This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Sunday means a full day of baseball action, but Yahoo's DFS slate is cutting you off a bit. While there are 15 games taking place, including a doubleheader between Atlanta and Philly, you can only choose players from 12 games starting at 1:10 p.m. EDT or later with neither Braves-Phillies game included. I have to admit that has shaken up my suggestions since I began the research process without knowing they would make this atypical decision. However, we'll all be OK.
PITCHING
If you're willing to spend big money, you can happily plunk the cash down on Jacob deGrom ($60) or Walker Buehler ($49). I have no fear about Buehler despite a mediocre start, as his FIP was below 3.00 in each of the last two seasons. And he's pitching at home against the Giants, who ranked 28th in runs scored last season. As for deGrom, he's notched multiple Cy Youngs and is facing the lowly Marlins who ranked 29th in runs scored in 2019.
Dinelson Lamet ($48) put up respectable numbers in 14 2019 starts, especially since he was coming off Tommy John surgery. He posted a 3.90 FIP and struck out more than 12 batters per nine innings. So far in 2020, Lamet seems to be taking another step. Over three starts, he has produced a 2.73 FIP with a 1.72 ERA. The Diamondbacks have faced some offensive struggles to start the season, especially on the road. That's not going to help them at a place like Petco Park.
Speaking of pitchers off to hot starts, Andrew Heaney ($44) has impressed with a 2.86 FIP through three starts with the Angels. Meanwhile, the Rangers have been ice cold offensively and their team batting average is barely hovering above .200. The Rangers are at home, but it's a new ballpark. We don't quite know how it will play for offense just yet.
TOP PICKS
Lucas Giolito put it together last season, so you may not be concerned about his 5.17 ERA through three starts, especially because it mostly stems from a terrible first start. However, he's struggled with a 6.05 home ERA since 2018, and this game is in Chicago. Jose Ramirez ($21) is the kind of player who can be considered to have a down year when he hits 23 homers and steals 24 bases in 129 games. And he's started this year slashing .279/.362/.541, so he seems like he might be just fine.
If you like consistency, Max Muncy ($17) is your man. He's hit exactly 35 homers in each of his last two seasons. Also, the lefty has posted an .897 OPS versus fellow southpaws, so he's not even a risky proposition in case a lefty comes in for starter Kevin Gausman. As for Gausman, he's produced a 5.72 ERA last year and a 5.27 ERA so far this campaign.
Eddie Rosario ($18) could learn to take a walk, but otherwise there's little to quibble about in his game. He has recorded a career .278 batting average and last year tallied 32 homers and 109 RBI in only 137 games. The batting average isn't there yet this season, but the power and run production have been. We have only seen Royals' starter Brady Singer three times in the majors, but thus far he's managed a 5.25 FIP and has allowed four homers over 15 innings.
VALUE PLAYS
Garrett Hampson ($17) only hit eight home runs last season - which is unusual for a Rockies' player - but he stole 15 bases in 105 games. It's also probably worth nothing he maintained a higher OPS on the road than at home, though neither number impressed. However, the 25-year-old righty boasts upside, and his power has been impressive this year. Meanwhile, the majors have been very unkind to left-handed, former top prospect Justus Sheffield with his career 6.41 ERA and 1.79 WHIP.
The Tigers, not known for a particularly potent lineup, has trounced the Pirates through two games. They've scored 28 runs and now get to face Joe Musgrove. Musgrove, for his part, recorded a 4.44 ERA last year and has dropped to a 6.75 ERA this season. Part of me thought about stacking the Tigers, but I'm not that bold. Instead, I will recommend C.J. Cron ($13), who has a .383 OBP and a .622 slugging percentage so far this campaign.
Alex Verdugo ($9), once a vaunted prospect, was shipped from the Dodgers to the Red Sox this offseason. In his first MLB action with LA last year, he slashed .294/.342/.475 in 106 games. Now 24, his power seems to be on the rise. Or maybe it's the fact Dodgers Stadium is no longer his home ballpark. It's a little hard to get a read on Matt Shoemaker, as he's only made 14 starts since 2017. He managed a 1.57 ERA last year, but supplemented that with a 3.94 FIP in only five starts. This season, he's posted a 6.92 FIP in only two starts. Let's just call him a guy with a career 3.96 FIP, which is not daunting.
STACKS
Mets vs. Pablo Lopez: Pete Alonso ($12), Michael Conforto ($18), Jeff McNeil ($18)
Lopez has made one start this year, and it was a five-inning shutout. It was also against the Orioles, who aren't exactly a formidable opponent. Last season, Lopez produced a 5.09 ERA and 4.27 FIP, with decidedly better stats at home. On the road, his career ERA comes in at 6.12. The Mets have not exactly been stellar on offense, but I trust these three bats in this matchup.
Alonso has only hit home run on the season, but I am willing to buy in. When you hit 53 home runs as a rookie, you earn a lot of trust. The one thing Conforto has been missing in his career to this point is his batting average, so it'll be a step up if he can continue to hover around .300. A the very least, we know he can talk a walk and hit a home run. Conforto also offered a .926 OPS versus righties last season. And there's another lefty in McNeil, who is all about batting average with a career .320 mark. It's not all hitting for singles either, as his career big-league slugging percentage sits at .506.
