This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Sunday's main MLB slate begins at 1:05 PM Eastern time and features 11 games. 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 promises a nice mix of top-tier pitchers such as Justin Verlander ($12,500) and Jacob deGrom ($11,700), as well as a number of strong cheaper options for people looking to save money for hitters.
Those with the funds to pay up for deGrom shouldn't hesitate to do so. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has excelled with a 2.08 ERA, 2.56 FIP and 115:21 K:BB in 91 innings over his last 14 starts, and the surging Mets might actually give him some run support at home against Washington.
Cardinals' righty Miles Mikolas ($7,600) got off to a slow start after posting a 2.83 ERA last season, but he's managed a 2.18 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Despite not promising many strikeouts, he should continue his second-half surge against a Pirates team that owns the second-worst record in the National League.
Royals pitchers rarely get much attention, but Jakob Junis ($8,600) should provide nice bang for the buck against Detroit's 29th-ranked offense. He has recorded a respectable 21.5 percent strikeout rate this season, and has pitched well of late with four quality starts in his last six outings.
Value Plays/Chalk
The Braves, Yankees and Reds are all primed for success against some vulnerable pitchers, but there's also value to be found outside of those three stackable lineups.
Mike Trout ($4,800) continues to make a compelling MVP case despite playing for a downtrodden Angels club, as his home run Saturday in Boston marked his 39th of the year and 17th since Jul. 3. The superstar outfielder faces a great opportunity to strengthen that case against Red Sox starter Andrew Cashner. Cashner has surrendered 26 runs - with 24 of those earned - in 28.2 innings with Boston, while allowing seven home runs over that five-start stretch.
Mets' second baseman Jeff McNeil represents a bargain at just $3,200 against Nationals righty Anibal Sanchez. The left-handed slugger's wOBA sits at just under .400 against pitchers from both sides.
Astros outfielder Michael Brantley ($4,100) has registered a .390 wOBA against righties, and he has a great opportunity to improve that number against Orioles righty Asher Wojciechowski and his .385 mark versus lefty batters this season.
Stacks
Braves vs. Hector Noesi (Marlins)
Freddie Freeman (1B - $4,400), Ronald Acuna (OF - $4,400), Josh Donaldson (3B - $3,700)
Noesi sports a career 5.35 ERA and 5.05 FIP, and the right-hander gave up five earned runs over five innings in his only major-league appearance this season. Freeman owns the platoon advantage against Noesi as a left-handed slugger, and the first baseman's wOBA against righties is well over .400. Acuna and Donaldson have both been proficient in righty-on-righty matchups, as each has posted a wOBA over .370 in that split.
Yankees vs. Trent Thornton (Blue Jays)
Didi Gregorius (SS - $3,200), Mike Tauchman (OF - $4,000), DJ LeMahieu (1B - $4,300)
Thornton has struggled with a 5.55 ERA and 5.11 xFIP, plus he's allowed a wOBA over .340 to batters from both sides. Gregorius boasts a road wOBA over .400 against righties. Tauchman also maintains the platoon advantage as a left-handed batter, and he's slashing .305/.387/.588 this year. LeMahieu has been even better against lefties, but New York's leadoff man hasn't exactly struggled in righty-on-righty matchups with a wOBA over .360 while serving as one of the few remaining healthy Yankees regulars.
Reds vs. Jon Lester (Cubs)
Eugenio Suarez (3B - $3,900), Nick Senzel (OF - $3,100), Aristides Aquino (OF - $3,600)
Suarez has dominated left-handed pitching this season by posting a .376 wOBA that climbs to .466 at home. Senzel leads off against left-handed starters, and the rookie has earned that spot with a .379 wOBA against southpaws. Aquino has posted video-game type numbers in a nine-game sample since getting called up, and the 25-year-old slugger's .992 OPS in 78 Triple-A games this system suggests he's going to remain productive. All three right-handed batters should find success against the slumping Lester, who has surrendered 16 runs - including 14 earned - through nine innings over his last two starts.
