This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have a seven-game slate featured on DraftKings for Sunday. First pitch is at 1 p.m. EDT with the Orioles hosting the Red Sox in their final game of a four-game series.The options today at SP appear to be very limited upon first glance. Identifying a cheap stack could be a great way to start your process without having to sacrifice the quality of who you choose to get it done on the mound.
Pitching
Carlos Carrasco, CLE vs. DET ($10,500): If you feel safer paying $500 more for a pitcher that has been clearly more reliable this season in Yu Darvish, I would never talk someone off that choice. Carrasco has been wildly inconsistent in his five starts, but I'm giving him the slight edge here based on matchup. The wind in Wrigley Field could potentially be blowing out, which is another negative for Darvish, but there's no denying the level of elite play he's displayed outside of a poor Opening Day start. Carrasco faces a Tigers' team that is bottom-half of the league in runs scored per game at 4.52 and lead the league in strikeouts per game at 10.32 with 13 in their most recent outing. The White Sox, on the other hand, tend to strike out at a high clip but can get after opposing pitchers with their power bats that have them ninth in the league in runs per game with eight runs per over their last three. For those reasons, I prefer Carrasco slightly more today but it's truly a coin flip in every sense.
Corbin Burnes, MIL at PIT ($7,400): If you can make it work, pairing Darvish and Carrasco seems like the optimal play, but that eats up a huge chunk of salary. Taking a guy like Corbin Burnes in a plus matchup versus the Pirates isn't a bad alternative, and allows you to be more flexible when it comes to rostering bats. Burnes has been serviceable this season and has flashed strikeout upside with five or more in each of his five starts. The Pirates average eight Ks per game and play in a mainly pitcher-friendly ballpark. Burnes hasn't had the longest leash at times, but was able throw 83 pitches in his most recent start against a tough Twins' team on his way to a 16.3 fantasy point outing. Outside of Josh Bell and Colin Moran, the Pirates don't offer many formidable bats which should allow Burnes to navigate this lineup with ease.
Top Picks
J.D. Martinez, BOS at BAL ($5,800): After a slow start to the season, Martinez has shown signs of life recently and gets an Orioles' pitcher today in Wade LeBlanc who he's faced 11 times in his career. Piling up six hits - including two home runs - and six RBI should predict him continuing this success with LeBlanc sporting a frightening 7.89 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over five starts this season.
Austin Meadows, TB vs. TOR ($5,000): In another hot batter battle, Meadows faces Trent Thornton, a pitcher he's seen 12 times in his career where he's connected for seven hits and three homers. Thornton has looked unimpressive in his two starts this year, getting hammered by the Phillies to swell his ERA into the double digits. I don't see things getting much better for him here, as he comes in with a 3.43 WHIP.
Value Plays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, TOR at TB ($3,900): The Blue Jays' slugger stands out as one of the better first base plays today if you're looking to save some salary. Always able to launch a ball over the fence with his power, he faces a pitcher in Josh Fleming making his major league debut. Guerrero's biggest problem is usually with strikeouts, but Fleming was only able to accomplish that 17.7 percent of the time against opposing batters in the minors.
Maikel Franco, KC vs. MIN ($3,200): Another key player today that fills an infield spot is purely a matchup-based recommendation. Franco has faced opposing pitcher Matt Wisler 12 times where he's accumulated six hits that include two home runs and five RBI. He doesn't enjoy a platoon advantage here, but Wisler has shown to be more reverse splits in his career allowing a .279 batting average to righties since 2019.
Stacks to Consider
Red Sox vs. Wade LeBlanc: J.D. Martinez ($5,800), Rafael Devers ($5,300), Xander Bogaerts ($5,200)
This is an expensive stack, but worth it when you consider the opposing pitcher. LeBlanc offers very little strikeout ability and faces a Red Sox' team that's been more disciplined at the plate of late averaging only seven Ks over their last three. I highlighted the success Martinez has enjoyed against LeBlanc and adding the other two listed fills infield spots for your stack. Devers doesn't get the coveted platoon advantage, but in general I think that's obsessed over far too much - especially with LeBlanc allowing close to a .300 batting average to both sides of the plate since 2019.
Rays vs. Trent Thornton: Austin Meadows ($5,000), Brandon Lowe ($5,400), Joey Wendle ($3,600)
I previously featured Meadows as a top pick today for his success against Blue Jays pitcher Trent Thornton, but the Rays as a stack could prove to pay dividends when including the power bats of Brandon Lowe and Joey Wendle. Lowe has been on a tear this season by batting over .300 with nine homers and 24 RBI and adding Wendle helps alleviate the overall salary of this stack without sacrificing any of the power we want when targeting Thornton.
