This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Aces are wild for Sunday's main slate. A nine-game schedule has three pitchers north of 10k, three more above 9k and four more at at least 8k. The bottom drops out after that, leaving plenty of obvious offenses to target, while guessing right on the top-tier arm who's due for a letdown would go a long ways towards GPP success.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
PITCHER
Stephen Strasburg, WAS at MIA ($10,200): Strasburg may be my choice in both cash and GPP formats, if only for the fact that he comes with at least a $1,000 savings over Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole. As such, ownership percentages against the lowly Marlins do concern me. Regardless, Strasburg faces a lineup that ranks 29th with a .282 wOBA against righties. That they fan what is now just a moderate 23.8 percent may also cap Strasburg's upside, but there just seems to be an incredibly high and stable floor.
GPP Fade: Gerrit Cole, HOU at CLE ($11,200): I am by no means saying Cole isn't in play Sunday, as the Indians offense brings a .311 wOBA and 24.0 percent whiff rate against righties. I'm simply trying to point out Cole may not bring back a 50+ point outing his price commands on this docket. He's been a bit inefficient over his last three starts, having not worked into the seventh inning in any while needing at least 98 pitches to get through six. He's also allowed three homers in that stretch. The strikeouts have remained, but there's such a small margin for error on the bump Sunday that I'd rather pay up for Chris Sale, or down for a multitude of choices.
Cheap GPP Consideration: James Shields, CWS at DET ($6,400): I can't believe I've included Shields in any form other than stacking against, but this is the type of radical GP play that wins tournaments. Full disclosure, I'm not comfortable with any sub-8k pitcher Sunday, with Kevin Gausman and Nick Pivetta being my favorite "cheap" options. But a quick look at Shields shows he's allowed three or less runs in four of his last five while lasting at least six frames in six straight. Detroit ranks 22nd against righties with a .306 wOBA, supplemented by a mere .148 ISO. There's always a chance Shields loses you points, but there's a real chance at 30+ scoring here at a major discount and incredibly low ownership.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland, BOS vs. ATL ($3,600): Until his price adjusts to his new-found daily opportunity, Moreland is a near must-play. His .466 wOBA, 196 wRC+ and .366 ISO speak for themselves. He's averaged 21.9 fantasy points in his last three, while Braves' starter Mike Foltynewicz has allowed a career .366 wOBA to lefites.
SECOND BASE
Jose Rondon, CWS a DET ($2,900): Similar to yesterday's column, the keystone is the ultimate punt or play position. There's no safe option below $3,700, so I'll choose to punt the roster spot and purchase elsewhere. Rondon is swinging a hot bat while remaining in the lineup thanks to nagging injuries throughout the infield, while Tigers' starter Blaine Hardy has allowed a .377 wOBA to righties since the start of 2017.
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw, MIL vs. NYM ($3,700): The price here is simply wrong, and Shaw looks like the cornerstone of all lineups Sunday. He's gone for 21.9 or more points in four of his last five games, and owns a .432 wOBA, 176 wRC+ and .373 ISO against righties to date. The only caveat here is playing Shaw seems too obvious, because there's nothing to dislike in a near perfect price/form/matchup outing.
SHORTSTOP
Tyler Saladino, MIL vs. NYM ($2,500): At worst, Saladino is a dirt cheap starter facing a pitcher who has been inconsistent at best. At best, you're buying into a hot bat that 11 hits, including three homers, in his last 10 games. Saladino recently processed Orlando Arcia to the minors and while his current .529 wOBA and 242 wRC+ are far from sustainable given his .266/64 career line against righties, Saladino's current form offers great tournament upside and a bargain, affording plenty of buy-up opportunities at other positions.
OUTFIELD
Tommy Pham, STL at PIT ($3,800): A recent 0-for-13 stint has pushed Pham's price far below where it truly belongs as a minimum $4,500 hitter. Yes, he's been better against lefties and Pirates' starter Jameson Tailon has been sound against same-handed bats, but Pham still brings a .383 wOBA and 147 wRC+ to the table while averaging 14.0 points in his last two games.
Michael Brantley, CLE vs. HOU ($3,700): Brantley is rightfully priced down due to the matchup with the aforementioned Cole. But he brings a 15-game hit streak into Sunday while scorching righties for a .413 wOBA, 161 wRC+ and .238 ISO. That upside may not be attainable against Cole, but there appears to be a very solid floor available at a discount thanks to Cole's presence.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM at MIL ($3,400): Nimmo's price is creeping up to where he has to continue performing on his lofty splits against right handers. He sports a .454 wOBA, 197 wRC+ ad 294 ISO against righties compared to a .256/63/.045 against same-handed arms. While Brewers' starter Jhoulys Chacin is on a nice four-game run, he's still been vulnerable to opposite handed bats, allowing a .354 wOBA, a number .098 higher than he surrenders to righties.
UTILITY
Matt Adams, WAS at MIA ($4,000): It's a steep price to pay for a long ball, and that's all Adams brings to the table. But he continues to perform against righties to the tune of a .444 wOBA, 185 wRC+ and .389 ISO. Marlins starter Elieser Hernandez has been solid through two starts; against the Dodgers and Mets, a far cry from the Nationals potent lineup. He's due for a letdown.
