Baseball season is officially back! Following a shortened and geographically influenced schedule last year, teams will return to the standard 162-game schedule in 2021. That means that we are strapped in for 27 weekends of MLB baseball.
In the early stages of the season, we will rely most heavily on statistics from previous years and handicap information that is aggregated over at BettingPros. Let’s dive into the daily fantasy slate for Sunday’s MLB action.
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Strategy
DraftKings is offering an eight-game slate on Sunday, while FanDuel has an all-day slate that features eleven games. Having fewer games to choose from will make DraftKings rosters even more challenging, as two pitchers have to be part of the lineup. Still, there are some obvious top-tier options with some decent value plays mixed in.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Aaron Civale (CLE) @ DET
Civale possesses strikeout upside and posted several 40-plus fantasy point efforts in the shortened 2020 season. The Detroit lineup is not one that we shy away from when it comes to starting pitchers.
Baseball season is officially back! Following a shortened and geographically influenced schedule last year, teams will return to the standard 162-game schedule in 2021. That means that we are strapped in for 27 weekends of MLB baseball.
In the early stages of the season, we will rely most heavily on statistics from previous years and handicap information that is aggregated over at BettingPros. Let’s dive into the daily fantasy slate for Sunday’s MLB action.
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Strategy
DraftKings is offering an eight-game slate on Sunday, while FanDuel has an all-day slate that features eleven games. Having fewer games to choose from will make DraftKings rosters even more challenging, as two pitchers have to be part of the lineup. Still, there are some obvious top-tier options with some decent value plays mixed in.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Aaron Civale (CLE) @ DET
Civale possesses strikeout upside and posted several 40-plus fantasy point efforts in the shortened 2020 season. The Detroit lineup is not one that we shy away from when it comes to starting pitchers.
Garrett Richards (BOS) vs. BAL
After returning from a length injury, Richards was able to return and start ten games in 2020. With a full offseason to prepare, we hope to see him return to his old form. He could get his 2021 campaign off to a good start in a home matchup with the Orioles with his Red Sox as -170 favorites.
GPP Recommendations:
Ian Anderson (ATL) @ PHI
This game has even odds, and I do not think many people will be clamoring to pay up for Anderson in this spot. He has a top-three salary on both sites, which could be a reason to pay up to be contrarian in GPP spots. Zack Wheeler stifled the Braves’ lineup on Saturday, but Atlanta should give Anderson some run support in today’s matinee.
Michael Pineda (MIN) @ MIL
Pineda has one of the more significant salary gaps between the two sites. While he could be a cash game value over on FanDuel, he is one of the more pricey options on DraftKings. In limited action in 2020, Pineda only surpassed five innings on three occasions. However, he displayed his upside in a September start against Detroit, where he posted eight strikeouts across seven strong innings.
Top Lineup Stacks
Home (Yankee Stadium)
Value: Medium
Risk: Low
Game Type: Both
Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/NYY -160
The Yankees are strong favorites at home against a weaker opposing pitcher. While they could be popular in lineups, the salary gymnastics required to roster several of these hitters could keep their ownership percentages in check.
Home (Fenway Park)
Value: High
Risk: High
Game Type: GPP
Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/BOS -175
The Red Sox are not what fans immediately think of when it comes to scoring, as Boston has only managed two runs over its first two games. However, the Boston lineup does have a much more favorable matchup on Sunday against lefty Bruce Zimmermann. In seven innings in 2020, the southpaw allowed six earned runs and a 1.143 WHIP. I recommend targeting right-handed hitters in the Boston lineup.
Home (M. Kauffman Stadium)
Value: High
Risk: Low
Game Type: Both
Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/KC -175
The Royals certainly feature the most affordable salaries for our featured game stacks today, but they could have as much upside as anyone. Kansas City has plated 14 and 11 runs in its first two games this season, and they should continue to feast on weak Rangers pitching today.
These are my top plays out of each lineup for Sunday, and we have plenty of players in the lineup around them that can be stacked with these core studs. Merrifield and Stanton can be used in all contests, and Martinez is best suited for GPPs.
Sunday’s Hitter Strategy
Fitting in a true Yankees game stack will be difficult, particularly on DraftKings. With limited pitching options and a requirement of two pitchers in a DraftKings lineup, paying up for elite hitters will require some value arms. However, the Yankees possess the upside to make such a move payoff.
I find myself going back to Royals and Red Sox stacks, as the bats are coming at a value. The Red Sox certainly carry inherent risk and have not yet proven that they can score runs. On the other hand, the Royals have posted crooked numbers already, and the salaries simply have not been adjusted yet. Playing in the same ballpark against whatever pitchers the Rangers can throw out in Game Three of a series, I will be looking to roster Royals hitters wherever possible.
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Whether you’re new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to more advanced strategy – like Maximizing Your Potential in Multi-Lineup Contests – to learn more.
Shane Bryant is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @ShaneBryant31.
