This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
You know the drill for Sunday in MLB. Every team is in action, which means there are 15 games worth of players to choose from. I like an all-day contest, especially since you have to get your lineup in by 1:05 p.m. EDT for FanDuel's main contests. We've played a big chunk of the season so far, so it's easier to feel confident in your picks. To try and make you even more confident, here are some recommendations.
PITCHING
Shane Bieber, CLE vs. SEA ($12,000): Bieber hasn't been as good as last year when he won the AL Cy Young, but who is going to complain about a 2.88 FIP? That's especially true against the Mariners. Seattle comes in with the majors' worst batting average and on-base percentage. Bieber doesn't really need help to keep people off base, but he'll get it today.
Carlos Rodon, CWS at DET ($10,500): Rodon could replace Bieber as the reigning AL Cy Young having produced a 1.96 ERA through 10 starts. He's also striking out a career-best 13.27 batters per nine innings. Robbie Grossman is a nice story for the Tigers, but he isn't enough to keep the team out of the bottom-five in runs scored.
Adrian Houser, MIL vs. PIT ($7,400): The Pirates are the team below the Nationals in runs scored that have played more games and their offense has looked brutal. The team has no power ranking last in home runs and slugging percentage. Houser hasn't gone super deep in any of his last three appearances having tossed 15.1 innings, but he's posted a 1.17 ERA in those outings.
Johnny Cueto, SF at WAS ($7,200): Cueto isn't a strikeout aficionado like other pitchers these days, but that hasn't stopped him from putting up a 3.18 FIP. He's been keeping the home runs down to start the year, which has helped. The Nationals rank 28th in runs scored and they can't fully blame that on the fact they still have to make up a few contests as they've played in 60 games while plenty of teams above have finished 61 or 62.
TOP TARGETS
Nick Castellanos, CIN vs. COL ($4,000): Even though this matchup is in Cincinnati, I'm totally happy to have Castellanos in my lineup. He's enjoying the best season of his career with a .362/.418/.638 slash line and a 1.303 home OPS. The fact Antonio Senzatela doesn't have to pitch at Coors Field won't necessarily help him considering he's compiled a 6.30 road ERA since 2019.
Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. SEA ($3,700): Once again, Ramirez is carrying Cleveland's offense. In only 58 games last year, he hit 17 homers and stole 10 bases to lock up a fourth season in a row with double digits in both categories. Ramirez is going to do it again this year, as he already has 14 homers and six swiped bags. Rookie Logan Gilbert has made five starts over his career and has managed a 4.98 ERA.
VALUE BATS
Starling Marte, MIA vs. ATL ($3,900): Other than being injured, Marte's first full season with the Marlins is going well. His .346 batting average will likely drop, but he's also racked up five homers and seven stolen bases. The righty will be facing left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly, whose move to Atlanta has not gone well for him with a 6.45 FIP through 10 starts.
Manuel Margot, TAM vs. BAL ($2,800): The Rays carry a lefty-heavy lineup, which isn't ideal against a southpaw like Bruce Zimmermann. That's a shame, as Zimmerman has allowed a whopping 2.07 home runs per nine innings in his career. Margot doesn't offer a lot of power, but does have a .793 OPS versus lefties since 2019. He's also on pace to produce double-digit stolen bases for the fifth time in five MLB seasons.
STACKS TO CONSIDER
Padres vs. Joey Lucchesi: Fernando Tatis ($4,700), Manny Machado ($3,600), Wil Myers ($2,100)
Lucchesi is a former Padre in his first season with the Mets. It's not going well with a 5.79 ERA through nine games and six starts. Given he spent his first three years pitching at Petco Park and only maintained a career 4.34 ERA, perhaps that isn't surprising. Tatis is having another incredible season while his career slash line is .295/.369/.595. Machado has struggled a bit this year, but is slashing .271/.348/.499 over his last 118 contests. I'm also going with Myers since he's a righty and Lucchesi is a lefty. Myers also has a .890 OPS versus left-handed pitchers since 2019.
Cubs vs. Carlos Martinez: Kris Bryant ($3,900), Anthony Rizzo ($3,000), Joc Pederson ($2,700)
Now 29, Martinez is long from his days as a top prospect and it's clear his upside as a starter is limited. He's posted a 6.21 ERA this year after a 9.90 mark last season. The Cubs have seen the career Cardinal many times and should be able to tee off on him at Wrigley. Bryant has swiftly put his 2020 struggles behind him as he's threatening to hit .300 for the first time while crushing 13 homers. Rizzo has never had an issue getting on base thanks to a career .371 OBP while also impressing with a .922 home OPS since 2019. Pederson is a lefty you never want facing another lefty, but Martinez is a righty. All nine of Pederson's homers this campaign have come against right-handers and he's also recorded a .529 slugging percentage against them since 2019.
