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PITCHER
Kyle Hendricks, CHC vs. CIN ($8,100): In looking at the top arms Sunday, the two most pricey options face top offenses. Next up is Kevin Gausman ($8,400) who makes plenty of sense and should win, but wasn't dominant against the Marlins two starts ago and figures to be a popular choice. Enter Hendricks with a pivot play. The Cubs figure to tee off on Homer Bailey, setting Hendricks up with plenty of support. The Reds offense isn't to be feared, with just a .314 wOBA, 94 wRC+ and .142 ISO. Hendricks isn't sexy, but he has fanned 31 in his last 31.2 frames over five starts while posting at least 28 points during that stretch. Low GPP upside here, but plenty of cash game stability.
GPP Fade: Blake Snell TAM vs. BOS ($9,600): Sometimes, common sense outweighs what the numbers display. The stats show Boston isn't nearly as good against lefties as they are against righties, owning just a .320 wOBA, 98 wRC+ and .148 ISO against southpaws against .348/117/.203 versus righties. They also say Snell is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings over three starts this year against Boston, averaging 42.7 points in those contests. But common sense asks why would you willingly pay for the top-priced arm against the Red Sox? There's just enough risk in pitching against this offense that I'd rest easier knowing I spent less for more stability.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Michael Kopech, CWS at DET ($6,400): We can likely file this under the Captain Obvious Department, but I'm not doing my job if I omit Kopech here. We can thank Mother Nature for rain in his debut and keeping his price in check, but Kopech was everything he was advertised to be in two innings against Minnesota during his debut, fanning four while not allowing a run. Detroit doesn't whiff often, just 22.2 percent against righties, but they are the second-worst offense against them, posting a meager .290 wOBA, 79 wRC+ and .135 ISO. Kopech is going to be in plenty of lineups Sunday, but it's difficult to argue for fading him.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Edwin Encarnacion, CLE at KAN ($3,400): Encarnacion is a cheap(er) buy into the potent Indians lineup Sunday against Jorge Lopez, who has struggled with a 4.79 home ERA while allowing a .435 wOBA to righties. Encarnacion is a better GPP play due to his feast-or-famine nature, but his .340 wOBA, 113 wRC+ and .261 ISO aren't anything to scoff at, especially at well under $4,000. If you're looking to go below this tag, Pittsburgh's Francisco Cervelli ($3,000) remains a nice option, provided he's in the lineup.
SECOND BASE
Jeff McNeil, NYM vs. WAS ($3,600): McNeil has enjoyed his first taste of the Majors, and sports a .380 wOBA, 144 wRC+ and .171 ISO against opposite-handed arms over his first 82 at bats. That hot bat looks inviting against Nats' starter Jefry Rodriguez, who has allowed nine runs and 16 hits over his last 15 innings in three starts, and a .425 wOBA to lefties.
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon, WAS at NYM ($3,700): The hot corner is very much pay-or-punt Sunday. Punting might lead to a homer-or-bust Miguel Sano ($2,800), but Rendon should provide a return on a more significant investment. His .371 wOBA is more than sound, and his 18.2 percent strikeout rate suggests he'll put plenty of balls in play against Steven Matz, who gave up seven runs over 0.2 innings against the Nats three starts ago, and surrenders a .343 wOBA to righties at home.
SHORTSTOP
Dansby Swanson, ATL at MIA ($2,500): At this price, there's no risk, and Swanson brings a hot bat to the table. He saw an eight-game hitting streak snapped Friday, and promptly started it back Saturday by going yard for the fourth time since August 15. Swanson has been streaky all year, and his spot at the bottom of the order limits his upside. But again, there's next to no risk, and he'll face a pitcher in Pablo Lopez that has been vulnerable to same-handed bats, allowing a .356 wOBA to them at home.
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich, MIL vs. PIT ($4,200): Yelich is absolutely sizzling at the plate, having homered in three straight while having hit safely in 11 consecutive. He has a .381 wOBA against righties, adding 137 wRC+ and .223 ISO against righties, and Pittsburgh's Chris Archer hasn't faired well since joining the Pirates by allowing a .373 wOBA to lefties in August.
Gregory Polanco, PIT at MIL ($3,900): Polanco has been the Bucs' offense of late, hitting safely in six straight and seven of eight for a unit that's come to life in Milwaukee, scoring 15 runs in two games after scoring only seven times in their previous seven games. His form, paired with a .357 wOBA against righties plays well against Chase Anderson, who's allowed 10 runs over his last 14.2 innings.
Ben Zobrist, CHC vs. CIN ($3,100): Cubs bats figure to be popular Sunday, but Zobrist could fly under the radar. He surprisingly leads the team against righties with a .381 wOBA, adding a 139 wRC+ and .182 ISO. Reds' starter Homer Bailey hasn't discriminated against any batter this year, but carries a 6.66 home ERA, where he allows a .407 wOBA to lefties.
UTILITY
Rhys Hoskins, PHI at TOR ($3,400): Hoskins has one of the most volatile prices throughout the year, but he's at a near-low point and it seemingly isn't backed up by a huge slump, outside of an eight-game homerless stretch. He still boasts a .367 wOBA, .265 ISO and 130 wRC+. The matchup is there for the taking at this reduced tag, with Marco Estrada on the bump for the Jays. Estrada has surrendered 18 hits and 12 runs in his last three starts over 17.1 innings and has a 4.91 home ERA, allowing a .379 wOBA to righties.
