DraftKings MLB: Sunday Picks

DraftKings MLB: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

PITCHER

Masahiro Tanaka, NYY vs. CWS ($9,200): Tanaka can be erratic from time to time, but he brings considerable upside at a price significantly below that of the upper tier options. He's scored between 22.4 and 28.4 fantasy points in three of his starts this season, and now faces a White Sox squad that has a 27.4 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching, tied for fifth-lowest in the majors, and only have a .246 average (and .314 wOBA).

Kevin Gausman, BAL vs. DET ($8,100): Gausman has been solid this season, amassing a 2.16 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, while scoring between 19.7 and 24.2 fantasy points in three of his four starts. He'll face a Tigers squad that has the fifth-highest strikeout rate (24.8 percent) against right-handed pitching and the fifth-highest strikeouts (329) overall.

CATCHER

Yasmani Grandal, LAD vs. STL ($3,500): The switch-hitting Grandal brings some nice upside at a reasonable price, as he scored 14 and 18 fantasy points in his last two games, respectively. He's also posting a .362 wOBA and 40.5 percent hard contact rate against righties this season over 55 at-bats, along with six doubles and two of his three homers. Mike Leake has given up four homers and a 1.96 HR/9 rate to left-handed bats this year, and he has surrendered a .333 wOBA in his career.

FIRST BASE

Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs. PIT ($4,800): Rizzo naturally brings double-digit fantasy point upside every time you roster him, and a matchup against Gerrit Cole certainly ups his chances. Rizzo has punished the Pirates starter to the tune of a .400 average (8-for-20) with three doubles, two RBI and two walks over his career. He also has a .486 wOBA, .402 ISO and 38.4 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching in 2016, with an HR/FB rate of 23.1 percent. Cole has always been proficient at keeping the ball in the park, but he has given up a .335 wOBA and 39 percent hard contact rate to the 61 lefty hitters he's faced this season.

SECOND BASE

Jean Segura, ARI vs. SF ($4,500): Segura had three double-digit fantasy point outings in the last five games prior to Saturday, and he is enjoying a breakout season overall, as evidenced by his .340/.364./.509 line. He has a .386 wOBA and .186 ISO against right-handed pitchers, while opposing starter Matt Cain has surrendered a .359 wOBA and five of his seven homers on the season to righty batters, along with a 2.18 HR/9 rate and substantial 50.7 percent flyball rate. The Chase Field backdrop for this game only furthers Segura's appeal overall.

THIRD BASE

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU at BOS ($3,500): It's never a bad idea to stack some lefties against Red Sox starter Sean O'Sullivan in any locale, let alone in Fenway. We'll start with Gonzalez, who's scored double-digit fantasy points in five of the last 10 games heading into Saturday's action, and his switch-hitting capability allows him to take advantage of O'Sullivan's career-long struggles against left-handed hitters. He's hit 20 of his 27 career homers off right-handed pitching, while O'Sullivan has given up a .390 wOBA, 35 homers and a 34.1 hard contact rate to lefty bats over a 725-batter career sample.

SHORTSTOP

Jonathan Villar, SD at MIL ($4,100): Villar has frequently been on the base paths for the Brewers this season, and scored five to 24 fantasy points in eight of the last 10 games prior to Saturday. What's particularly appealing about Villar's matchup is Padres starter Cesar Vargas, who's struggled with his control the majority of his extensive minor league career. He tallied BB/9 rates of 2.91, 3.52, 3.72 and 5.84 at various stops in the Yankees' minor league system, and he has already amassed a 5.31 mark in that category over 20.1 innings this year. Villar could certainly be looking at some stolen base opportunities, and he's typically been given the green light whenever he's reached this season.

OUTFIELD

Colby Rasmus, HOU at BOS ($4,100): The power-hitting lefty is the second portion of our Astros double dip against O'Sullivan. Rasmus scored seven to 12 fantasy points in five of the last 10 games prior to Saturday, and he has hit all seven of his homers this season off righty pitching. That's helped lead to a .344 wOBA, .220 ISO and 36.4 percent hard contact rate against that handedness, along with a 20.6 percent HR/FB rate. With Fenway's short porch beckoning, and O'Sullivan's career ineptness against lefties, the chances for Rasmus to reward his selection with a long ball are certainly favorable.

Oswaldo Arcia, MIN at CLE ($3,700): Arcia is likely to invoke highly unpleasant memories for Indians starter Trevor Bauer when he steps into the batter's box, considering the Twins' slugger has touched up him up for four homers and seven RBI in just 10 career at-bats. Bauer also checks in surrendering a .335 wOBA, and 54.6 percent hard contact rate to the 54 lefty batters he's seen this season, while Arcia owns a .322 wOBA, 40.6 percent hard contact rate and whopping 34.6 percent HR/FB rate against right-handed pitching.

Mike Trout, LAA at SEA ($4,500): Surprisingly, there are 11 outfielders priced higher than Trout on Sunday, making him a relative bargain at his price. His matchup versus Felix Hernandez will also likely render him a low-owned commodity, but history is actually on the Angels' slugger side. He's managed a .368 average against Hernandez in his 68 career at-bats against him, with four doubles, two triples, five homers, 15 RBI and five walks. Trout has also been overshadowed in the early going by the exploits of various other outfielders at his position, such as Bryce Harper, but he has raised his batting average to .306. He's also enjoying his greatest success against right-handers this season, totaling a .425 wOBA and .289 ISO against them, along with a 44.4 percent hard contact rate. While going against Hernandez is certainly no picnic, Trout has proven that he's more than capable of handling the matchup favorably more often than not.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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