This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
I emerge from the realm of illness to cut through the haze to help you set your DFS lineups. For the last Sunday of June we have 15 MLB games, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:07 p.m. EDT. Weather in many areas hasn't been great, especially when it comes to rain. Nevertheless, here are some players to target for your DFS contests.
PITCHING
Zack Wheeler, PHI at NYM ($11,000): In his first year with Philly, Wheeler posted a 2.92 ERA across 11 starts. The former Met has been even better in 2021 with a 2.36 ERA through 15 starts. The Mets have made up a lot of postponed games and it looks like they could still be last in runs scored or just barely above the Pirates at best.
Yu Darvish, SD vs. ARI ($10,500): Darvish's first year in San Diego has gone as well as expected with a 2.50 ERA in 15 starts. Unsurprisingly, his new home ballpark has also helped him out with a 2.18 mark. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks set a record for consecutive road losses this season and not getting to hit in the summer heat of Arizona doesn't help either.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA vs. WAS ($9,600): Max Scherzer against the Marlins in this matchup will get attention, but I like the flipside better. Miami's offense has looked subpar, but Washington's has been even worse in terms of runs scored. Alcantara is actually quite the workhorse by modern standards having gone at least eight innings in four of his last seven starts where he's produced a 1.79 ERA.
Johan Oviedo, STL vs. PIT ($6,500): Oviedo comes in with a 4.62 ERA, but it's only 3.28 at home. He's also getting to face the Pirates, who are still last in MLB in runs per game and OPS.
TOP TARGETS
Jose Altuve, HOU at DET ($4,400): Altuve is hitting .296, similar to many seasons before 2020. However, his power has also returned as shown in his .521 slugging percentage. Tarik Skubal is considered a pretty good pitching prospect, but he's allowed 2.19 homers per nine innings over his career.
Jose Ramirez, CLE at MIN ($4,200): Ramirez is basically carrying the Cleveland offense, but he showed he could do that last season when he racked up 17 homers and 10 stolen bases in only 58 contests. He's recorded 16 homers and six stolen bases this year to go along with an .856 OPS. Ramirez will be facing J.A. Happ, who enters with a 5.46 FIP. The last time MLB had a full season, Happ also produced an FIP over 5.00.
VALUE BATS
Jonathan India, CIN vs. ATL ($3,100): India has led off at times for the Reds, which makes sense given his .379 OBP. The rookie has also shown some power and speed with six homers and six steals. Atlanta starter Kyle Muller has only pitched five innings during his MLB career, so we can't take much from his 5.40 ERA - although he did post a 4.60 mark at Triple-A.
Salvador Perez, KC at TEX ($3,000): While you don't need a catcher in FanDuel contests, that doesn't mean you should shy away from Perez. He's the rare backstop who can hit well enough to also DH with a .517 slugging percentage and 18 homers. Jordan Lyles has struggled to a career 5.24 ERA, and that has increased to 5.47 this year.
STACKS TO CONSIDER
Blue Jays vs. Jorge Lopez: Vladimir Guerrero ($4,800), Marcus Semien ($3,700), Teoscar Hernandez ($3,500)
Lopez has been in the majors for several years, but I'm not entirely sure how he's managed. In seasons where he's thrown more than 10 innings, he's never had an ERA lower than 5.03. This year, that stat sits at 5.68 while righties are hitting .288 against Lopez. Guerrero has become the hitter everybody expected having slashed .339/.443/.683 with 26 home runs. Semien has bounced back in his first year with the Jays hitting .278 with 18 homers and nine stolen bases. Hernandez is an underrated hitter with a career .490 slugging percentage while slugging .493 with 11 homers.
White Sox vs. Marco Gonzales: Tim Anderson ($3,800), Jose Abreu ($3,400), Yoan Moncada ($3,100)
Not only does Gonzales have a 5.30 FIP, he's produced a 6.98 ERA on the road. The lefty has also given up 1.89 homers per nine innings. I've got two righties and a switch hitter taking on Gonzales today. In his last full season, Anderson hit 20 homers and stole 17 bases. This year, he's only accumulated six homers, but has swiped 13 bags. Abreu is not hitting like expected, but he has a career .862 OPS and a .956 OPS versus lefties since 2019. Moncada has experienced issues with power the last couple of years, but he's still tallied a .403 OBP in 2021. On top of that, he's displayed more power at home with a .509 slugging percentage since 2019.
