Happy Sunday. Sunday’s slate is pretty unusual, in that there are a lot of very good pitchers going, and yet no shortage of strong hitting plays. There are also three extremely weak pitchers scheduled in Edwin Jackson, Jacob Turner and Chad Kuhl. Nationals, Giants and Angels will likely all be popular plays Sunday, so keep that in mind as you set your lineups.
| CATCHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Yan Gomes | CLE | R | A | MIN | Kyle Gibson | R | 247 | .162 | .196 | .308 | .504 | .224 | .146 | 3.50% | 26.50% | 40.40% | 41.50% | 18.10% | 11.30% | .186 | $2,400 | $2,000 | $4,100 |
| A.J. Pierzynski | ATL | L | H | COL | Jon Gray | R | 184 | .212 | .233 | .272 | .505 | .208 | .060 | 2.10% | 11.40% | 51.00% | 27.20% | 21.90% | 2.40% | .232 | $2,100 | $2,100 | $4,100 |
| Yasmani Grandal | LA | B | A | ARI | Robbie Ray | L | 206 | .209 | .325 | .422 | .747 | .331 | .213 | 14.80% | 23.50% | 51.00% | 30.10% | 18.90% | 27.90% | .225 | $3,100 | $4,200 | $4,550 |
| Buster Posey | SF | R | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 300 | .293 | .365 | .487 | .852 | .359 | .194 | 10.00% | 11.20% | 49.40% | 27.30% | 23.30% | 17.40% | .299 | $4,000 | $4,800 | $4,950 |
Sacrificing a chicken didn’t end Yan Gomes’s slump, but perhaps facing Kyle Gibson will do the trick. Gomes is 6-for-14 with two home runs against Gibson, and there is little risk as such a low price.
Yasmani Grandal has a .850 OPS against lefties this season and right-handed batters have a .370 wOBA against Robbie Ray.
A.J. Pierzynski has a six-game hitting streak, including a two-run homer Sunday.
On a day when all the Giants are expensive thanks to a date with Edwin Jackson, Buster Posey may be the best value. He is clearly the best catcher play of the day, and worth paying for.
| FIRST BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Brandon Belt | SF | L | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 313 | .294 | .399 | .508 | .907 | .397 | .214 | 14.70% | 19.30% | 29.10% | 44.00% | 26.90% | 9.70% | .350 | $4,400 | $4,500 | $4,900 |
| Clint Robinson | WSH | L | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 101 | .228 | .284 | .416 | .700 | .296 | .188 | 8.60% | 15.50% | 50.00% | 38.80% | 11.30% | 16.10% | .217 | $2,400 | $3,300 | $3,500 |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | R | H | KC | Yordano Ventura | R | 342 | .292 | .370 | .506 | .876 | .372 | .214 | 10.80% | 17.20% | 46.60% | 32.30% | 21.10% | 20.90% | .315 | $3,400 | $5,000 | $5,400 |
| Albert Pujols | LAA | R | H | CWS | Jacob Turner | R | 340 | .244 | .320 | .409 | .729 | .321 | .165 | 10.20% | 11.20% | 49.30% | 33.90% | 16.80% | 15.20% | .238 | $3,600 | $3,800 | $4,650 |
Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-13 against Yordano Ventura.
Jacob Turner has a 4.71 ERA and 1.44 WHIP at Triple-A this season, and Albert Pujols should be able to take advantage. Pujols is 2-for-2 with a home run against Turner.
Brandon Belt is the most expensive first baseman on FanDuel Sunday, and while I’m not sure I will pay that price, it makes sense. Facing Edwin Jackson is essentially like hitting in Coors, so play Belt accordingly.
Clint Robinson is 3-for-8 since the All-Star break, and he is a cheap alternative to the studs at first base.
| SECOND BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Jason Kipnis | CLE | L | A | MIN | Kyle Gibson | R | 349 | .275 | .335 | .470 | .805 | .350 | .195 | 8.00% | 21.10% | 40.60% | 33.80% | 25.60% | 15.60% | .320 | $3,500 | $5,200 | $4,850 |
| Ramiro Pena | SF | B | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 55 | .364 | .386 | .545 | .931 | .367 | .181 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 42.50% | 32.50% | 25.00% | 7.70% | .413 | $2,200 | $2,900 | $3,000 |
| Jed Lowrie | OAK | B | H | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 280 | .279 | .330 | .343 | .673 | .305 | .064 | 7.20% | 17.00% | 43.90% | 29.10% | 26.90% | 3.10% | .332 | $2,600 | $2,400 | $4,350 |
| Daniel Murphy | WSH | L | H | PIT | Chad Kuhl | R | 336 | .348 | .387 | .598 | .985 | .416 | .250 | 5.00% | 10.50% | 36.40% | 39.90% | 23.70% | 14.70% | .352 | $4,000 | $4,900 | $5,100 |
Jason Kipnis is 5-for-11 with a home run against Kyle Gibson and is coming off a two-hit night Saturday.
