We got off to a fantastic start last week, and it feels like we’re back in the everyday grind now. It took a week to adjust to these strange lineups and struggling rotations, but we have a good read on how things are playing out now. There are still numerous pitchers being capped off at 80-90 pitches, but there are still plenty of good options. Let’s go ahead and start there!
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Strategy
We’re getting to the backend of these rotations, leaving us with one of the most lackluster pitching pools out there. Only a couple of aces are taking the mound, but some of these cheaper guys are in much better spots. With that said, we have found four guys that we love in wonderful spots, and any combination of them could be huge for your lineup. With that in mind, let’s start with the best option on the board!
We got off to a fantastic start last week, and it feels like we’re back in the everyday grind now. It took a week to adjust to these strange lineups and struggling rotations, but we have a good read on how things are playing out now. There are still numerous pitchers being capped off at 80-90 pitches, but there are still plenty of good options. Let’s go ahead and start there!
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Strategy
We’re getting to the backend of these rotations, leaving us with one of the most lackluster pitching pools out there. Only a couple of aces are taking the mound, but some of these cheaper guys are in much better spots. With that said, we have found four guys that we love in wonderful spots, and any combination of them could be huge for your lineup. With that in mind, let’s start with the best option on the board!
Cash Game Recommendations:
Julio Urias (LAD) vs. CIN
Urias was one of the best pitchers in baseball last season, providing a 2.96 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He didn’t show that when he struggled in the opener, but it lowered his price just enough to use him. The oddsmakers love this play, too, with Urias entering this matchup as a -250 favorite, with Cincy projected for just four runs.
Carlos Carrasco (NYM) vs. ARI
Carrasco has been an All-Star pitcher in the past, and his Mets debut is hopefully a sign of things to come. He allowed just two baserunners across 5.2 one-run innings, returning to the stud we saw between 2014 and 2020. Getting to pitch in Citi Field only adds to his intrigue, with NY owning one of the best pitcher’s parks in baseball. That’s bad news for Arizona, with the D’Backs ranked 26th in OPS, 25th in runs scored, and 29th in xwOBA last season. We also don’t mind that Cookie enters tis matchup as a -160 favorite, with the D’Backs projected for just 3,5 runs.
GPP Recommendations:
Ranger Suarez (PHI) at MIA
Suarez was sensational last year, totaling a 1.36 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 100 innings. We don’t expect him to maintain those absurd averages, but it’s hard to overlook since he’s a regular starter now. Facing Miami in Marlins Park is the icing on the cake, with Miami ranked 29th in runs scored, OPS, and wOBA last year.
Noah Syndergaard (LAA) at TEX
Thor has been dealing with injuries for a few years now, but 5.1 scoreless innings his debut have Angels fans ecstatic. We’re talking about a former NL Cy Young candidate who can limit any lineup in baseball. The Rangers are one of the easiest to hold down, with Texas ranked 28th in xwOBA and dead-last in OPS last season.
Top Lineup Stacks
Colorado Rockies (vs. Drew Smyly)
Saying a team is a good stack in Coors Field is like saying ice cream tastes good. It’s simply the best hitting environment in baseball, with Coors Field surrendering more runs than any other ballpark since it was built. This offense is completely different there, too, traditionally ranked as a Top-10 lineup at home. What’s also nice is that they have a ton of value bats because many of these are not big-name players. Facing Drew Smyly will surely put smiles on Rockies fans’ faces, too, the Cubs lefty posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over the last three seasons.
New York Yankees (vs. Tyler Wells)
This division has been bludgeoning these Baltimore arms for years, and it’s easy to understand why. They haven’t had a decent pitcher in over a decade, and Wells is another one of their gas cans. He hadn’t made a start since 2018 before his debut earlier in the week, allowing four runs across 1.2 innings in a nightmare start. If we get into this bullpen for that long, the Bronx Bombers will become even more enticing. We’re only going to have one lefty in the write-ups, but Aaron Judge, Josh Donaldson, and Giancarlo Stanton are brilliant plays as well.
