading up on the Astros’ big bats makes a lot of sense given Hearns’ struggles against righties, as does their implied team total of 5.5 runs.
Other Options – Trea Turner ($5,900), Xander Bogaerts ($5,000)
Value
Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox ($3,600) – Torres has quietly started to turn things around for the Yankees. He got off to a dreadful start this season, but he’s posted a torrid 162 wRC+ since the All-Star break. Torres broke out at the major-league level at just 21 years old, so it’s not surprising that he’s started to play like an All-Star recently. He should be able to keep the good times rolling against Martin Perez ($8,500), who owns a 5.19 xERA this season.
Other Options – Didi Gregorius ($4,200), Ramon Urias ($3,300)
OUTFIELD
Stud
Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($4,600) – I can only assume that DraftKings made a mistake when setting Winker’s price on Sunday. He is arguably the best hitter in baseball against right-handed pitchers – he owns a 167 wRC+ in that split this season – and he’s facing a very mediocre right-hander on Sunday in Oviedo. We’ve seen Winker priced above $6,000 at times this season, so I will gladly take the discount.
Other Options – Bryce Harper ($5,700), Cedric Mullins ($4,900)
Value
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels ($3,700) – Injuries have limited Kepler to just 65 games this season, but he’s expected to be in the leadoff spot on Sunday. He’ll be facing right-hander Jaime Barria ($5,500), and Kepler has always been able to hit against right-handed pitching. The Twins’ lineup may not be as potent as it used to be, but Kepler can do some damage in this matchup.
Other Options – Robbie Grossman ($3,500), Michael Brantley ($3,300), Tyler Naquin ($2,500)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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