Ramiro Pena has an impossibly high 1.079 OPS against right-handed pitchers, but it should remain that high after he faces Edwin Jackson Sunday.
Jed Lowrie is 5-for-11 in his career against J.A. Happ.
Daniel Murphy is 7-for-17 with three home runs and 10 RBI during his four-game hitting streak and left-handed batters have a .407 wOBA against Chad Kuhl.
| THIRD BASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Jake Lamb | ARI | L | H | LA | Kenta Maeda | R | 298 | .299 | .376 | .624 | 1.000 | .413 | .325 | 10.40% | 24.30% | 46.40% | 28.70% | 24.90% | 33.30% | .348 | $3,400 | $5,300 | $5,100 |
| Yunel Escobar | LAA | R | H | CWS | Jacob Turner | R | 322 | .320 | .367 | .419 | .786 | .343 | .099 | 6.50% | 12.20% | 57.10% | 20.40% | 22.50% | 5.40% | .360 | $3,100 | $4,000 | $4,550 |
| Chase Headley | NYY | B | H | BOS | David Price | L | 272 | .257 | .332 | .390 | .722 | .313 | .133 | 9.40% | 22.50% | 46.20% | 33.70% | 20.10% | 11.90% | .313 | $2,600 | $2,600 | $4,100 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert | KC | R | A | DET | Michael Fulmer | R | 215 | .284 | .311 | .437 | .748 | .326 | .153 | 4.00% | 21.70% | 51.30% | 30.00% | 18.80% | 16.70% | .333 | $3,400 | $2,900 | $3,750 |
Chase Headley is 10-for-24 against David Price and 5-for-15 during his four-game hitting streak.
Jake Lamb is 5-for-9 since the All-Star break and 3-for-5 against Kenta Maeda.
Cheslor Cuthbert has a six-game hitting streak and is a fine alternative if you do not trust Chase Headley against David Price.
Yunel Escobar will lead off against Jacob Turner, and that alone should have plenty of value.
| SHORTSTOP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Chris Taylor | LA | R | A | ARI | Robbie Ray | L | 3 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .666 | .295 | .000 | 0.00% | 66.70% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.000 | $2,400 | $3,400 | $3,000 |
| Freddy Galvis | PHI | B | H | NYM | Jacob deGrom | R | 337 | .231 | .260 | .362 | .622 | .272 | .131 | 3.60% | 20.30% | 43.90% | 34.70% | 21.40% | 8.80% | .270 | $2,000 | $3,500 | $4,350 |
| Andrelton Simmons | LAA | R | H | CWS | Jacob Turner | R | 207 | .266 | .292 | .348 | .640 | .283 | .082 | 4.10% | 7.30% | 53.50% | 24.90% | 21.60% | 2.20% | .280 | $2,300 | $3,200 | $3,950 |
| Brandon Crawford | SF | L | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 310 | .281 | .350 | .445 | .795 | .339 | .164 | 9.60% | 18.40% | 41.20% | 36.70% | 22.00% | 10.00% | .321 | $3,100 | $4,900 | $4,550 |
| Marcus Semien | OAK | R | H | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 312 | .237 | .305 | .468 | .773 | .337 | .231 | 9.00% | 23.60% | 41.60% | 42.50% | 15.90% | 19.80% | .258 | $2,800 | $3,700 | $4,650 |
Freddy Galvis is 5-for-11 against Jacob deGrom.
Chris Taylor went 3-for-5 with three runs and six RBI the last time the Dodgers faced a lefty, and he has a .719 OPS against lefties for his career. His price is low on FanDuel and FantasyAces.
Andrelton Simmons may have had his hitting streak snapped Saturday, but he has an excellent chance to start a new hitting streak against Jacob Turner Sunday.
Brandon Crawford is really expensive on DraftKings and a really nice value elsewhere.
