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Sunday features a 10-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
Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins ($9,700) – Scherzer stands out in a tier of his own on today’s slate. He hasn’t gotten off to the best start this season, pitching to a 3.00 ERA and 3.86 FIP through his first starts, and his average fastball velocity is also down a bit. That said, his track record has earned him the benefit of the doubt. He leads all pitchers on Sunday with an opponent implied team total of 3.2 runs, and the Marlins also own the fifth-highest strikeout rate vs. right-handed pitchers this season.
Other Options – Lucas Giolito ($8,600), Jose Berrios ($8,500)
Value
Corey Kluber, New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers ($8,100) – Kluber has had a dreadful start to his Yankees tenure, but he did turn things around in his last start. He pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed just one earned run, so perhaps that was a turning point for him. He’s in an elite spot today vs. the Tigers. They rank just 25th in wRC+ vs. right-handers to start the year, and they’ve also posted the third-highest strikeout rate. Kluber’s opponent implied team total of 3.3 runs is just a tick higher than Scherzer’s, and he’s a significantly larger favorite at -248.
Other Options – Trevor Rogers ($7,900), Tyler Mahle ($7,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
CATCHER
Stud
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers ($4,400) – Smith is taking on right-hander Alec Bettinger ($4,000) on Sunday, who will be getting his first taste of MLB action. He’s just the No. 23 prospect in the Brewers organization, per MLB Pipeline, and facing the Dodgers is a rough way to start your career. Smith has been at his best against right-handers over the past 12 months, posting a .424 wOBA and .333 ISO.
Other Options – Christian Vazquez ($4,100)
Value
Andrew Knizner, St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates ($2,600) – Punting the catcher position is always a viable option. Knizner is not much of a threat with the bat, but he’s cheap and plays for the team with the fifth-highest implied team total on the slate. That’s enough to make him fantasy relevant.
Other Options – Zack Collins ($3,400), Jacob Stallings ($3,300)
FIRST BASE
Stud
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs ($5,300) – Votto is not the same elite player that he was in his prime, but he’s still capable of doing damage against right-handed pitchers. He’s facing a mediocre right-hander on Sunday in Trevor Williams ($6,600), who pitched to a 6.18 ERA and 6.30 FIP in 2020. He’s been a bit better to start the 2021 season, but his 4.44 ERA is still nothing to write home about.
Other Options – Freddie Freeman ($5,400), Jose Abreu ($4,900)
Value
Alex Kirilloff, Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals ($3,000) – Kirilloff’s MLB career is just getting started, but he has the pedigree of a future star. He entered the season as the No. 17 overall prospect in baseball, per FanGraphs, and he has absolutely raked in the minor leagues. His .283 wOBA through his first 35 plate appearances at the MLB level is a bit disappointing, but he’s posted a ridiculous .530 expected wOBA. That means he’s making elite contact, so the results should come.
Other Options – Nate Lowe ($4,000), Bobby Dalbec ($3,400)
SECOND BASE
Stud
DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers ($5,200) – The Yankees have started to turn things around, and they’re in a potential smash spot on Sunday. They’re currently implied for 5.3 runs, which is the top mark on the slate. They’re taking on Tigers right-hander Jose Urena ($6,300), who has walked nearly as many batters as he’s struck out since the start of last season. LeMahieu has posted a .395 wOBA against right-handers over the past 12 months, so he can do some damage in this matchup.
Other Options – Jose Altuve ($4,800), Tommy Edman ($4,500)
Value
Rougned Odor, New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers ($3,900) – Let’s go right back to the Yankees. Odor is another option for them at second base, and he’s significantly cheaper than LeMahieu. They grabbed him for nothing from the Rangers earlier this season, and as usual, they’ve turned another team’s trash into treasure. He’s already hit four homers for the Yankees, and he’ll be on the positive side of his splits vs. Urena.
THIRD BASE
Stud
Josh Donaldson, Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals ($5,100) – The Royals have been one of the biggest surprises to start the season, but they’ll be sending Brad Keller ($5,500) to the mound on Sunday vs. the Twins. Keller has been abysmal to start the year, struggling to a 9.00 ERA and 5.21 xFIP through his first five starts. He’s been dreadful against right-handed batters, in particular, allowing them to post a .466 wOBA. Unsurprisingly, the Twins’ implied team total of 5.0 runs ranks second on the slate, so Donaldson has plenty of appeal in this matchup.
Other Options – Rafael Devers ($5,200), Nolan Arenado ($4,500)
Value
Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs ($4,100) – Moustakas benefits from the same matchup as Votto, but Moustakas arguably has more upside. He’s got significantly more power than Votto at this point in his career, and he’s posted a .255 ISO against right-handers over the past 12 months. He’s underpriced as the Reds’ cleanup hitter.
Other Options – Gio Urshella ($4,200), Pablo Sandoval ($2,400)
SHORTSTOP
Stud
Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers ($4,600) – There are plenty of excellent shortstops to consider on Sunday, but Seager’s price tag stands out. He put together a career year in 2020 – culminating with a World Series MVP – and he’s off to another solid start in 2021. He’s posted a 128 wRC+ against right-handers, and his expected wOBA is nearly 50 points higher than his actual wOBA. He’s due for some positive regression, so he’s underpriced at $4,600.
Other Options – Xander Bogaerts ($5,200), Eugenio Suarez ($5,000)
Value
Paul DeJong, St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates ($3,900) – Anderson is on the “wrong” side of his splits vs. right-hander Wil Crowe ($5,200) on Sunday, but that’s actually a positive for DeJong. He’s historically posted better numbers against right-handers than left-handers, and Crowe pitched to an 11.88 ERA and 12.31 FIP in three starts last season. He was a bit better in his first start of 2021, but this still stands out as an excellent matchup for the Cardinals’ hitters.
Other Options – Dansby Swanson ($3,700), Luis Urias ($3,200)
OUTFIELD
Stud
Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs ($5,100) – Winker is back in the leadoff spot for the Reds on Sunday, and he’s evolved into one of the best hitters in the league against right-handed pitching. He’s posted a .442 wOBA and .339 ISO in those matchups over the past 12 months, which are absolutely elite marks. He’s been red-hot in those matchups to start the season, clubbing six homers in his first 61 at-bats.
Other Options – Aaron Judge ($5,600), Alex Verdugo ($4,600)
Value
Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers vs. Boston Red Sox ($2,800) – Calhoun is expected to bat leadoff today vs. Garrett Richards ($7,100), which makes him underpriced at $2,800. He’s also been awesome to start the season, posting a 153 wRC+ through his first 49 plate appearances. That makes him one of the easiest plays of the day in cash games.
Other Options – Kiké Hernández ($4,100), Dylan Carlson ($3,300)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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