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.
Indians (+128) at Yankees (-139) — 1:05 PM EST
Yankees in: Tyler Austin
Yankees out: Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton will receive a day off on Sunday for the first time this season. In his absence, Tyler Austin is entering the lineup at designated hitter while Gary Sanchez slides up to the cleanup spot. Sanchez hasn’t historically smashed righties, as he’s posted negative wOBA and ISO splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months. Both offenses will have to deal with estimated wind gusts of eight miles per hour blowing in from center field as well as a 28 percent chance of precipitation. Still, the Yankees currently boast the second-highest implied run total in Sunday’s main slate.
Rockies (+169) at Mets (-184) — 1:10 PM EST
Rockies in: Gerardo Parra
Rockies out: Carlos Gonzalez
Carlos Gonzalez will rest in Sunday’s day game as the Rockies continue to find at-bats for David Dahl, who is playing right field and hitting second. Gerardo Parra will replace Gonzalez in the cleanup spot for the first time this season. The Rockies are currently implied to score the second-fewest runs (3.0) in Sunday’s main slate as they face off against right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Be sure to monitor the weather, as current forecasts call for a 39 percent chance of precipitation and estimated wind gusts of eight miles per hour blowing in from center field. Exposure to Syndergaard should be focused on FanDuel, where his $10,100 price tag comes with a 92 percent Bargain Rating. He has a 7.5 K Prediction and is set up well against a Rockies lineup that has combined to strike out every .275 at bats over the past calendar year – the fourth-highest mark in Sunday’s main slate.
Phillies (+180) at Nationals (-196) — 1:35 PM EST
Nationals in: Andrew Stevenson
Nationals out: Ryan Zimmerman (stiff side)
Ryan Zimmerman will miss his second consecutive game on Sunday due to a stiff side, but he is expected to return on Monday. Howie Kendrick will also rest as Wilmer Difo continues to hit ninth in the order. Andrew Stevenson will replace Zimmerman in the lineup with Matt Adams sliding to first base. Bryce Harper will look to stay hot from the lead-off spot, as he’s racked up nine hits in his last nine games – including four home runs. Overall, he’s posted an average batted ball distance of 225 feet with an average exit velocity of 94 miles per hour over the past 15 days. Harper is set up well against Jake Arrieta, as he’s posted a .444 wOBA and a .338 ISO vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months.
Giants (+125) at Braves (-135) — 1:35 PM EST
Giants in: Nick Hundley, Pablo Sandoval
Giants out: Buster Posey, Evan Longoria
Buster Posey and Evan Longoria will both rest in Sunday’s series finale against the Braves. Nick Hundley will enter the lineup at catcher and hit cleanup while Pablo Sandoval replaces Longoria at third and in the five-hole. The Giants are looking for a series sweep after scoring 20 runs in the first two games, but are currently implied to score 4.2 runs against rookie Mike Soroka. Both offenses could benefit from estimated wind gusts of 12 miles per hour blowing out to center field. Soroka will look to continue to force hitters to keep the ball on the ground, as he allowed a pedestrian 22 percent fly-ball rate in his first career start. Overall, only Gregor Blanco, Brandon Belt, and Pablo Sandoval are the only Giants starters that have posted positive wOBA and ISO splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past calendar year.
Tigers (+134) at Royals (-145) — 2:15 PM EST
Tigers in: John Hicks, Jose Iglesias
Tigers out: Jeimer Candelario, Nick Castellanos
The Tigers will be without two of their best hitters on Sunday as Jeimer Candelario is dealing with a jammed left thumb and Nick Castellanos has the flu. John Hicks will hit cleanup for the first time this season and Jose Iglesias will move all the way up to the two-hole. The Tigers offer upside throughout the lineup, as only Hicks has posted a negative ISO split vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months. The Tigers are particularly set up well on DraftKings, where their Team Value Rating of 79 is tied for the third-highest mark in Sunday’s main slate. Overall, each of Leonys Martin, Hicks, JaCoby Jones, Niko Goodrum, and Victor Reyes all have Bargain Ratings of at least 70 percent on DraftKings.
Red Sox (-230) at Rangers (+210) — 3:05 PM EST
Red Sox in: Mitch Moreland
Red Sox out: Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez will rest on Sunday as Mitch Moreland draws a start for the second consecutive game. The Red Sox are currently tied with the Yankees for the second-highest implied run total (5.2) in Sunday’s main slate. Doug Fister has his hands full against a Red Sox lineup that has combined to post a .342 wOBA vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months – the second-worst mark in Sunday’s main slate. Still, Fister has done a good job forcing hitters to keep the ball on the ground, as he’s allowed a slate-low 21 percent fly-ball rate over the past 15 days. Overall, he’s one of just four pitchers in Sunday’s main slate that have allowed less than one home run per nine innings pitched over the past calendar year.
Pictured: Didi Gregorius and Aaron Judge
Photo via Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
