All 30 MLB clubs are in action on Sunday, highlighted by an eight-game afternoon slate loaded with firepower to fuel your DFS lineups.
From bona fide stars to stealthy value plays, let’s take a look at three must-starts for Sunday afternoon.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here before 1:35 p.m. ET: MLB $175K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st].
SP Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros ($9,000)
While Shota Imanaga is coming off a nightmare outing — allowing eight earned runs over 4.1 frames against the Brewers — it shouldn’t scare you away from a pitcher who has otherwise been one of the most formidable arms on Sunday’s slate.
The Japanese southpaw, 32, owns a 3.38 ERA with 1.04 WHIP and 61 strikeouts through 10 starts (58.2 IP) this season — along with the underlying metrics to back up his early success. He has posted a 3.39 FIP and a 3.34 xERA, also ranking in MLB’s top 25 percent in strikeout rate and walk rate. And although Imanaga has produced some loud contact, his offspeed bag is arguably the best it’s ever been. Armed with a dastardly splitter, he sits in the league’s 98th percentile or better in chase rate and offspeed run value.
Imanaga finds himself in a prime position to bounce back in Sunday’s series finale against the injury-ravaged Astros. Several Houston stars are currently on the shelf, including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and, most notably, MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez. Since the beginning of May, the Astros rank 26th league-wide in wRC+, 28th in wOBA, and dead last in total runs scored.
1B/OF Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers ($6,500)
It seems that, in hot pursuit of a National League Cy Young Award, Shohei Ohtani’s bat has taken a backseat. But even so, the Japanese superstar remains the most expensive hitter on Sunday’s slate for a reason.
Ohtani, 31, is hitting .273 with an .882 OPS, a 146 wRC+, eight home runs, and 27 RBIs in 2026. While those numbers fall short of his skyscraping standards, the batted-ball data paints a far brighter picture. The four-time MVP ranks in MLB’s top 10 percent in xwOBA (.402), xSLG (.529), average exit velocity (93 mph), barrel rate (17.2%), and walk rate (16%). Those promising underlying metrics have begun to surface as Ohtani enters Sunday riding an nine-game hitting streak with five extra-base knocks (one home run), eight walks, and 11 RBIs during that span.
The two-way phenom should keep the momentum rolling on Sunday, facing stumbling Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat ($6,400). The rookie fireballer, 23, has gotten crushed to the tune of a 5.75 ERA (4.81 xERA) and a 1.50 WHIP through nine appearances (seven starts) this season, struggling to induce chases and limit free passes. He ranks in MLB’s bottom three percent in pitching run value. Baseball’s brightest star should capitalize accordingly.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals vs. Seattle Mariners ($3,700)
Vinnie Pasquantino has struggled to replicate his World Baseball Classic heroics since returning to Kansas City. The lefty slugger, 28, is hitting just .198 with a .606 OPS and five home runs this season. His underlying metrics don’t inspire much confidence in a turnaround, either.
However, for some reason, Pasquantino turns into Ted Williams after six shots of espresso when he faces the Mariners. In 21 career games against Seattle, he’s hitting .286 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and 11 runs scored. He’s also recorded a hit in all five games against the M’s this year — highlighted by a dazzling May 1 showing against Sunday’s starter, Bryan Woo ($9,200).
Despite being one of the most reliable starters in the sport, the All-Star right-hander got tagged for six earned runs over six innings in his first run-in with the Royals. At the heart of the action was Pasquantino, who went 2-for-3 with a 404-foot solo moonshot.
