This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Likely more than any day during the week, Sunday's early starts and post-game travel plans can lead to a plethora of surprising lineup changes, or days off. Please confirm starters before locking in your lineup!
Pitcher
Michael Pineda, NYY vs. TAM ($7,700): We're talking value options here, because otherwise there is little reason to fade either of the top two pitchers, Stephen Strasburg ($11,600) and Jacob deGrom ($11,000), who have matchups made in heaven. The Rays have scored only five runs in their first two games in the Bronx and own a 24.9 percent strikeout rate, while Pineda has increased his Ks in three consecutive starts. On getaway day, Pineda should benefit from a combo of early sequence balls in play, allowing him to go deeper into the contest, as well as whiffs, putting you in striking range while saving nearly $4,000.
Catcher
David Ross ($2,400) or Miguel Montero ($2,700), CHC at CIN: Obviously checking back Sunday morning to confirm which of them is starting is required, but whoever that is should be a welcome option. With Montero starting Saturday and the 1:10 pm ET first pitch, it makes sense that Ross would get the nod. He's driven in three and scored three times in his last two starts, and Reds' starter Alfredo Simon did not make it out of the first inning 10 days ago against the Cubs, allowing five runs in 0.2 innings.
First Base
Mark Reynolds, COL vs. LOS (3,400): Reynolds is another contrarian play as the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo ($4,600) looks hard to pass on against the aforementioned Simon, who has allowed nine runs and two long balls in his last 1.2 innings. Owners who sign up for Reynolds on Sunday are hoping for a long ball with a few guys on base to offset the strikeouts that are coming. Reynolds owns 16 strikeouts in 39 at bats thus far, but Dodgers' starter Alex Wood isn't a swing-and-miss lefty, fanning only seven while working 16 innings in three starts. Playing at home clearly helps Reynolds' cause Sunday.
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia, BOS at HOU ($3,200): Pedroia just keeps on raking. Since going hitless on April 19, he owns eight hits in his last four games, including three for extra bases. To boot, Pedroia is a career .435 hitter against Sunday starter Scott Feldman.
Third Base
Kris Bryant, CHC at CIN ($4,500): The two games on this slate I'd stack are this, and the Dodgers-Rockies clash, and as the fourth-highest priced player at the hot corner Bryant still comes as a bargain. Bryant isn't exactly clicking, hitting .268 with four home runs and a wOBP of .354, but we've already touched on Simon's struggles to date. Bryant represents a nice mix of high floor and high ceiling.
Shortstop
Javier Baez, CHC at CIN ($2,600): Baez isn't quite a regular, which is keeping his price down unjustly. His wOBP of .313 and 31.8 strikeout percentage leaves plenty to be desired, but the cheap tag and power potential is appealing against Simon's proclivity to allow runs.
Outfield
Christian Yelich, MIA at SFG ($3,800): Yelich appears to be blossoming at the age of 24, hitting .404 entering Saturday with a wOBP of .485 as eight of his 21 hits have gone for extra bases. He's getting plenty of pitches to see hitting in front of Giancarlo Stanton, and faces an aging and vulnerable Matt Cain and his 6.42 ERA on Sunday.
Adam Jones, BAL at KAN ($2,900): Jones just has too much upside at this price to be ignored. Sure, he's batting .200 with a wOBP of .277 and just one home run. But there are signs he's emerging from a season-opening slump. He has only two hits in his last three games, but has managed four walks to only two strikeouts. Jones owns a home run and three RBI in 10 at-bats against Sunday's starter, Yordano Venura.
Ian Desmond, TEX at CWS ($2,800): Desmond has been a slow starter, hitting .162 in the early going after hitting .217 last year in April, but is starting to heat up as we head into May. He now has two homers and four walks in his last three games heading into a matchup against Mat Latos, whose 0.49 ERA is bound to swell towards his career 3.46 ERA sooner or later.
