I hope you've had a good weekend, but it's time to bring it to a close on Sunday. Fortunately, there's plenty of MLB action and some intriguing DFS options with 10 games on the docket and the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. EDT. Here are some of my selections for your lineups.
Pitching
Nathan Eovaldi, TEX at TOR ($10,000): Eovaldi's last start was rough where his season ERA went all the way up to…1.71. His K/BB rate has fallen to 5.43 and his HR/9 rate has soared to 0.62. All of that is to say Eovaldi is enjoying a great season and I'm not worried about a one-off appearance. I'm even more encouraged by the fact he's registered an 1.26 road ERA. The Blue Jays offer a solid offense, but this is a bet on pitching talent even if the matchup isn't great.
Cristian Javier, HOU vs. BAL ($8,400): Javier handled his business during his first MLB start of the season going five innings against Boston allowing three hits and two earned runs while racking up five strikeouts. The Red Sox are a top-five offense while the Orioles are just fighting to stay out of the bottom-10. And as they shipped out talent at the deadline, I'm guessing they won't be able to pull that off.
Ryan Bergert, KAN vs. CWS ($7,500): Eovaldi was a bet on the pitcher. This one is about the matchup. That's not to say Bergert has been a slouch with a 2.78 ERA from 35.2 innings while in San Diego and a 3.18 through two starts with KC. The White Sox are bottom-five in runs scored and one of two teams with an OPS below .670.
See which projected starters are going and when with RotoWire's Probable Pitchers page!
Top Targets
While Jose Ramirez ($4,100) has slightly dipped after flirting with a .300 average, he's almost assuredly going to produce 30 homers and 40 steals for the second straight year. The switch-hitter has also managed a .969 home OPS. Erick Fedde is pitching for his fourth club in three seasons. He's also going to end up with an ERA over 5.00 for the third time over four campaigns.
Thanks to all the talent around him, Seiya Suzuki ($3,700) has 27 homers, 27 doubles, and 86 RBI. He's been solid against righties by slugging .486, though he's also gone .543 versus lefties. There's a chance Suzuki will get to see a lefty at least once or twice on Sunday. Andrew Heaney was in line to start, but has now been moved to the bullpen and is expected to pitch bulk innings. It wouldn't be surprising if he went a few innings in a bullpen game as the Pirates are currently down to four healthy starters.
Bargain Bats
Even for a Rockies player, Ezequiel Tovar ($3,400) has taken home/road splits to the extremes. That being said, the shortstop has posted an 1.026 OPS at Coors Field. I also like the fact Tovar has hit lefties and righties equally well during his career. With Anthony DeSclafani going on the IL this week, the Diamondbacks may have to go with a bullpen game where it's unclear who the starter will be. As such, I didn't want a batter with big righty/lefty splits.
Vinnie Pasquantino ($3,100) has been put in a position to rack up RBI quite well as he notched 97 last season and is currently at 80. The lefty does his part with 22 home runs and 20 doubles. Davis Martin lists a 5.14 road ERA with a 6.22 K/9 rate, so there's a decent chance Pasquantino will have the opportunity to put the ball in play (or out of the park).
Stacks to Consider
Diamondbacks at Rockies (Kyle Freeland): Ketel Marte ($4,500), Lourdes Gurriel ($3,700), Tyler Locklear ($3,000)
I recommend stacking against the Rockies at Coors essentially every time there's a matchup there, so why get cute? Freeland has recorded a 5.21 home ERA since 2023 and is a lefty who's let right-handed hitters go .302 against, so I've landed on three Diamondbacks who can bat from that side.
Marte is a switch-hitter with a .943 OPS versus lefties and a .901 at home the last three seasons. Gurriel is having a bit of a down year, yet still has 15 homers and 10 stolen bases. He's also gone .280 against lefties, so facing Freeland at Coors could help him produce at the plate. Locklear came over in the Eugenio Suarez trade, and the Diamondbacks opted to make him their new starting first baseman. He hasn't delivered much yet, but it's only been 15 games. And at Triple-A, he recorded a .943 OPS with 19 home runs and 17 steals across 98 outings, so he certainly offers upside while playing in favorable conditions on Sunday.
Cardinals vs. Yankees (Will Warren): Alec Burleson ($3,100), Lars Nootbaar ($3,000), Nolan Gorman ($2,800)
Warren has been healthy, delivered strikeouts, handled righties, and given the Yankees some rotation stability when their pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries. On the other hand, lefties have batted .265 against with a 6.48 road ERA. This game is in St. Louis, and three of their lefties are listed below.
Burleson is able to hit for average and power against lefties, which is helpful to keep him in those types of situations. When going up against righties, he's batting .281 and slugging .461. It's been a tough season for Nootbaar with some injury issues, though he's produced 13 homers, four stolen bases, and 18 doubles. And while he's struggled on the road, he's posted an .831 home OPS. Gorman hasn't received a regular role this season, which has hurt his overall numbers. That being said, the second baseman has notched an .820 home OPS and has slugged .444 against righties the last couple campaigns.
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