We had a successful Saturday slate, so we’re ready to keep rolling on this Sunday card. We have all but six teams to discuss, with most games being played at 1ET and 4ET. We will fade the Coors Field game, though, because that’s a standalone matchup starting at 3ET. These sites love to avoid those because Rockies games can be a nightmare from a DFS perspective. In any case, we still have 24 teams to talk about, so let’s get into it!
Starting Pitcher Rankings
We had a successful Saturday slate, so we’re ready to keep rolling on this Sunday card. We have all but six teams to discuss, with most games being played at 1ET and 4ET. We will fade the Coors Field game, though, because that’s a standalone matchup starting at 3ET. These sites love to avoid those because Rockies games can be a nightmare from a DFS perspective. In any case, we still have 24 teams to talk about, so let’s get into it!
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Strategy
We had a ton of pitchers we loved yesterday, but the pool today isn’t as pretty. It was challenging to find four guys we wanted to recommend, but one stands out above the rest. With that in mind, let’s start there!
Cash Game Recommendations:
Cristian Javier (HOU) at OAK
Javier is the top option on this slate, and it’s not really close. This Oakland offense is the worst in baseball, ranked last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA since the start of last season. That won’t go well against Javier, who has a 3.07 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He’s also had his way with the A’s, allowing three runs or fewer in 10 straight starts against them. That’s why CJ and the Stros are a -250 favorite in this spot!
Drew Smyly (CHC) vs. CIN
Smyly has been rough at times in his career, but he’s found something this season. The left-hander has a 5-1 record, thanks to his 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. That’s amazing since he allowed six runs in the opener, tallying a 2.13 ERA and 0.85 WHIP since then. Squaring off with Cincy is the best part of this, though, with the Reds ranked 29th in xwOBA.
GPP Recommendations:
Dylan Cease (CWS) at DET
It’s been a rough go for Cease this season, but this guy will bounce back. He had a 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 11.1 K/9 rate in a breakout year last season. We expect him to recapture that form at some point, but a matchup with Detroit could start it. The Tigers rank 29th in runs scored and wOBA, with Cease collecting a 0.82 ERA and 11.9 K/9 rate in four starts against them last year.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs MIA
We used Ohtani against the Marlins yesterday, and we’re going right back to the well. This left-hander has been inconsistent, but facing a 27th-ranked Marlins offense should bode well. This left-hander has two duds against the Astros and Yankees, but he has a 2.31 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his other seven starts. We expect one of those games here, with Sandy entering this matchup as a -150 favorite.
Top Lineup Stacks
Ashcraft was good at times last season, but he’s lost right now. The Reds righty has allowed at least seven runs in three of his previous four starts, amassing a 12.98 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in that span. That’s scary against an underrated offense like Chicago, sitting second in OBP. This team is also full of value plays, making them one of the best stacks on this slate.
We had Houston in this section both days last weekend, and we’re doing the same thing this weekend. This Oakland pitching staff is a joke, posting a league-worst 7.03 ERA. This is yet another one of those atrocious arms, with Medina maintaining a 6.45 ERA. The Astros have one of the most potent lineups in baseball, and there’s no chance Oakland limits them all season.
Seattle Mariners (vs. Luis Ortiz)
We always like stacking the Mariners. This team is full of cheap hitters who can go off on any slate. It’s more likely against a pitcher like Ortiz, with the righty registering a 1.66 WHIP. That’s one of the worst marks in baseball, and Seattle could be one of the sneakiest stacks out there.
Core Studs
| POS |
PLAYER |
DK SALARY |
FD SALARY |
| 1B |
Paul Goldschmidt (STL) |
$5,500 |
$3,900 |
| OF |
Yordan Alvarez (HOU) |
$6,300 |
$4,500 |
| 3B |
Christopher Morel (CHC) |
$5,700 |
$4,400 |
| OF |
Corbin Carroll (ARI) |
$4,900 |
$3,500 |
| OF |
Julio Rodriguez (SEA) |
$5,400 |
$3,600 |
- Not enough people talk about how ridiculous Goldy is. This guy took down NL MVP honors last year and has been just as good this season. He’s got a .418 OBP and .962 OPS over his last 21 games, generating a .405 OBP and .966 OPS since the start of last year. He also gets to face a rookie with a 5.26 ERA.
- We had Yordan in here yesterday, and he’s always a good choice against the A’s. This is the worst pitching staff in baseball, sending out a guy with a 6.45 ERA. He would be a good play against anyone, though, establishing a .400 OBP and 1.000 OPS throughout his career. Alvarez has been even better as of late, amassing a .438 OBP and 1.134 OPS over his last 19 games.
- Morel has been the best hitter in the NL since being reinstated from the IL. The Cubs utility man has a .333 AVG, .822 SLG, and 1.198 OPS on the year! That’s nearly three weeks of dominance, and it makes him tough to fade against a pitcher who’s got an ERA north of 12.00 over the last three weeks.
- Carroll is one of the most dynamic players in baseball, making him an elite fantasy option. The outfielder is averaging 9.1 DK points per game, providing seven dingers and 14 steals. We expect him to add to those totals here, getting the platoon advantage against a pitcher with a 4.99 ERA.
- Don’t look now, but J-Rod is starting to find it! The All-Star has a .381 OBP and .881 OPS across his last 14 outings. He’s also got three steals in that span and should remain one of the best players in fantasy from here on out. We’re not worried about a matchup with Ortiz, totaling a nightmarish 1.66 WHIP.
Value Plays/Punts
- The Cubs have quietly been an excellent offense, and Happ has been a primary reason why. He’s got a .405 OBP and .834 OPS as the Cubs everyday three-hole hitter. He’s been particularly good when facing right-handers, registering a .443 OBP and .936 OPS against them this year.
- France has been one of the most reliable Seattle bats over the last three years, and we love him in this brilliant matchup. We already discussed how Ortiz has a WHIP above 1.60, which is fantastic since France has a 1.500 OPS over his last five fixtures.
- Gorman has been carrying the Cards over recent weeks, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so affordable. Over his last 21 games, Gorman has generated a .420 OBP, .696 SLG, and 1.115 OPS. Those are some of the best averages in baseball, and he’s done most of that damage with the platoon advantage in his favor.
- Late Night LaMonte has always been a dependable bat for the Giants, and we love that he’s hitting leadoff. The on-base monster has a .404 OBP and .880 OPS since the opening week of the season. It’s hard to understand why he’s not rostered in every season-long league behind those averages, and it’s even more bizarre how cheap he is in DFS. He’s also got a .907 OPS against righties and shouldn’t struggle against a pitcher with a 4.71 ERA.
- There is no doubt that Abreu has been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball, but he’s just too cheap. This guy has established himself as a .300 AVG, .400 OBP, and .850 OPS for a decade now. We expect him to return to that form sooner rather than later, and we want to keep using him in DFS if he remains this cheap.
Hitter Strategy
We had an easy lineup constriction slate yesterday, but this one isn’t quite as simple. The plays don’t stand out like they did yesterday, but there’s still plenty of value to build around. We love stacking teams like the Astros, Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Giants, Angels, and Mariners. There’s a multitude of options between those talented offenses, and it should be easy to pair those guys with some of the cheap pitchers mentioned above. This is one of those slates where you might leave some salary on the table, but that’s OK since there’s so much value out there!
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
