This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Sunday's main MLB slate features eight games and begins at 1:05 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find which individual pitchers and hitters are primed to provide the best value, as well as the top lineup stacking options in this slate.
Pitching Overview
This slate is short on ace starters besides possibly the struggling Blake Snell ($10,900), but there are plenty of enticing options to choose from in the tiers below, allowing owners to feel good about what they have going on the mound while still leaving a significant chunk of change to spend on hitters.
While Julio Teheran ($8,500) hasn't exactly dazzled so far for Atlanta, starting a visiting pitcher in Marlins Park has rarely been a bad idea between the venue's hitter-friendly lean and the home team's league-worst offense. Teheran's 4.18 xFIP suggests his 5.35 ERA is a bit inflated, and he has shown a strong ability to miss bats, with a career-best 26.2 percent strikeout rate so far.
Milwaukee's Zach Davies ($6,400) has just a 15.4 percent strikeout rate, and his 3.92 FIP suggests his 1.38 ERA is due for major regression. That said, it's hard to argue with his 0.00 ERA through 16 home innings heading into this home clash with the Mets. He's also in position to pick up a win with plenty of offensive support likely forthcoming (more on that below).
Value Plays/Chalk
Left-handed slugger Daniel Vogelbach ($3,500) has been a revelation against right-handed pitching for the Mariners, posting a wOBA just under .500 heading into this matchup against fill-in Indians starter Cody Allen, who's making his first start since September 2016.
Second baseman Michael Chavis ($3,800) has been a tremendous boost for Boston and should continue to find success against starter Dylan Covey and the White Sox bullpen. Phillies shortstop Jean Segura ($4,300) is off to a strong start as well, and Washington's Anibal Sanchez is unlikely to slow him down.
Stacks
Brewers vs. Jason Vargas (Mets)
Lorenzo Cain (OF - $3,400), Yasmani Grandal (C - $3,100), Ryan Braun (OF - $2,900)
Cain has long been known as a strong performer against lefties, and that trend has continued this season with his wOBA over .400. The switch-hitting Grandal has been far better batting from the right side this season, and while Braun has been a notch below Cain and Grandal, his best results have come at home and against lefties -- this matchup checks both boxes. Vargas is surrendering a .388 wOBA to right-handed hitters, and that number climbs to .450 outside of pitcher-friendly Citi Field. Last year's .421 mark allowed in that split on the road suggests there's little reason to expect improvement from Vargas moving forward.
Indians vs. Erik Swanson (Mariners)
Leonys Martin (OF - $2,900), Carlos Gonzalez (OF - $2,500), Carlos Santana (1B - $3,800)
Swanson is winless through three career starts, and his 6.62 ERA and 5.55 FIP leave a lot to be desired. Cleveland's lineup is teeming with left-handed hitters primed to add to the righty's struggles. While some of the team's more prominent hitters have struggled, Martin and Gonzalez have found moderate success against righties. Meanwhile, the switch-hitting Santana has hit the ball hard from both sides.
Rays vs. John Means (Orioles)
Yandy Diaz (3B - $4,000), Tommy Pham (OF - $3,900), Avisail Garcia (OF - $3,300)
This trio of right-handed sluggers is set up for success against Orioles southpaw John Means. Diaz usually leads off against lefties, and with a wOBA over .450 in that split, he's primed to maximize both his number of plate appearances and his effectiveness against Means. Pham bats second and has thrived against pitchers from both sides. Garcia has struggled against lefties this season, but he has a career .343 wOBA in that split and just a .303 mark against righties.