Milwaukee Brewers (vs. Steven Matz)
American Family is a silly name for a ballpark, but kids will need to close their eyes with how badly Milwaukee will mash Matz. The Cardinals southpaw has a 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP since 2017 and looks well on his way to adding that after a seven-run dud in his St. Louis debut. That’s even more troublesome in a hitter’s haven like American Family, especially since they have so many good values in this underrated lineup. Andrew McCutchen, Willy Adames, Hunter Renfroe, and Keston Hiura all look like great plays from the right side of the plate.
Core Studs
| POS |
PLAYER |
DK SALARY |
FD SALARY |
| OF |
Mike Trout (LAA) |
$5,700 |
$4,100 |
| OF |
Juan Soto (WAS) |
$5,900 |
$4,200 |
| OF |
Hunter Renfroe (MIL) |
$4,700 |
$2,800 |
| 1B |
C.J. Cron (COL) |
$4,000 |
$4,100 |
| SS |
Javier Baez (DET) |
$4,300 |
$3,600 |
- Trout is the best player of our generation, and he’s a good play in any matchup. What’s scary is that he gets to face a crappy lefty here, with Taylor Hearn providing a 4.71 ERA and 1.41 WHIP for his career. It also gives the platoon advantage to Trout, which is terrifying since he blasted an MLB-best 472-foot dinger on Thursday.
- Soto is always one of the safest plays on the board. He’s flirting with a .450 OBP since the start of 2020 and should continue that against Bryse Wilson and his 5.59 career ERA and 1.57 WHIP.
- We already discussed how bad Matz has been, making Renfroe one of the best home run bets on the board. Dating back to 2020, Hunter has a .341 OBP and .500 SLG with the platoon advantage in his favor.
- Cron has been one of the sneakiest power bats since 2020, generating a .371 OBP, .538 SLG, and .909 OPS in that span. Hitting in Coors Field is a primary reason why and we certainly don’t mind that he has a .998 OPS against southpaws in that same stretch.
- Baez is another righty who’s been slaughtering southpaws throughout his career. He’s got a .525 SLG, and .875 OPS against lefties since 2020 and could continue that with Kris Bubic boasting a 67.50 ERA and 7.50 WHIP through his opening start.
Value Plays/Punts
| POS |
PLAYER |
DK SALARY |
FD SALARY |
| OF |
Joey Gallo (NYY) |
$4,000 |
$2,800 |
| 2B |
Brendan Rodgers (COL) |
$3,600 |
$3,100 |
| OF |
Andrew McCutchen (MIL) |
$4,500 |
$2,900 |
| OF |
Jo Adell (LAA) |
$4,000 |
$2,200 |
| 3B |
Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT) |
$3,900 |
$3,500 |
- Gallo has been horrible in the opening week, but this dude has some of the best raw power in baseball. He’s flirting with a .250 ISO since his days with Texas and has always mashed when facing right-handed pitching. He’s the only significant Yankees bat from the left side, and he remains a good value in this price range.
- Rodgers has also gotten off to a terrible start this year, but he’ll get it going in Coors Field. He’s one of the top prospects in baseball and gets to hit from the right side against one of the worst lefties in MLB.
- McCutchen is not the MVP from Pittsburgh, but he can still smash southpaws when batting atop this Brewers lineup. Since 2020, Cutch has a 1.005 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor, proving a .404 OBP and .605 SLG in that span! Good luck finding that from another player this cheap.
- Adell is in the same boat as Rodgers. This is one of the top prospects in baseball, and it’s just a matter of time before he gets going. He has an .891 OPS in 297 games at the minors and provided nearly identical numbers in spring training.
- Hayes looks like he’s finally breaking out! He’s scored at least 9.0 FanDuel points in five straight games, providing value through speed, power, and hitting atop this lineup. That’s fantastic since he faces a subpar southpaw here, with Josh Rogers registering a 5.24 RA and 1.43 WHIP for his career.
Sunday’s Hitter Strategy
We have a ton of top prospects as our recommendations, and it leaves us with a ton of value. We also have some great value in the pitcher pool as well, and it might end up forcing you to leave some salary on the table. I’d pay up for guys like Mike Trout and Juan Soto and fill in your lineup with all of the other value plays mentioned above!
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.