Marcus Semien is 7-for-13 with a home run and two stolen bases against J.A. Happ.
| OUTFIELD | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | H/A | Opp | Probable Pitcher | Throws | AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BB% | K% | GB% | FB% | LD% | HR/FB | BABIP | FD | DK | Aces |
| Scott Van Slyke | LA | R | A | ARI | Robbie Ray | L | 65 | .231 | .292 | .338 | .630 | .259 | .107 | 2.80% | 22.20% | 26.80% | 53.70% | 19.50% | 4.50% | .286 | $2,300 | $3,500 | $3,550 |
| George Springer | HOU | R | A | SEA | Mike Montgomery | L | 363 | .259 | .355 | .474 | .829 | .363 | .215 | 11.50% | 22.30% | 53.50% | 28.10% | 18.50% | 27.40% | .296 | $3,500 | $5,100 | $5,450 |
| Mike Trout | LAA | R | H | CWS | Jacob Turner | R | 329 | .316 | .420 | .556 | .976 | .420 | .240 | 15.00% | 18.60% | 44.40% | 32.00% | 23.60% | 22.50% | .357 | $4,100 | $4,800 | $5,550 |
| Angel Pagan | SF | B | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 225 | .289 | .331 | .431 | .762 | .325 | .142 | 6.20% | 14.40% | 42.30% | 27.50% | 30.20% | 10.00% | .321 | $3,400 | $4,700 | $4,400 |
| Khris Davis | OAK | R | H | TOR | J.A. Happ | L | 314 | .258 | .293 | .510 | .803 | .326 | .252 | 3.30% | 26.60% | 44.80% | 36.70% | 18.60% | 27.20% | .285 | $2,900 | $3,700 | $4,800 |
| Stephen Piscotty | STL | R | H | MIA | Adam Conley | L | 325 | .298 | .375 | .492 | .867 | .370 | .194 | 9.30% | 17.00% | 44.90% | 33.50% | 21.70% | 14.10% | .339 | $2,800 | $5,200 | $4,850 |
| Randal Grichuk | STL | R | H | MIA | Adam Conley | L | 234 | .231 | .293 | .444 | .737 | .309 | .213 | 7.40% | 22.70% | 44.10% | 42.90% | 12.90% | 15.10% | .259 | $2,800 | $3,100 | $4,400 |
| Scott Van Slyke | LA | R | A | ARI | Robbie Ray | L | 65 | .231 | .292 | .338 | .630 | .259 | .107 | 2.80% | 22.20% | 26.80% | 53.70% | 19.50% | 4.50% | .286 | $2,300 | $3,500 | $3,550 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | MIA | R | A | STL | Michael Wacha | R | 286 | .234 | .331 | .493 | .824 | .353 | .259 | 11.80% | 33.30% | 41.80% | 37.60% | 20.60% | 31.30% | .299 | $3,800 | $4,600 | $5,200 |
| Cody Asche | PHI | L | H | NYM | Jacob deGrom | R | 118 | .263 | .328 | .466 | .794 | .340 | .203 | 9.20% | 19.10% | 43.20% | 31.80% | 25.00% | 14.30% | .300 | $2,500 | $3,200 | $4,250 |
| Jarrett Parker | SF | L | A | SD | Edwin Jackson | R | 100 | .250 | .359 | .430 | .789 | .353 | .180 | 12.80% | 29.90% | 54.00% | 25.40% | 20.60% | 31.30% | .333 | $2,700 | $3,900 | $4,250 |
George Springer is 4-for-6 against Mike Montgomery. Springer has a .403 wOBA against lefties this season.
Scott Van Slyke has a .914 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, and he could be worth his modest price even if he only gets a couple of at-bats.
This isn’t exactly going out on a limb, but if you want exposure to Jacob Turner, Mike Trout is your best option despite his steep price tag.
Angel Pagan is expensive, especially on DraftKings, but he is playable anyway. Pagan is 7-for-11 in his career against Edwin Jackson.
Giancarlo Stanton was red-hot prior to Saturday’s 0-for-4 effort, but his price is still pretty low for somebody with 20 home runs before the All-Star break.
Khris Davis is usually a near must-play when he is hot, and he is hot right now. Davis is 5-for-8 with three home runs since the All-Star break.
Cody Asche is 4-for-7 against Jacob deGrom and is worth a shot for a cheap play who will not likely be owned in many leagues.
Jarrett Parker has crushed righties in limited action, and while I’m probably not playing him on DraftKings outside of a Giants stack, his price is pretty low elsewhere.
Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk have seven and eight-game hitting streaks respectively, and both have an excellent chance to extend those streaks against Adam Conley.