This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
FanDuel has a 15-game slate for Major League Baseball (MLB) on Sunday. Weather looks like it may be an issue in some, so make sure you check our lineups page which includes that info. We have also hit the two-month mark of the season and there are a lot of injuries and lineup shuffling to contend with, giving another reason to check that page out before finalizing your teams. The page is a good way to see who is getting more playing time or better placement in the batting order due to guys being injured, rested or just flat out benched. Here are some of the plays to keep an eye on for Sunday contests:
Starting Pitcher
Brett Anderson ($6,700)
Anderson is not the most likely pitcher to be the top scorer on the day, but he could be the guy who returns the best value. He faces a St. Louis Cardinals team that is 22nd in the league against left-handed pitching. They have a strikeout rate of 25.1 percent and are in the middle of the pack in most other offensive categories. Anderson has not had a breakout game yet, but he has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five starts. He is a slight underdog in a low run-total game being played in a pitcher-friendly park. Add in the fact his lineup profiles as a tough matchup for his opponent, and Anderson looks like a sneaky option with a lot of upside and the potential to steal a win. Plus, his price is so friendly that it allows you to load up on some big bats.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal ($2,700)
Grandal came back from a week off and promptly homered in his first game. As always on a Sunday, you need to be vigilantly checking lineups to make sure your catcher is active. Grandal gets a matchup with Carlos Martinez, who has a 1.52 WHIP against left-handed batters and has already allowed five home runs in only 23 innings against them this year. Grandal is one hit shy of a .300 batting average and does his best work against right-handed pitching, so there's some sneaky upside and a nice price discount.
First Base
Joey Votto ($3,200)
Votto gets a matchup with Tanner Roark, who had been in the bullpen for most of the season. He has pitched a few more innings in his recent turns, but he has not made it past the fifth inning yet. In that short time, he has allowed a homer in each of his last two starts and struggles more with left-handed batters. Votto homered again Saturday, which makes it two games in a row after going dry most of May. He is at home in a hitter-friendly ballpark and is really cheap due to the recent drought of power before the weekend series. He has a good splits matchup, is in a good hitters park and has been hot, so that is easily worth the $3,200.
Second Base
Jose Altuve ($3,800)
Altuve gets a matchup with a weak left-handed pitcher in his hitter-friendly home park. Altuve is currently batting .400 against left-handed pitching and was at a .414 against them last season, so the trend is strong. He matches up with John Danks, who has allowed 54 hits and 17 walks in 48 innings this season, so there is a high likelihood of Altuve getting on base multiple times. His price has come down to below $4,000 at a tough-to-fill position. He provides a nice floor and some upside in this matchup, so he is safe to use in any game format.
Shortstop
Troy Tulowitzki ($3,900)
Tulowitzki is easily the most talented shortstop in baseball and is hitting well in this weekend's series. He was slumping a little before taking the trip to the hitter-friendly ballpark in the city of brotherly love, but he has gone 5-for-8 including a double and two home runs. He gets a matchup with Jerome Williams, who has already allowed seven home runs to right-handed batters in just 33 innings. Williams has also allowed a .324 batting average to go along with the home runs, so there's upside for multiple hits as well as extra bases here.
Third Base
Nolan Arrenado ($3,200)
This price is way too cheap for Arrenado, who may be the hottest-hitting third baseman not named Josh Donaldson. He also has the matchup just mentioned with Jerome Williams and also fits the profile of someone who will do well against him. Arrenado has four multi-hit games over his last six and has homered in each one of them. He is 11 for his last 20 with four home runs, a triple, 12 RBI and six runs scored.
Outfield
Melky Cabrera ($2,200)
This price is just too cheap for Cabrera not to be consider as a great salary saver. He does lack elite upside, which is the problem with using him, but he is safe and solid on top of the order. He has a .291 batting average against right-handed pitching and gets a good ballpark in Houston to hit in. He faces Roberto Hernandez, who has chewed up some innings with decent efficiency, but has a WHIP of 1.44 against left-handed batters this season. Cabrera is in a good lineup spot to be able to drive in or score some runs, and he has the ability to pick up multiple hits as he has done in two of the last six games. At this rock bottom price, he does not need to do much to make value. It also allows you to fit in some of the pricier options at other positions, so he is an interesting piece.
Ryan Raburn ($2,400)
Raburn has made a name for himself by smashing left-handed pitching. He gets J.A. Happ to attempt to victimize next. Due to Carlos Santana's unavailability, Raburn has been batting cleanup. You will not be able to find a cleanup hitter in a good splits matchup for less than $2,400. Raburn is hitting .349 against left-handed pitching this season, so with those numbers and his lineup spot, he has a chance for a big game. At his price, he only needs to have a decent game, so there is both safety and upside.
Hanley Ramirez ($3,400)
Ramirez looks to be rounding back into his pre-injury form. He homered and had multiple hits in both Thursday and Friday night's games, and the ball is flying off his bat again. Ramirez was once priced around the $5,000-mark earlier in the season, so this price is a huge discount. He has always smashed left-handed pitching well, and is currently hitting .289 this season with a home run every 11 at-bats. He bats cleanup in the order and faces Wandy Rodriguez, who was a guy that was targeted often in 2014 MLB daily fantasy games. Ramirez also gets a big park bump with the game at the hitter-friendly ballpark down in Arlington. He is a cheap option with massive upside for hits, RBI and potential home run opportunities.
