This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
While it's overshadowed by Week 1 of the NFL season, there's still a 15-game MLB slate Sunday beginning at 1:07 PM Eastern time. These players are best positioned to find success relative to their respective prices, making them the day's top value plays.
PITCHER
Robbie Ray, ARI vs. SD ($52): Ray's 14-strikeout effort against the Dodgers last time out raised his strikeout rate to an astronomical 32.5 percent, and that number could climb even higher in this home tilt against the league's worts offense. San Diego ranks dead last at 3.85 runs per game while striking out the fifth-most at 9.21 whiffs per contest. Ray's chances of improving to 13-5 are also excellent considering the Arizona offense backing him ranks eighth at 4.96 runs per game.
Zach Davies, MIL at CHC ($45): Davies has been exceptional on the road all year with a sparkling 2.10 ERA in 90 innings. While he doesn't record many strikeouts, Davis has used a 49.4 percent ground ball rate to rack up a 16-8 record. He's been especially strong recently, posting a 1.11 ERA over 32.2 innings en route to three wins in his past five starts. Another strong outing is likely against a Cubs team that Milwaukee's outscored 17-2 in the first two games of this series.
CATCHER
Robinson Chirinos, TEX vs. NYY ($16): Chirinos comes in with a tremendous combination of platoon advantage and recent success. He has a .456 wOBA in 70 plate appearances against lefties and has reached base in 23 consecutive contests overall. Expect him to ride Globe Life Park in Arlington's third-ranked 1.17 park factor to more success against rookie southpaw Jordan Montgomery.
FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter, STL vs. PIT ($15): Pirates starter Ivan Nova has a 6.38 ERA in nine outings since the All-Star break, making him a prime candidate to stack against. One player in position to produce against him is Carpenter, who sports a .366 wOBA when facing righties. St. Louis' leadoff man has also seen his price come down due to a recent slump, making this a perfect buy-low opportunity.
SECOND BASE
Kolten Wong, STL vs. PIT ($17): Wong has a .353 wOBA against right-handed pitching in 247 at-bats overall, but that number climbs to .421 in 124 home at-bats. Nova's recent struggles should allow the second baseman to maintain his home success, as the righty's wOBA allowed to left-handed hitters has climbed to .358.
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw, MIL at CHC ($13): Shaw's too good a value to pass up at $13 against a righty, even with Kyle Hendricks on the mound for the Cubs. The left-handed slugger has a .377 wOBA in that split, and has actually been slightly better on the road with a .381 mark. Wrigley Field's 1.10 park factor is a slight upgrade over Miller Park's 1.09 mark, too.
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SF at CWS ($13): Crawford has heated up of late with four multi-hit efforts in his past nine games and should continue that success against underwhelming Chicago righty Carson Fulmer. Fulmer's previous start resulted in six runs allowed over just 1.1 innings, and the left-handed hitting Crawford has the power to take advantage of this favorable matchup with 46 home runs since the start of the 2015 campaign. Guaranteed Rate Field's 0.98 park factor is also a significant step up from the 0.86 mark Crawford plays his home games with at AT&T Park.
OUTFIELD
Denard Span, SF at CWS ($17): Span's another Giants slugger that's caught fire of late, generating two doubles, two home runs, seven runs scored and four RBI in his past four games. The leadoff man will enjoy all the same advantages as Crawford in this one and brings a solid .342 wOBA against righties.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM vs. CIN ($12): Nimmo has a .387 wOBA against righties, making him a tremendous value play in this home matchup at just $12. Reds right-hander Sal Romano is unlikely to slow the affordable outfielder down, as the starter comes in with a 4.62 ERA and 1.51 WHIP while battling a finger injury to boot.
Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE vs. BAL ($15): Chisenhall has a .374 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and his ability at the plate should be on full display with Jeremy Hellickson on the mound for the Orioles. Hellickson has been awful over his past five starts, posting a 9.51 ERA and 11:10 K:BB in 23.2 innings. Playing for the red-hot Indians should also put Chisenhall in position to produce both runs and RBI.
