MLB

FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Helper: Sunday 7/10/22

Even at his highest salary point this season, Tampa Bay's Shane Baz is an intriguing pitching option versus a Cincinnati lineup with a 24.4% strikeout percentage. Which other players should we consider for Sunday's eight-game main slate?

Our daily helper is available every day to analyze FanDuel's main slate and help give you a starting point when you're building lineups.

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Pitchers

Sandy Alcantara ($10,700)

In his third largest sample during his Major League tenure, Miami's right-hander is on track for a career-best season through 123.1 innings, recording a 3.38 expected Fielding Independent Pitching rating (xFIP) and an impressive 3.4 Wins Above Replacement in 17 starts.

While regression is a concern when comparing his 1.82 Earned Run Average and .237 Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) to his expected marks (2.54 xERA, career .264 BABIP), Alcantara has performed well against his Sunday opponent, accounting for 73 total FanDuel points in his past two starts against a New York Mets' lineup with a .329 weighted on-base average (wOBA) and a 21.1% strikeout percentage.

At his lowest salary point since May 28th after a 2.7% decrease, Alcantara currently rates third in value with a 3.28 rating and first overall with a 35.1 FanDuel point projection and 6.48 strikeouts.

Eric Lauer ($10,100)

Despite a 4.1% salary increase to his fourth highest point this season, Lauer currently ranks second overall with a 32.5 fantasy projection and 6.21 expected strikeouts.

In his third stint starting for Milwaukee, the 27-year old left-hander has improved in several key metrics, accounting for a stellar 3.84 xFIP, a 10.9% swinging strike percentage, and a 25.4% strikeout rate.

Considering Lauer's favorable matchup against a Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup with a projected .249 wOBA and his efficient strikeout production, the Brewers' lefty should have plenty of chances to rack up fantasy points versus five expected hitters with K-rates over 22.5% and contact rates under 74.1%.

Shane Baz ($8,700)

Tampa Bay's 23-year old right-hander is a mid-range option to consider with an outstanding 27.7% strikeout percentage and a 3.32 xFIP against a Cincinnati Reds' lineup with a projected .310 wOBA and eight projected batters with strikeout percentages over 21.5%.

Even at his highest salary this season, Baz still ranks ninth among today's 16 pitchers in value with a 3.02 rating and fifth overall with 5.12 strikeouts.

Stacks

Atlanta Braves

Washington's Paolo Espino will make his sixth start this season on the road versus an Atlanta team once again ranked among today's highest run totals with a 6.2 mark.

Through 188.1 innings, the veteran right-hander has overall performed at an average or mediocre level throughout his MLB career, recording a 4.53 xFIP, a 8.2% swinging strike rate, and a 19.7% K-rate.

With Espino's main struggles occuring against left-handed bats (career 4.75 xFIP in 88.1 innings), Matt Olson (11.8% barrel rate, .355 expected wOBA) and Michael Harris II (9.8% barrel percentage, .491 expected slugging) can start Atlanta combinations while Ronald Acuna (14.7% barrel rate, .548 expected slugging), Dansby Swanson (.552 expected slugging, 11.6% barrel rate), Austin Riley (14% barrel percentage, .589 expected slugging), Marcell Ozuna (13.9% barrel rate) and William Contreras (15.5% barrel percentage, .378 expected wOBA) provide additional power.

Chicago White Sox

In a matchup against Drew Hutchison, the White Sox's offense has another opportunity to sustain their recent momentum against a regressing right-hander with expected marks almost one run higher (5.37 xFIP in 29.1 innings this season) than his 4.30 ERA.

With overall neutral splits, Jose Abreu (10.9% barrel rate, .583 expected slugging) should be the main component of Chicago combinations, while Andrew Vaughn (351 expected wOBA, .472 expected slugging), Luis Robert (9.2% barrel rate, .492 expected slugging), Eloy Jimenez (8.6% barrel percentage, .422 expected slugging), and Yoan Moncada (6.9% barrel rate) profile well enough as stacking candidates.

Cleveland Guardians

After last night's 11-run outburst, the Guardians should have another chance to exceed their 4.8 expected run total in Kansas City versus Zack Greinke

In his second stint with the Royals, the veteran has accounted for all-around career-worst metrics with an ugly 4.81 xFIP, a low 11.6% strikeout percentage, and a shrinking 7.2% swinging strike rate.

With clear struggles versus both sides of the plate (4.80 xFIP, 14% K-rate versus RHH, 4.81 xFIP, 8.3% K-rate versus LHH), Cleveland correlations can include their best power hitters in Jose Ramirez (.471 expected slugging, .352 expected wOBA), Josh Naylor (9.5% barrel rate, .495 expected slugging), Franmil Reyes (18.1% barrel percentage, .442 expected slugging), and Nolan Jones (16.7% barrel rate).