This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We're past Memorial Day and the MLB season is going strong. Sunday is your typical days filled with afternoon baseball action. DraftKings' main contests only focus on the early afternoon games, but that still means 10 matchups from which to choose your players. It's a solid day for pitchers, including some rising names that will soon enough replace the big names we think of like Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke. On to my recommendations!
PITCHERS
Corbin Burnes, MIL vs. ARI ($11,000): When you've racked up 81 strikeouts against only seven walks, you're going to turn heads. An 11.57 K/BB rate is likely unsustainable, but Burnes also has a 1.16 FIP after registered a 2.03 last season. The Diamondbacks are middling in terms of runs scored, but middling isn't a threat to Burnes.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA at PIT ($9,500): Pittsburgh finished last in runs scored in 2020 and this year only the Mets are below, but they've played six fewer games. Alcantara suffered a bad start against the Dodgers on the road, but even with that his ERA is still at 3.68 and that's in line with his career 3.70 mark. This is mostly about the matchup, which is incredibly favorable.
Dylan Cease, CWS vs. DET ($9,400): The White Sox decided to give Carlos Rodon a little extra rest, so Cease is getting the Sunday start. That's good for Cease, as the Tigers are in the bottom-five in runs scored and maintain a sub-.300 OBP. He's also been way better at home than on the road with a 1.99 ERA compared to 6.26.
Wade Miley, CIN at STL ($7,400): Miley had a 2.00 ERA after throwing his no-hitter, but got roughed up on the road against the Rockies in his next start. But that was at Coors Field. In his two appearances since, he's allowed only two runs over 10.2 innings to get his ERA back down to 3.26. The Cardinals are just below the midpoint in terms of runs scored and also don't play in Denver, so I'm comfortable with Miley here.
TOP TARGET
Nelson Cruz, MIN at KC ($5,500): Cruz may be 40, but he still has power. Last season, he slugged .595 and this year he's at .503 with 10 homers. Brady Singer had a 4.06 ERA as a rookie, but this year that number has risen to 5.06.
VALUE BATS
Eddie Rosario, CLE at BAL ($4,000): Rosario's numbers aren't great, but he's mostly been terrible at home. On the road, he's posted a .821 OPS. Rosario has also stolen six bases this year. He's on the road Sunday and is facing Jorge Lopez, who comes in with a career 5.90 ERA.
Kyle Schwarber, WAS at PHI ($3,900): Schwarber doesn't hit for average and can't hit lefties, but he knows how to rock a righty. Since 2019, he's crushed a .511 slugging percentage versus righties. Meanwhile, Vince Velasquez has allowed lefties to hit .274 against him during that same stretch. while also giving up 1.46 homers per nine innings in his career.
STACKS TO CONSIDER
White Sox vs. Jose Urena: Jose Abreu ($5,400), Yoan Moncada ($5,400), Adam Eaton ($4,400)
Jose Urena is expected to return from a forearm injury to start and is bringing in a 4.14 ERA. Of course, he managed a 5.25 ERA over his previous two seasons, so in a way he's looking a little better, I guess? Here's something striking as well: Urena has allowed lefties to hit .329 against him since 2019. That's basically good enough to vie for a batting title these days!
Abreu is a righty, but also won the AL MVP last season. His power is a little down this year, but he still has 11 homers and is gets on base. That's not a surprise considering a career .350 OBP. Moncada, a switch hitter, has bounced back after struggling in 2020 with a.299 batting average and .427 OBP. Eaton is the one true lefty I have here, and this represents a perfect matchup for him as he's produced a .775 OPS versus righties since 2019.
Rays vs. Dane Dunning: Randy Arozarena ($5,700), Austin Meadows ($5,600), Brandon Lowe ($4,900)
As a rookie with the White Sox, Dunning posted a 3.97 ERA. Having moved to the Rangers, he now has a 4.67 ERA over 11 starts. Dunning's also a righty, and the Rays have a pretty lefty-heavy lineup - or at least they have in the past. Two of my recommendations are lefties here, plus Arozarena. While Arozarena hasn't displayed the usual power, he does have seven homers and nine stolen bases. Meadows is absolutely obliterating righties this year with a 1.018 OPS against them. His OPS versus righties is .943 since 2019, so that's not too surprising. Lowe is down around the Mendoza line, but matchups versus fellow southpaws is a big reason for that. Against righties, he's recorded an .841 OPS.
