Baseball is back! Check back here throughout the day for updated blurbs as teams confirm their lineup. We’ll keep you updated on some of the day’s highest-impact trends by utilizing our Models and Vegas dashboard. Projected and confirmed lineups for every game can be found on our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Orioles (+193) at Red Sox (-211) — 1:05 PM EST
Red Sox out: Mookie Betts
Red Sox in: Mitch Moreland
As expected, Mookie Betts will be held out of Sunday’s game vs. the Orioles after suffering a left ankle contusion in Saturday’s win. Mitch Moreland will enter the lineup at first base with Hanley Ramirez shifting to designated hitter, while Jackie Bradley will make his first appearance as the leadoff hitter this season. The weather isn’t favorable for hitters at Fenway Park as the wind is projected to blow toward home plate, and J.D. Martinez is the only Red Sox in the lineup with more than two Pro Trends on DraftKings and FanDuel. Bradley is rather cheap on FanDuel at $2,800, but a full team stack doesn’t seem prudent against a pitcher in Dylan Bundy who has limited hitters to a 188-foot batted ball distance in his last two starts and will have wind-aided support.
Brewers (+179) at Mets (-195) — 1:10 PM EST
Brewers out: Ryan Braun
Brewers in: Hernan Perez
Ryan Braun left Saturday’s win early due to a tight back and will be held out of Sunday’s series finale against the Mets. Hernan Perez will enter the lineup in left field and hit sixth, Jonathan Villar will slide up to the leadoff spot, and Lorenzo Cain will make his third start in the three-hole. With Braun absent, the Brewers are currently implied to score just 2.9 runs against right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Pitchers with a Weather Rating between 80 and 100 have historically averaged a +1.48 FanDuel Plus/Minus, and in the 10 instances Syndergaard possessed a similar rating, he has averaged 40.0 FanDuel points per start. The primary concern regarding Syndergaard is his pitch count and innings, as he hasn’t thrown more than 92 pitches or 6.0 innings in his first three outings this season.
Mets out: Jay Bruce, Asdrubal Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez
Mets in: Brandon Nimmo, Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes
The Mets will give three regulars a day of rest on Sunday as Jay Bruce, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Adrian Gonzalez will be replaced in the lineup by Brandon Nimmo, Wilmer Flores, and Jose Reyes. Flores will be making his second start of the season against a right-handed pitcher and Nimmo will hit leadoff for the first time in nearly two weeks. The Mets are presently implied to score 4.2 runs, and the weather at Citi Field strongly favors the pitchers.
Cardinals (-163) at Reds (+150) — 1:10 PM EST
Cardinals out: Marcell Ozuna
Cardinals in: Harrison Bader
Marcell Ozuna will receive his first day off this season as Harrison Bader enters the lineup in left field. The addition of Bader, who is just $2000 on FanDuel, helps target an offense currently implied to score 5.1 runs against right-handed pitcher Homer Bailey. However, exposure should be limited to tournaments as excessive rain is forecasted throughout the game. The Cardinals are presently the only team in the main slate to be implied for more than 5.0 runs, but the threat of a postponement should reduce ownership on both sides. They rank second among teams on DraftKings with an 84 Team Value Rating, and they are facing a pitcher who has allowed the second-highest hard-hit rate (44%) over the last 15 days.
Pirates (-149) at Marlins (+137) — 1:10 PM EST
Marlins out: Justin Bour
Marlins in: Cameron Maybin
Justin Bour will receive a routine day off on Sunday while Cameron Maybin enters the lineup for just the second time in the last four games. JB Shuck, who is starting his third straight game, will hit leadoff for the first time this season as Derek Dietrich slides to the cleanup spot. Only two Marlins hitters possess a positive wOBA differential, and the weather doesn’t look inviting. A closed roof may alleviate the second concern, but despite the Marlins’ slate-low 0.237 wOBA, eight of the 10 pitchers priced above $6700 on FanDuel failed to meet salary-based expectations against the Marlins this season — an ominous sign for right-hander Ivan Nova.
Rockies (+176) at Nationals (-192) — 1:35 PM EST
Nationals out: Anthony Rendon
Nationals in: Moises Sierra
Anthony Rendon is dealing with an injured toe and will miss his second consecutive game on Sunday, while Brian Goodwin will be held out for the fourth straight contest due to a sore left wrist. Moises Sierra enters the lineup in left field and will hit seventh and Wilmer Difo will bump up to the two-hole. Despite losing Rendon against a left-handed pitcher, the Nationals are still implied for 4.5 runs as they trot out seven right-handed hitters. While the probability of rain in the forecast is a concern, the Nationals have upside if opposing pitcher Tyler Anderson is limited due to a delay and an over-worked bullpen has to swallow more innings.
Pictured above: Noah Syndergaard
Photo Credit: Mike Stobe — Getty Images
