This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
PITCHER
Masahiro Tanaka, NYY at TAM ($8,700): The limited slate paired with all No. 1 starters doesn't offer many bargain or contrarian plays, and there doesn't appear to be a bad choice. Tanaka is the cheapest option, saving $2,200 over the top priced Madison Bumgarner. He went 4-0 against Tampa last season, striking out 34 in 34.1 innings, while allowing a 1.94 BAA.
CATCHER
Yadier Molina, STL vs. CHC ($2,600): The three-game schedule arguably hurts your backstop options more than any other position. Paying up for Buster Posey could make sense, and that game will be featured further into the column. I'm passing on Derek Norris' power potential, largely due to his 30.3 percent strikeout rate from a year ago. That essentially leaves Molina. Avoiding Jon Lester makes sense, as he's put up a 1.90 ERA against the Cardinals over the past two seasons, spanning 52.0 innings. Molina's .339 wOBA from a season ago should give him a chance to not get shut out, and he should be in the middle of whatever the Cards' can muster offensively.
FIRST BASE
Greg Bird, NYY at TAM ($2,400): Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt ($4,300) is the obvious, and probably correct choice, having posted a .449 wOBA against lefties last year while owning a .893 OPS in 46 career at-bats against Bumgarner. But if you want to save some coin, Bird is a good gamble, especially in tournaments. Penciled in to hit third, Bird posted an obscene 1.582 OPS during spring training and had a robust .304 ISO against righties across 115 at-bats in 2015.
SECOND BASE
Brandon Drury, ARI vs. SFG ($2,500): Drury won the second base job with a solid spring, hitting .356 with 10 extra base hits in 56 at-bats. This on the heels of a .329/.458/.787 slash line in an eye opening rookie season. I'm not sure I trust him, or many Diamondbacks against Bumgarner (five Ks in 11 at-bats), but Drury did post a .339 wOBA and .205 ISO against lefties last year while striking out at a 4.1 percent lower rate.
THIRD BASE
Kris Bryant, CHC at STL ($4,400): At a position normally worth paying up for, the talent at third base drops off dramatically after Bryant with so few games. Evan Longoria is dealing with a stiff neck, and Jake Lamb may not start against the left-handed Bumgarner, so this choice may be as much about necessity as anything else. Bryant's 23 percent K-rate against righties and the fact that he's fanned eight times in 19 at-bats against Carlos Martinez certainly leave the potential for a bust, but he posted a .382 wOBA against righties last year, hopefully keeping him from completely bottoming out.
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SFG at ARI ($2,400): Of all the aces throwing Sunday, Zach Greinke presents the most volatility. He posted a 4.81 ERA in home games last year, and his velocity has been noticeably down over the spring, leading to a 5.06 ERA. The Giants' bats aren't overly expensive and make for a reasonable mini-stack, and Crawford fits into that plan. He should hit fifth and posted a .343 wOBA and .322 BABIP on the road against righties last year.
OUTFIELD
Kyle Schwarber, CHC at STL ($3,400): Schwarber raked in the Cactus League to the tune of five home runs and a .998 OPS in 56 at-bats. 14 of his 16 career home runs have come off of right handers, owning a .400 wOBA and a 41.1 percent hard hit ball rate against them. Meanwhile, Carlos Martinez gave up 11 long balls in 101.0 innings against lefties compared to four in 94.1 frames against righties last year, and his K-rate is 5.4 percentage points lower against them. Schwarber appears to be the best value for an explosive Cubs bat, over the higher priced Anthony Rizzo.
Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY at TAM ($2,900): Ellsbury's power has all but vanished, but he's likely to hit in the heart of the order and was much better versus right handers (.326 wOBA) than left handers (.271 wOBA) a season ago. Ellsbury has dominated Chris Archer throughout his career, hitting .559 (19-of-34), though he's only managed three extra-base hits, which limits his ceiling, but the sample size is large enough to expect steady production.
Denard Span, SFG at ARI ($2,900): I've noted the run scoring potential the Giants have in this slate against a potentially combustible Greinke, and for that to happen, Span likely needs to set the table atop the lineup. He was essentially a platoon option last year, putting up a .338 wOBA against righties compared to a .255 against lefties. He's posted a respectable .833 OPS during spring training, and thanks to time as a Twin when Greinke was a Royal, Span has seen Sunday's starter 46 times, striking out only three times while collecting 14 hits (.304).
