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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
Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox vs. New York Yankees ($10,700) – It’s a bit scary to roster a starting pitcher against the Yankees, but the Yankees’ offense hasn’t exactly thrived this season. They rank just 14th in wRC+ against right-handers this season, which is not all that imposing. They’re implied for 3.7 runs on Sunday vs. Giolito, which is tied for the second-lowest mark on the slate.
The Yankees are also one of the most generous teams to target in terms of strikeouts. They own the seventh-highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers, so Giolito can do some damage in this matchup.
Other Options – Sean Manaea ($10,400), Eduardo Rodriguez ($9,800)
Value
Alec Mills, Chicago Cubs @ Miami Marlins ($7,300) – Today’s pitching slate is rough after the top options. Mills is a subpar fantasy arm – he owns a 4.15 FIP and 6.66 K/9 this season – but he does at least have an excellent matchup. He’s taking on the Marlins, who have posted the sixth-highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers this season. Their implied team total of 3.8 runs is also one of the lower marks on the slate, making Mills a viable value option.
Other Options – Drew Smyly ($8,300), Triston McKenzie ($7,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
CATCHER
Stud
Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($4,900) – The lack of quality pitching options means there are plenty of offenses to consider on Sunday. Perez stands out as one of the top catchers. He’s had another excellent year at the dish, particularly against left-handed pitchers. He owns an elite 193 wRC+ in that split, and he also sports a .379 ISO. He’ll be facing a left-hander on Sunday in J.A. Happ ($6,200), and while he’s pitched well in two starts for the Cardinals, he still owns a 6.34 ERA for the season.
Other Options – J.T. Realmuto ($4,500), Travis d’Arnaud ($4,200)
Value
Yan Gomes, Oakland Athletics @ Texas Rangers ($3,200) – Gomes is another catcher who has raked against left-handed pitching this season. He’s posted a 158 wRC+ with a .310 ISO in those matchups, which are excellent marks considering his price tag. He’s taking on a left-hander in Kolby Allard ($6,400) on Sunday, and he’s also expected to bat fifth in the A’s lineup.
Other Options – Yadier Molina ($3,600), Christian Vazquez ($3,100)
FIRST BASE
Stud
Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals ($4,900) – This price tag is simply too cheap for a hitter of Freeman’s caliber. He’s been hot since the All-Star break, posting a 136 wRC+, and he remains one of the best hitters in the game against right-handed pitching. He’s facing a mediocre right-hander on Sunday in Paolo Espino ($6,600), and the Braves’ implied team total of 5.3 runs is the fifth-highest mark on the slate.
Other Options – Jose Abreu ($5,200), Paul Goldschmidt ($4,700)
Value
Bobby Dalbec, Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles ($3,100) – Dalbec is hitting seventh for the Red Sox, and I would almost never consider playing a hitter that low in the lineup. That said, Dalbec is sporting a 123 wRC+ with a .230 ISO against left-handed pitchers, which would be good enough to put him in the middle of most lineups. The Red Sox are also implied for a whopping 6.8 runs on Sunday, which is the top mark on the slate by a full run. They will be a chalky offense, but Dalbec should have minimal ownership in the bottom third of the lineup.
Other Options – Carlos Santana ($3,400), Jesus Aguilar ($3,200)
SECOND BASE
Stud
Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals ($5,000) – Albies is a switch-hitter who is at his best when facing a southpaw, but he’s still pretty darn good against right-handers. He’s hit 14 homers in that split this season, and he’s batting leadoff in the Braves’ lineup on Sunday. Second base is pretty weak on Sunday, so that’s enough to make him the top stud at the position.
Other Options – Brandon Lowe ($4,800), Kolten Wong ($4,400)
Value
Tommy Edman, St. Louis Cardinals @ Kansas City Royals ($3,200) – Edman is my favorite option at second base. He’s a threat on the bases given his 19 steals this season, and he’ll be on the positive side of his splits against left-hander Kris Bubic ($5,900). He owns a 123 wRC+ against southpaws this season, and five of his seven homers have come against left-handed pitchers. The Cardinals’ implied team total of 5.5 runs is also the third-highest mark on the slate.
Other Options – Jed Lowrie ($3,900), Whit Merrifield ($3,700)
THIRD BASE
Stud
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians @ Detroit Tigers ($6,000) – The Indians will be taking on Drew Hutchison ($4,800) on Saturday, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2018. He’s pitched to a 4.71 xFIP in Triple-A this season with the Tigers, and he posted a dreadful 5.73 xFIP in his last taste of big-league action. Cleveland doesn’t possess the most potent offense, but they have more upside than usual.
The Cleveland offense is spearheaded by Ramirez, who is basically the last man standing from the team that made the World Series in 2016. He’s been at his best against right-handed pitchers this season, posting a 139 wRC+ and a .324 ISO.
Other Options – Nolan Arenado ($5,000), Austin Riley ($4,800)
Value
Hunter Dozier, Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($2,800) – It’s been a season to forget for Dozier, but he has shown signs of life since the All-Star break. He’s posted a 120 wRC+ over that time frame, which does provide some optimism for him moving forward. Happ has surrendered a dreadful .387 wOBA to right-handed batters this season, so Dozier does have some appeal at such a minimal price tag.
Other Options – Yandy Diaz ($4,200; questionable), Jeimer Candelario ($3,700)
SHORTSTOP
Stud
Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays @ Minnesota Twins ($4,700) – Franco has been the top prospect in baseball for a while now, and he’s wasted little time making an impact at the big-league level. He’s expected to occupy the No. 3 spot in the lineup for the Rays on Sunday, and their implied team total of 5.8 runs ranks second on the slate.
Franco will also be on the positive side of his splits against left-hander Charlie Barnes ($5,600). Barnes has pitched to a dreadful 6.08 ERA over 13 1/3 innings this season, and he’s managed a paltry 4.05 strikeout per nine innings. Anytime your K/9 is lower than your ERA, pitching in the big leagues might not be your calling. He’s also surrendered a .381 wOBA to right-handed batters, and Franco has posted a 156 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. This is an excellent matchup to target the wunderkind.
Other Options – Tim Anderson ($5,300), Xander Bogaerts ($5,200)
Value
Amed Rosario, Cleveland Indians @ Detroit Tigers ($4,100) – Like Franco, Rosario was also once considered a top prospect at the shortstop position. Unlike Franco, he hasn’t had a ton of success at the major-league level. That said, he has posted a 114 wRC+ over the second half of the season, and he’s expected to bat second against Hutchison. That gives him some appeal on Sunday.
Other Options – Didi Gregorius ($2,900), Hoy Park ($2,000)
OUTFIELD
Stud
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds ($5,500) – Harper is in the midst of his best season since winning the NL MVP award in 2015, and he’s been scorching hot since the All-Star break. He’s posted a ridiculous 209 wRC+ over that time frame, and he’s also hit six homers in just 88 at-bats. He has a tough matchup on Sunday vs. Sonny Gray ($9,500), but there isn’t a pitcher in the world who has the advantage over Harper at the moment.
Other Options – J.D. Martinez ($5,000), Nelson Cruz ($4,700).
Value
Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays @ Minnesota Twins ($4,200) – Arozarena hasn’t been able to match the ridiculous numbers he posted as a rookie, but he’s still been excellent this season. He’s thrived against left-handed pitchers, in particular, posting a 146 wRC+ with a .248 ISO. He’s simply too cheap at $4,200 given the Rays’ implied team total and his spot at the top of their lineup.
Other Options – Tyler O’Neill ($3,500), Myles Straw ($2,700)
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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