DraftKings MLB: Sunday Picks

DraftKings MLB: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

PITCHER

Adam Conley, MIA at ATL ($8,700): Conley takes aim at the team he already shut out over eight innings back on June 22. The Braves also check in with a .275 wOBA and microscopic .091 ISO against southpaws, and have struck out 21.8 percent of the time against them as well. Rostering Conley can admittedly be a bit of a rollercoaster, but he's scored over 20 fantasy points in four of his last nine starts.

Daniel Mengden, OAK vs. PIT ($8,400): Mengden has scored between 20.7 and 23.1 fantasy points in his last three starts, recording 21 strikeouts in 20 innings over that span. The Pirates have also been slumping lately, tallying a .292 wOBA and 20.3 strikeout rate over the last seven days. Mengden draws the struggling Francisco Liriano as the opposing pitcher, increasing his prospects for some run support, and a win, if he pitches well.

CATCHER

Chris Herrmann, ARI vs. SF ($4,100): Herrmann should get the call versus right-hander Albert Suarez, who's given up a .345 wOBA to lefty bats that rises to .419 when facing them on the road. Left-handed hitters have also tallied a 36.7 percent hard contact rate against him away from AT&T Park, and Herrmann has a .335 wOBA .218 ISO and whopping 47.5 percent hard contact rate against righties, with the last figure rising to 51.4 when facing them at Chase Field.

FIRST BASE

Dae-Ho Lee, SEA vs. BAL ($3,600): Lee's recent stretch of strong play has earned him plenty of playing time against right-handed pitching, and he'll draw a juicy matchup if he's in the lineup again Sunday. Lee will see Ubaldo Jimenez, who's given up a .351 wOBA to right-handed hitters that rises to .416 when he sees them on the road. He also exited June with an atrocious 7.23 ERA, .396 wOBA and 42.3 percent hard contact rate surrendered. Meanwhile, Lee has actually proven more proficient against righties than southpaws in his first season stateside, tallying a .379 wOBA and .227 ISO against them.

SECOND BASE

Robinson Cano, SEA vs. BAL ($4,400): While Jimenez has been inept against right-handed hitters, he's been even worse against lefty bats, giving up a .420 wOBA and six of his nine homers on the season to hitters of that handedness. Lefty hitters have also touched him up for a whopping 53.3 percent hard contact rate on the road, and Cano has devoured right-handed pitching to the tune of a .427 wOBA, .302 ISO , 39.4 percent hard contact rate and 15 homers. The icing on the cake is Cano's track record versus the Orioles right-hander, as he's battered Jimenez to the tune of a .571/.600/1.214 line over 14 at-bats, with three doubles, two homers and four RBI.

THIRD BASE

Nolan Arenado, COL at LAD ($4,500): Arenado gets to take his hacks against Dodgers spot starter Brandon McCarthy, who was last seen at the major league level surrendering a mammoth .469 wOBA and 53.3 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters last year. Arenado has punished righties to the tune of a .375 wOBA, .272 ISO and 37.6 percent hard contact rate. His success is far from being Coors Field-exclusive, as he's generated a .345 wOBA, .202 ISO and 34 percent hard contact rate against righties on the road, and he is coming off a solid June when he posted a .311 average, .398 wOBA and 22 RBI.

SHORTSTOP

Jonathan Villar, MIL at STL ($4,100): Villar is always a highly viable play in either cash or GPPs, as he has hit safely in six of his last seven to get his average back to the .300 mark. He's also posted a .338 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, and a slightly better .344 when facing them on the road. Opposing starter Michael Wacha has surrendered a .321 wOBA to left-handed hitters, including a .337 mark at home, along with a 36.4 percent hard contact rate.

OUTFIELD

Kole Calhoun, LAA at BOS ($4,100): Sean O'Sullivan returns to the hill for the Red Sox, meaning that it's a prudent idea to stack some Angels, particularly after their 21-run outburst Saturday. Calhoun provides some left-handed exposure to O'Sullivan, who's surrendered a .361 wOBA to that handedness this season, and a .390 wOBA over the course of his career. The wOBA rises to .381 when facing lefty bats at Fenway Park this year, and Calhoun sports a .339 wOBA against righties that shoots up to .396 when facing them on the road.

Khris Davis, OAK vs. PIT ($4,200): Davis certainly brings some home-run potential versus Francisco Liriano, who's given up a .367 wOBA and 11 of his 14 homers on the season to right-handed hitters. He's been even more vulnerable against that handedness away from PNC Park, as he's yielded a .400 wOBA and 35.6 percent hard contact rate to righty bats in 38.2 road innings. Liriano has gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on, as he generated a .387 wOBA and 7.03 ERA in June. Davis is heading in the opposite direction, as he's improved in each month and has a .348 wOBA against lefties that's an even better .368 at home.

Rajai Davis, CLE at TOR ($4,000): Davis has a .342 wOBA against southpaws and a 43.3 percent hard contact rate when facing them on the road. J.A. Happ has given up a .342 wOBA at Rogers Centre to right-handed hitters, and 11 of his 13 homers on the season to them as well. He also notably started slipping in June, during which he generated a 5.28 ERA and gave up a .358 wOBA.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
MLB Barometer: Hot Starts for Young Hitters
MLB Barometer: Hot Starts for Young Hitters
Collette Calls: The State of Pitching
Collette Calls: The State of Pitching
Brewers-Cardinals & more MLB Bets and Expert Picks for Friday, April 19
Brewers-Cardinals & more MLB Bets and Expert Picks for Friday, April 19
New York Mets-Los Angeles Dodgers & More MLB Best Bets & Player Props for April 19
New York Mets-Los Angeles Dodgers & More MLB Best Bets & Player Props for April 19
MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Friday, April 19
MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Friday, April 19
College Baseball Picks Today: Friday, April 19
College Baseball Picks Today: Friday, April 19