This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Sunday's late afternoon slate kicks off at 4:05 p.m. EDT. Twelve teams will be in action with the other 18 having already gotten underway earlier in the day. Read on for the top Easter value plays.
PITCHER
Michael Pineda, NYY vs. STL ($42): Pineda was masterful in his home debut, racking up 45.2 fantasy points while striking out 11 Rays in 7.2 innings. That performance raised his season strikeout rate to a whopping 39.5 percent to go along with a sparkling 0.88 WHIP thanks to zero walks. While some regression should set in eventually, another dominant performance could well be in the cards against a St. Louis team that has scored just 3.70 runs per game this year.
Antonio Senzatela, COL at SF ($30): Senzatela's price continues to go up with each productive outing, but the rookie's still undervalued at $30. He has accrued a 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 8.25 K/9 through two starts despite pitching at Miller Park and Coors Field, each of which finished with a home run park factor in the top 10 last season. AT&T Park was the most pitcher-friendly venue in that regard with just 0.70 as many long balls as the average stadium, setting up Senzatela for another solid performance.
CATCHER
Jason Castro, MIN vs. CWS ($13): Castro's off to a fantastic start against righties this season, outpacing his career wOBA in that split by .060 at .389. That small-sample increase in ability could well turn permanent for the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft, as it likely stems from a combination of improved skills and the change in home ball parks from Minute Maid Park (0.81 park factor in 2016) to Target Field (1.04 park factor in 2016). Even if Castro hasn't actually improved, a matchup with James Shields should make it look like he has considering Shields is on pace to allow a .370-plus wOBA to left-handed hitters for the third consecutive season.
FIRST BASE
Jose Abreu, CWS at MIN ($11): Abreu's off to a slow start, but a matchup with subpar southpaw Hector Santiago could be just what he needs to get back on track. Santiago has allowed a .327 wOBA to right-handed hitters in his career, while Abreu has put together a .364 career wOBA against lefties en route to launching at least 25 homers in each of his first three major league campaigns. Those numbers suggest Abreu's bound to turn things around, making this a perfect buy-low opportunity.
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie, OAK vs. HOU ($12): The switch-hitting Lowrie is smashing right-handed pitching, with a .346/.379/.577 line and .402 wOBA through 29 plate appearances. Maintaining that success shouldn't be difficult against righty Charlie Morton, who has allowed a .375 career wOBA to hitters from the left side of the plate. The veteran middle infielder probably won't keep this pace up for long, but this combination of matchup and momentum makes him a terrific value at just $12.
THIRD BASE
Alex Bregman, HOU at OAK ($18): Bregman's .332 career wOBA against fellow righties is actually better than his .320 mark against lefties, which works out here since Oakland right-hander Jharel Cotton has allowed a .053 higher wOBA to right-handed hitters than left-handed ones in his young career. The second overall pick in 2015 has more than enough ability to take advantage of this matchup after slashing .264/.313/.478 in 49 games as a rookie last season, so don't be afraid to pay up for him despite the meager early returns in his sophomore season. Those put off by the traditionally pitcher-friendly skew of the Oakland Coliseum should also remember that Bregman plays his home games in the even less inviting Minute Maid Park.
SHORTSTOP
Chris Owings, ARI at LAD ($17): Owings' .374 wOBA likely isn't sustainable, but his .384 mark against lefties might just be considering the improving 25-year-old managed a .348 wOBA in that split last season. Dodgers southpaw Rich Hill will be pitching in this one despite dealing with a blister, and it's fair to expect him to turn back into a pumpkin any minute given the 37-year-old's career 4.08 ERA.
OUTFIELD
Aaron Hicks, NYY vs. STL ($15): The switch-hitting Hicks has used an elite batting eye to rack up a .537 wOBA against righties in the early going thanks to a 30.8 percent walk rate. Keeping the good times rolling shouldn't be difficult against Adam Wainwright, who has looked like a shadow of his former self, to be generous. Wainwright has allowed seven runs over nine innings in two starts along with a WHIP of 2.00, and pitching in 2016's most homer-friendly park (Yankee Stadium) is unlikely to help the struggling veteran deal with the surging two-hole hitter.
Joc Pederson, LAD vs. ARI ($16): While Pederson is off to a slow start in his preferred split, his .360 career wOBA against righties and .386 mark last season suggest it's only a matter of time until he turns things around. Patience and power are the keys to his success, as evidenced by a career 15.7 percent walk rate and .236 isolated power when facing right-handers. Those traits make Pederson a nightmare matchup for Taijuan Walker, who has a 4.09 BB/9 this season and served up 1.81 HR/9 in 2016.
Max Kepler, MIN vs. CWS ($14): Kepler's off to a hot start with a .282/.349/.513 line, and he has already smacked six extra-base hits en route to a .231 isolated power. For those who didn't catch it earlier, James Shields is allowing a wOBA over .370 to left-handed hitters for the third consecutive campaign. It's tough to find a better time to use the 24-year-old slugger, and he possesses the power to handsomely reward those who look his way.
