This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Seven games are featured in Sunday's main slate, all with first pitches between 1:00 and 2:15 et, so we'll have lots of action early during Easter. No pitcher checks in north of $9,000, but prominent bats from the Yankees and Cubs give owners plenty to choose from when constructing their lineup.
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Pitcher
Jose Berrios, MIN at BAL ($7,700): There doesn't appear to be a slam dunk, must start, pitcher in this slate that lacks an ace. I don't love Berrios' awful 5.17 road ERA (compared to 2.41 at home), but he has at least as much strikeout potential as those priced above him, save for maybe top-priced Jose Quintana ($8,800). Baltimore has only eight hits over their first two games, failing to scracth one against veteran Kyle Gibson Saturday. I like Berrios to keep the O's at bay Sunday.
GPP Fade: Marcus Stroman, TOR vs. NYY ($7,900): This probably qualifies more as a "why would you play Stroman?" more than expecting him to be a popular pick that you can buck the trend against. Stroman missed most of Spring Training due to shoulder inflammation and won't work deep into this game even if he's successful, never mind the fact he's facing a potent Yankee lineup. Stroman should be far, far away from consideration Sunday.
Fading Sonny Gray also seems prudent. He's got a decent shot at a win but offers very little strikeout upside.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Steven Matz, NYM vs. STL ($6,800): At $2,000 under the top-priced pitcher, maybe Matz isn't "cheap" enough to include here, and given his injury-plagued form in 2017, he's probably overpriced. But this is a pitcher who looked like a budding star in 2016 when healthy, posting a 23.3 percent strikeout rate and 2.97 home ERA in 2016. The Cardinals don't look like an offensive juggernaut early, and have already struck out 27 times in two games. Matz looked great in spring, and if that can carry over, he'll be a mainstay in lineups across the board as long as he stays healthy.
Catcher/First Base
Miguel Cabrera, DET vs. PIT ($3,800): I like rolling the dice on players who are coming off down seasons early in the year, as their price is usually lower than their potential. Cabrera had a woeful, injury marred 2017, and while age remains a concern, he's just one season removed from a .403 wOBA and 155 wRC+ against righties. He's the cheapest of the top tier at this position, which quickly drops off behind him.
Second Base
Yoan Moncada, CWS at KAN ($3,000): Priced seventh among options at the keystone, a non-premium position, and hitting atop the White Sox lineup is arguably enough to throw Moncada into you're lineup. He was considerably better against righties last year, posting a .348 wOBA and 118 wRC+ (against .283/74 against lefties) heading into a matchup against Jason Hammel, who had a 4.94 home ERA in 2017.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, KAN vs. CWS ($3,500): Moustakas has started the season strong, going 3-for-8 with two extra-base hits and three runs scored. He owned a .353 wOBA and 119 wRC+ against righties last year and should fare well against White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez, who had a 6.75 road ERA and allowed a .371 wOBA to left-handed bats a year ago.
Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts, BOS at TAM ($3,700): This slate makes it awfully difficult to not pay up for Bogaerts here, as there's an apparent void of options below his price, and he still saves you $300 over Manny Machado. He's lifting the ball at an improved clip early, resulting in six of his eight hits through three games going for extra bases. Stacking Red Sox bats against a likely overmatched Jake Faria seems prudent, with Bogaerts atop the list to target.
Outfield
Aaron Judge, NYY at TOR ($4,100): A homerless, 2-for-12 start to the year seems to offer the perfect time to play a lower-priced Judge. Judge had a .402 wOBA and 153 wRC+ against righties on the road last year, and has taken Sunday starter Marcus Stroman deep three times in 12 at bats.
Andrew Benintendi, BOS at TAM ($2,800): Confirm Benintendi's place in the lineup early Sunday, as it's possible he gets a mental day off after opening the year 0-for-11. But if he plays, his potential is far greater than this price. He owned a .344 wOBA, 111 wRC+ and .813 OPS against righties last year versus .286/71/.622 against southpaws. I'd prefer more power upside, but it's not needed at this tag to provide a return.
Gregory Polanco, PIT at DET ($2,600): I'm all in on a bounce-back campaign from Polanco, and through one game, I'd look like a genius. I don't expect 50+ points again here, but at the price, there's nearly no risk. It's not an ideal matchup against Michael Fulmer, who's allowed a sub .300 wOBA to lefties in each of the past two seasons, but hitting third in a capable lineup, Polanco will continue to see run-producing chances. And at a sub-$3,000 price, he might be a daily fixture in my lineups for the time being.
Utility
Kris Bryant, CHC at MIA ($4,700): By using Matz on the bump, and everything else listed here (not recommended!) you'd be able to fit either Bryant or Giancarlo Stanton in under the salary cap. Feast or famine between the two, but Bryant offers a nearly similar upside with a much safer floor. He's gone 6-for-15 with three doubles, a homer, four RBI, four runs and three walks through three games, and is coming off of a season where he posted a .405 wOBA, 150 wRC+ and .218 ISO against lefties. He's well worth paying up for in a matchup against a Dillon Peters, who has a 5.17 ERA in his 31.1 innings above Double-A.
