Sunday’s main slate on features 12 games starting at 1:07 pm ET. We will be using Bales Model to highlight some pitchers and batters to consider when completing your lineups.
Pitchers
The four pitchers projected to score the most fantasy points today are:
Max Scherzer (R)
Gerrit Cole (R)
Zack Wheeler (R)
Sandy Alcantara (R)
There is no surprise here that the Bales Model projects Max Scherzer to be the best pitching option on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Although his record isn’t great (6-4), Scherzer has been as good as advertised in his 2021 campaign. In 82.1 innings pitched, Scherzer has struck out 112 opposing batters, has an ERA of 2.19, and 0.83 WHIP. In his 14 starts this season, Scherzer has accumulated eight quality starts and a 6.2 strikeout to walk ratio. He will be pitching against the Miami Marlins, who are projected for the lowest implied runs total (3.1 runs) on the schedule.
The pitcher that ranks third in MLB with 123 strikeouts is Gerrit Cole from the New York Yankees. Like Scherzer, Cole has been elite through the opening few months of the season. In 96.2 innings pitched, he has struck out 123 opposing batters, has an ERA of 2.33, and a 0.85 WHIP. My only concern with Cole is that he has been prone to giving up home runs recently. In his last four starts, he has allowed six home runs to opposing batters. Cole will be on the mound against division rival the Boston Red Sox as the Yankees are hoping to avoid a three-game sweep.
A pitcher projected for a large sum of fantasy points who is not highly rated on Bales Model is Zack Wheeler from the Philadelphia Phillies. Wheeler has been great this year for a ball club that is currently four games under .500. Cause for concern with Wheeler is directly rooted from his last start against the Washington Nationals. In that game, Wheeler lasted only three innings, allowed three earned runs, and had a season low strike out total (4). Wheeler and the Phillies will be taking on the NL East leading New York Mets, who have a projected implied runs total of 4 in the category.
On the opposite side of the diamond from Scherzer, pitching for the Miami Marlins will be Sandy Alcantara. In what figures to be a pitching duel, the Nationals are projected for the second lowest implied runs total on the slate of 3.5. Pro Trends considers Alcantara an 83% bargain on DraftKings due to the $1,400 drop in salary price. I usually don’t recommend to roster two pitchers playing in the same game against each other, but this is a great spot for both.
Value
With plenty of aces to pick from, many fantasy players will be looking for value from some lower priced pitchers.
Max Kranick from the Pittsburgh Pirates is a young pitcher making his major-league debut. Although the Bales Model is not high on the right-handed pitcher, he’s the minimum price on both DraftKings and FanDuel and that makes him noteworthy.
Eric Lauer from the Milwaukee Brewers is considered a 95% bargain on FanDuel by Pro Trends. He’s not consistent from a fantasy standpoint. However, the Colorado Rockies have struggled away from home — they have a 6-30 record — and that’s why he makes the list as one to watch.
Another pitcher worth looking at is Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. Skubal has won three of his last five starts and will be hoping to continue his fine form against the Houston Astros.
Hitters
Notable Stack
The top projected points stack comes to you from the Toronto Blue Jays, who are heavy -225 favorites:
- Marcus Semien (R)
- Bo Bichette (R)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R)
- George Springer (R)
The Blue Jays have the highest projected implied runs total on the slate (6.8 runs) and will be hoping to take advantage of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jorge Lopez. Lopez has a record of two wins and nine losses with a high ERA of 5.68. In the first three games of this series, the Blue Jays batters scored 26 runs and will be hoping to add to that large total this afternoon. On FanDuel, this stack will cost you $16,800 in salary and are projected for a combined 52 fantasy points.
Other Hitters
The highest-rated batter on Bales Model for DraftKings is Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins. Polanco is the projected lead off batter for the high-scoring Twins offense, which has a projected implied runs total of 5.2.
The highest-rated batter on Bales Model for FanDuel is Kolten Wong from the Milwaukee Brewers. In this last six games, Wong has hit three home runs including four multi-hit games. Hoping to keep swinging a hot bat, he is projected to lead off for the Brewers.
Value
Lastly, here is a handful of batters to consider while completing your lineups today that are projected for a high fantasy points/salary:
- Keston Hiura
- Eli White
- Jorge Soler
- Nomar Mazara
- Austin Hays
