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). There are 11 games to choose from for the main afternoon slate on DraftKings, so let's highlight some players who stand out with favorable matchups Sunday.
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STARTING PITCHER
Nick Pivetta, PHI vs. TOR ($9,600):Stephen Strasburg facing the Marlins stands out as a great matchup. Pivetta also presents a strong option with his 3.23 ERA and 2.86 FIP. He struggled to keep runners off base last year with a 1.51 WHIP, but he has made significant improvement this season with a 1.08 WHIP. He has thrown a first-pitch strike to 67.3 percent of the batters he has faced, which has helped to cut his BB/9 almost in half from last year. Combine that with a 10.2 K/9 and he could be in line for another valuable start Sunday against a Blue Jays team that won't have the benefit of the designated hitter playing in Philadelphia.
GPP Fade: Masahiro Tanaka, NYY vs. LAA ($6,700): Tanaka took a major step backward last year and hasn't been any better this season, posting a 4.95 ERA and 4.34 FIP. He doesn't allow many baserunners with a 1.10 WHIP, but he has already allowed 11 home runs in just 56.1 innings. An increased big-fly rate was a big part of his undoing last year as well. The Angels entered Saturday tied for the sixth-most home runs (65) in baseball.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Kevin Gausman, BAL at TB ($8,100): Gausman has allowed exactly six runs in a start twice this season, but has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his eight other starts. He currently has a career-high 12.5 percent swinging-strike rate, although his 8.4 K/9 is on par with his career average. He held the Rays to two runs while recording six strikeouts in 7.1 innings in his first start against them this season and is priced low enough to warrant consideration in their rematch.
CATCHER
Tucker Barnhart, CIN at COL ($3,600): Barnhart might not be a flashy option, but he entered Saturday with a .271 average and a .352 OBP. He has struggled against lefties with a career .259 wOBA but has had much more success against righties with a .313 wOBA. Underwhelming righty German Marquez takes the mound Sunday.
FIRST BASE
Ryan McMahon, COL vs. CIN ($2,700): The Rockies called up McMahon on Saturday and started him at second base. With DJ LeMahieu (thumb) on the disabled list, McMahon could get an extended run at the position. McMahon struggled in his first stint with the Rockies this season but has shown upside with a .296 average and .873 OPS for his career in the minors. At this dirt-cheap price, he might be worth the risk in tournament play against Harvey, who struggles to get lefties out.
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett, CIN at COL ($4,800): Gennett entered Saturday with a robust .319 average, but he has been aided by a .372 BABIP that is 41 points higher than his career mark. He is still hitting for plenty of power, though, and excels against right-handed pitchers, following up his .388 wOBA against them last year with a .398 mark this season.
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw, MIL vs. NYM ($4,500): Shaw is usually someone you want to target when a righty is on the mound since he had a .373 wOBA against them last year. He's been even better this season with a .432 wOBA entering play Saturday. He'll face Zack Wheeler, who is off to a rough start with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar, TEX vs. KC ($3,700): Profar has largely been unable to live up to the hype he received coming up through the Rangers organization. He's never played more than 90 games in a season in the majors but is getting a chance to play every day now with injuries to the Rangers infield. He's still not hitting for average, but he gets a great matchup against Jason Hammel and his 1.45 WHIP.
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts, BOS vs. ATL ($6,000): Betts is putting up insane numbers in the early going. He hits for both average and power and has almost as many walks (23) as he does strikeouts (24) entering Saturday. With a staggering 246 wRC+ against lefties this year, it might be worth paying the premium to get him into your lineup with Mike Foltynewicz taking the mound.
Nomar Mazara, TEX vs. KC ($4,200): Not only does Hammel allow way too many base runners, but he doesn't record a lot of strikeouts with a 5.0 K/9. Mazara only has a .281 wOBA against lefties in his career but has had much more success with a .337 wOBA against righties.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM at MIL ($3,800): Nimmo is getting a chance to play every day and is making a strong case to stick in the leadoff spot for the Mets going forward. He continues to get on base at a tremendous rate and has showed a combination of speed and power. He entered Saturday with a 196 wRC+ against righties and will face another one in Jhoulys Chacin.
