This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Sunday's seven-game Main MLB slate 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
With no shortage of effective starting pitchers taking the mound, it will be awfully tough to make up ground with premium bats for those who don't select a strong pitcher. Many owners will be willing to pay up for Max Scherzer ($11,000) in Cincinnati, as his sparkling 2.33 FIP and 31.8 percent strikeout rate suggest he's due to improve on his already stellar stats.
Atlanta's Julio Teheran ($8,600) was tremendous in five May starts, allowing just three earned runs in 27.2 innings. He gets a great opportunity to keep rolling into June against Detroit's 29th-ranked offense.
If you insist on going against the grain with a cheap option, Jeff Samardzija ($6,300) is the sensible choice. He's scored as many as 52 fantasy points in a start this season and could come close to his ceiling in a favorable matchup against a 18-40 Orioles team.
Value Plays/Chalk
The Cardinals-Cubs game lists an over/under of 9.5, and there's a good chance the offenses surpass that production with a pair of vulnerable veterans on the mound. Meanwhile, the league-best Twins are likely to show why they own baseball's best record against a pedestrian Rays lefty.
In addition to the batters from those three lineups, certain individuals are primed to stand out in other games. If you have the funds for elite Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich ($4,700), he should be a strong choice as usual against Pirates righty Jordan Lyles.
Switch-hitting White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada ($3,800) has been far better when batting left-handed, with a .373 wOBA from that side. He should make life difficult for Indians' rookie righty Zach Plesac, who will be making just his second career start.
Stacks
Twins vs. Ryan Yarbrough (Rays)
C.J. Cron (1B - $3,300), Jonathan Schoop (2B - $3,300), Jorge Polanco (SS - $4,100)
While Yarbrough has been better in two starts since returning from Triple-A, the lefty's 5.53 ERA and paltry 17.0 percent strikeout rate suggest he's likely to struggle against a potent lineup like Minnesota's. Cron boasts a tremendous .466 wOBA against southpaws this season, Schoop's road wOBA isn't far from .450, and the switch-hitting Polanco sports a wOBA just under .500 on the road this season. While third baseman Miguel Sano ($3,600) has the platoon advantage over Yarbrough, he's notably omitted here due to an awful .209 wOBA against lefties this season.
Cardinals vs. Cole Hamels (Cubs)
Jose Martinez (OF - $2,300), Paul DeJong (SS - $3,800), Paul Goldschmidt (1B - $3,700)
The Redbirds possess a number of right-handed sluggers capable of punishing any mistake from the left-handed Hamels, who is just an average pitcher at this stage of his career with a 4.02 ERA and 4.02 FIP. Martinez qualifies as a can't-miss option at $2,300 given his .448 wOBA against lefties. DeJong has been even better, with a wOBA in that split hovering around .500. Goldschmidt hasn't lived up to his lofty standards against them this season, but has recorded a .423 career wOBA against southpaws.
Cubs vs. Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
Anthony Rizzo (1B - $4,400), Kyle Schwarber (OF - $3,400), Jason Heyward (OF - $3,000)
Chicago will likely need to score some runs in support of Hamels, and the Cubs should get the chance to do so against Wainwright, who enters with a 4.94 ERA and 4.79 FIP. Left-handed batters have a .409 wOBA against the veteran right-hander, which is why all three recommended options bat from that side. Rizzo has pummeled righties with a wOBA well over .400. Schwarber has struggled against righties this season but should maximize his opportunities against Wainwright out of the leadoff spot. And Heyward owns a road wOBA over .350 against righties, making him a nice value play at just $3,000.
