This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The players featured in this piece will be building blocks that can work in several lineup configurations (cash and GPP). We have a full slate of baseball Sunday, but only 11 of the 15 games make up the main contest on DraftKings.
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STARTING PITCHER
Aaron Nola, PHI at STL ($10,800): Nola has been one of the best pitchers in baseball out of the gate, posting a 1.99 ERA and 2.79 FIP through nine starts. He's done a great job keeping runners off base with a 0.99 WHIP, and while his .273 BABIP allowed is lower than his career average, it's not crazy-low. In an odd turn of events, his strikeout percentage is down at 23.0 percent despite his 11.7 percent swinging-strike rate being the highest of his career. Expect his strikeouts to rise sooner rather than later. He hasn't given up more than three runs in a start this year and will be facing a Cardinals squad that is missing two keep players in Yadier Molina (groin) and Paul DeJong (hand), so look for him to have another productive outing.
GPP Fade: Yu Darvish, CHC at CIN ($8,600): Darvish continues to provide a lot of strikeouts with an 11.1 K/9 this season, but that's about the only area where he is providing value. Not only does he have a 5.56 ERA and a 5.11 FIP, but he's allowing way too many baserunners with a 1.53 WHIP. Home runs have been a problem as well (seven in 34 innings). With his high combination of walks and strikeouts, he has pitched more than five innings only twice this season. With several great options Sunday, Darvish may be too risky right now.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jake Odorizzi, MIN vs. MIL ($7,600): For a Twins team that lacked starting pitching depth, Odorizzi has been a welcome addition. His 3.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP look nice, but his 5.07 FIP and .246 BABIP allowed suggest he's been a bit lucky. Home runs have been a problem for him during his career, and he's continued that this season by allowing nine homers in 48 innings. That being said, he has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his nine starts and faces a Brewers team that entered Saturday in the bottom third in baseball in terms of runs scored, so he could be a viable option in tournament play at this cheap price.
CATCHER
Welington Castillo, CWS vs. TEX ($3,300): Castillo did not start Saturday's game, so he should be set for the start Sunday afternoon. He'll face left-hander Mike Minor, who has been tougher on lefties in his career, including holding them to a .234 wOBA this season compared to a .393 wOBA against righties. Castillo also has a career .362 wOBA against lefties as well, making him a prime target at catcher.
FIRST BASE
Jose Abreu, CWS vs. TEX ($4,200): Abreu might not get a lot of publicity, but he entered this season having hit at least .290 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI in each of the first four seasons of his career. He's doing much of the same this year with a .293 average, seven home runs and 23 RBI entering Saturday. With a career .383 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he's another White Sox hitter to target against Minor.
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie, OAK at TOR ($4,200): Lowrie is off to a spectacular start, but he has been aided by a .371 BABIP. He also has nine home runs after hitting no more than 16 in any season of his career, so he could be in line for some regression in that department as well. Things look up for him though against Joe Biagini considering Biagini's struggles and the fact that Lowrie finished with a .353 wOBA against right-handers last year.
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas, KC vs. NYY ($4,300): Moustakas will face Sonny Gray, who has been nothing short of terrible this season having allowed 5.7 BB/9 and a 36.4 percent hard-hit rate, both the highest of his career. Opponents are swinging at fewer of his pitches outside of the strike zone as well, dealing a hit to his strikeout rate. Moustakas had a .353 wOBA against righties last year and has been even better with a .422 wOBA this season, so take advantage of this matchup.
SHORTSTOP
Dansby Swanson, ATL vs. MIA ($3,200): Swanson made his return from the disabled list Saturday and gets a prime matchup against the struggling Wei-Yin Chen, who has pitched at least five innings in only one of his four starts. Swanson has just a .285 wOBA for his career against righties but has fared much better against lefties with a .336 wOBA, including a .396 wOBA this season.
OUTFIELD
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY at KC ($5,100): Stanton gets to face another left-hander in Eric Skoglund, which immediately makes him stand out considering he mashes lefties. After recording a 202 wRC+ against them last year, he entered play Saturday with a 323 wRC+ this season.
Ronald Acuna, ATL vs. MIA ($4,300): Acuna has cooled off a bit after his hot start, but he still has an excellent mix of speed and power. Chen has done a good job holding lefties to a .290 wOBA for his careers, but righties have had more success with a .335 wOBA. Acuna's splits have been fairly even so far, but this matchup could provide excellent value.
Matt Joyce, OAK at TOR ($3,200): Joyce struggles against lefties and doesn't play against them much as a result. He should be on your radar against righties though after finishing with a .360 wOBA or higher against them in back-to-back seasons. Biagini doesn't exactly have lights-out stuff, making Joyce a viable cheap option with upside.
