This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Sunday's main slate features 11 games that all go off before 2:30 in the east. No clear Number 1 starter is on the bump, and the volume of games lends itself to plenty of exploitable matchups to target in what figures to be a high-scoring afternoon.
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PITCHER
Rick Porcello, BOS at KAN ($9,500): Porcello has only worked seven innings once since the start of May, so he doesn't bring huge innings upside, and the Royals 19.2 percent whiff rate against righties further limits his scoring potential. But on a slate with no clear ace, Porcello's clearly safer floor over Houston's Dallas Keuchel ($9,600) and high winning probability give him the nod as Sunday's preferred option – at least in cash formats. But with 35-plus point potential, there's a path for him to be considered in GPP formats as well.
GPP Fade: Dallas Keuchel, HOU vs. CWS ($9,600):Zach Eflin was originally listed as the Phillies starter and would have represented the highest-priced option, but he's been pushed to Monday to allow a blister to further heal. As such, there isn't an obvious fade on this slate, leaving Keuchel to avoid by default. He's got a great chance at a win opposite Lucas Giolito, and the White Sox 25.3 percent strikeout rate suggests further upside. But Keuchel has provided single-digit fantasy points in three of his last six starts, offering far too much volatility at this lofty price.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Michael Fulmer, DET vs. TEX ($7,300): Fulmer is in a solid groove, posting 27 or more fantasy points in seven of his last nine outings. He gets a boost here by the Rangers' 25.4 percent strikeout rate against righties, and should see decent run support with Austin Bibens-Dirkx as his adversary. Texas' 91 wRC+ and .158 ISO don't cause great concern, and Fulmer looks capable of comparable numbers to the other top-priced options at $2,000 or more.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
J.T. Realmuto, MIA at WAS ($3,200): There seems to be a great chance Realmuto is overlooked with the plethora of first basemen available Sunday, and his price is $200 less than it was Saturday when he faced Max Scherzer. He boasts a team-leading .420 wOBA, 168 wRC+ and .263 ISO against righties – numbers impossible to find at this price. He'll face Tanner Roark, who has allowed 20 earned runs in his last four starts, spanning 21.1 innings, and sports a 5.73 home ERA.
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, HOU vs. CWS ($4,700): The Astros lineup against Lucas Giolito looks like a matchup to jump all over, despite the fact Houston's top four bats come with a tag of $3,800 or greater. But Giolito has been much more vulnerable to lefties than righties, and all the 'Stro bats hit from the right side, possibly making them one to fade rather than stack. That sounds blasphemous, so if you can afford Altuve and his .401 wOBA and 162 wRC+, then do so and save elsewhere. A warming Jonathan Schoop ($2,900) is an appealing pivot for those on a budget.
THIRD BASE
Eduardo Escobar, MIN vs. BAL ($3,100): Escobar is in a 5-for-41 funk, pushing his price to an affordable low in this terrific matchup with Alex Cobb. Escobar still boasts a .386 wOBA, 146 wRC+, and huge .302 ISO against righties, putting hard hit balls into play 40.1 percent of the time. Cobb meanwhile has a 6.54 road ERA, where he's a .384 wOBA to lefties.
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts, BOS at KAN ($3,900): Bogaerts brings a hot bat to the table Sunday, homering Thursday and Friday while driving in three more runs Saturday, making for eight over his last three games. Remarkably, his .379 wOBA and 140 wRC+ rank fifth among Red Sox regulars in a quality matchup against Jakob Junis, who has a 5.06 xFIP at home and allows a .380 wOBA to same-handed bats.
OUTFIELD
Kyle Schwarber, CHC vs. CIN ($3,600): Schwarber may offer a safer floor than just targeting a long ball here, as he's provided 12 or more fantasy points in four of his last seven games. That's a welcome relief, but you're obviously paying for upside – and that looks plentiful on Sunday. Schwarber leads the Cubs with a .379 wOBA and 138 wRC+ and .300 ISO against righties. Reds' starter Luis Castillo counters by allowing a .408 wOBA and 5.50 xFIP to lefties on the road. He also allows lefties a 39.6 flyball rate, identical to what Schwarber lifts against righties, and 30.9 percent of Schwarber's fly balls turn into homers.
Adam Eaton, WAS vs. MIA ($3,200): The Nationals' bats appear to be awakening, and they're my preferred stack Sunday afternoon against a struggling Trevor Richards, who enters with a 6.08 road ERA and allows a .371 wOBA to lefties and .380 to righties. Pick your poison, but most Nationals remain priced above average, which leads me to Eaton for bargain shopping. He's been incredibly fortunate since returning from injury, owning a .403 BABIP, but his .386 wOBA and 142 wRC+ play well at this tag.
Adam Jones, BAL at MIN ($2,900): The Orioles offense remains woeful, but they could be an intriguing mini-stack option against Jake Odorizzi, who has struggled to a 5.31 home ERA, allowing a .391 wOBA to lefties and .345 to righties. Jones' .326 wOBA isn't great, but it's the third-highest on the team. He's in good form with nine hits in his last 10 games, and is 14-for-46 (.304) against Odorizzi from the hurler's days with the Rays. At this price, a 10-point showing would be welcomed and afford owners buy-up opportunities elsewhere.
UTILITY
Matt Duffy, TAM at NYM ($3,000): That the Rays are the team facing Chris Flexen is unfortunate, as they offer no clear choice to exploit a pitcher who simply isn't a Major League option. Flexen managed a 4.87 ERA in Triple-A, and has allowed eight runs over 3.1 big league innings. Duffy is a relatively cheap buy in in this plus matchup, and he carries a team-high .357 wOBA and 131 wRC+ while fanning only 14.7 percent of the time.
