This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Pitcher
Carlos Martinez, STL vs. WAS ($9,300): There's certainly no shortage of options for pitchers Sunday, with 12 checking in at over $9,000 and five reaching five figures. Two such $9k arms will match up as Max Scherzer ($9,900) opposes Martinez in what certainly sets up as a classic pitcher's duel. Martinez has been dominant through the first month, owning a 1.93 ERA. He's been even more impressive against right-handed hitters, allowing just a .098 batting average and .105 wOBP. His strikeouts are down somewhat, fanning only 6.43 per nine innings, but he could feast on a Nationals lineup featuring as many as seven right-handed hitters who, prior to the 11 runs they scored in the first two games of this series, had scored two of fewer runs in four of their previous six.
Martinez is a contrarian play to the obvious options of Clayton Kershaw ($12,900), Chris Sale ($11,000) and Noah Syndergaard ($11,000). I'm fading John Lackey ($9,100) a bit. He'll be a popular lower-priced option given the opponent (Atlanta), but the fact remains he's well past his prime.
Catcher
Carlos Ruiz, PHI vs. CLE ($2,900): The Phillies are getting unreal production from their catching duo of Ruiz and Cameron Rupp, who combined have 25 hits (four home runs) and 10 RBI through 23 games prior to Saturday. Ruiz, who seems the likely starter for the day game after Rupp caught Saturday night, has gone 8-for-19 in his last five starts.
First Base
Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs. ATL ($4,700): Rizzo's eight homers and 24 RBI through 22 games speak for themselves. Sprinkle in Sunday starter Julio Teheran, who has allowed four home runs, a .600 slugging percentage and .407 wOBP to left-handed hitters to date, and you have sound reasoning for splurging on the highest-paid player at this position.
Second Base
Brandon Phillips, CIN at PIT ($2,500): This game is one where neither starting pitcher is overly intimidating, which could lead to one of the higher-scoring games on a slate with such a loaded pitching crop. Phillips is just 1-of-7 as I sat down to write this since returning from a minor hand injury, and is only 6-of-26 in his career against Pirates' projected starter Jeff Locke. But Locke has allowed 28 hits and walked 15 through 19 innings thus far, allowing right handed hitters to hit .349 with a wOBP of .448. Hitting in the cleanup hole, Phillips has the opportunity to outplay this price tag.
Third Base
Derek Dietrich, MIA at MIL ($2,100): Dietrich's opportunity got bigger Saturday in his second start with Dee Gordon suspended for 80 games, as he moved into the leadoff spot. He responded with a home run, two RBI and a walk through the first seven innings. The power is a luxury, but five of Dietrich's 10 hits this season have gone for extra bases. Until his price starts rising, the only knock against Dietrich is that he is listed at the hot corner, a position where there are plenty of higher-upside options. Facing the Brewers' Wily Peralta, who has allowed 22 runs in 24.1 innings, helps ease some of that sting Sunday, and bargains like Dietrich are how you afford studs like Kershaw.
Shortstop
Alexei Ramirez, SDP at LAD ($2,800): Quietly, Ramirez has 11 hits over his last six games to raise his average from .214 to .276, though all but one of those hits was a single. There's very little upside to Ramirez, and while it's a very limited sample, Ramirez has had some past success against Clayton Kershaw going 5-for-11 with a double and an RBI and striking out just twice. If there's any guarantee, it's that Ramirez will have low ownership, and there's at least some reason to expect modest success.
Outfield
Gerardo Parra, COL at ARI ($3,600): This game features a trio of upper mid-tier outfield bats, and Yasmany Tomas ($3,500) and Carlos Gonzalez ($3,600) also warrant consideration. But Parra brings the hottest bat of the three into Sunday, having gone 11-of-26 in his last five games prior to Saturday. With a struggling Shelby Miller set to face off against Chad Bettis, Parra could be just the tip of a stack in a potentially high-scoring contest, something desperately needed in this slate.
Jackie Bradley, BOS vs. NYY ($2,800): Bradley stretched his hitting streak to seven games Saturday night, going 2-for-2 with a walk, double and triple as I struck this column. He's never faced Sunday starter Nathan Eovaldi, who has been susceptible to left-handed hitters, allowing them to hit .293 with a wOBP of .367.
Billy Hamilton, CIN at PIT ($2,200): Hamilton is finally showing signs of life. He entered Saturday with three hits in his last four games, and exited doubling that total. He's had success against Locke (6-of-16), a pitcher who has allowed four stolen bases in four starts. Hamilton hasn't attempted a steal in his last four outings, a surprise given he's been able to reach base. Look for that to change tomorrow.
