Sunday Night Baseball is usually top-notch TV with the peerless Dan Shulman doing play-by-play. However, tonight’s game between the Reds and Cubs will be completely overshadowed by the pivotal Game Five of the NBA Finals.
I’m also ignoring the MLB nightcap in DFS contests at DraftKings. There are Late pools at 4:05 Eastern that cover just three ballgames, but Early play (1:08 deadline) is far more interesting. Outstanding pitchers like Chris Sale $11400, Cole Hamels $10800, Max Scherzer $11700 and Corey Kluber $10300 are all taking the mound in the afternoon.
DK matches your first deposit 100% (up to $600) with bonus funds that convert to cash. You’ll also get a FREE entry into this afternoon’s $65K Moonshot, which offers 5,150 cash prizes — $5,000 for first — and a maximum of 24,916 teams.
We have touted Eduardo Rodriguez $7300 in all three starts but the Jays mash lefties and there’s DVDs of the rookie by now. Fellow rookie Lance McCullers $7800 might be a safer play. There’s also Taylor Jungmann $4800 to consider — I bet against him in his big-league debut and he surprised by allowing just one run in 7 IP while fanning five. However, another W seems unlikely against Scherzer and the Nationals.
Remember about Sunday lineups. Managers will rest regulars, especially catchers, in day games after night games and backups often get spot starts at other positions. Salvador Perez $3500 is an iron man C who got Thursday off and homered for us last night. Blake Swihart $3100 rested yesterday after a 2-hit, 3-run Friday.
Because I’m using Sale and McCullers, it’s hard to afford the highest-priced hitters. 1B is a possible exception — Jose Abreu $5000 is en fuego, Freddie Freeman $4700 went deep again on Saturday and Logan Morrison $3500 erupted with two homers.
At second, Dustin Pedroia $4600 has been underpriced for two weeks and made me some cash, but is no longer as much of a bargain. I’m going with Kolten Wong $3800 against a not-too-scary righty.
Manny Machado $4500 has nine hits (2 HR) in four games to get the call at 3B; Martin Prado $3500 is more affordable in a good matchup.
There are some great SS to consider, with Hanley Ramirez $4700 and Troy Tulowitzki $5400 topping the list, but I have to save somewhere and Andrelton Simmons $3300 — best known for his superb glove work — reached base five times yesterday.
Bryce Harper $5900 (knee) will probably get the day off, making Giancarlo Stanton $5600 the #1 OF if salary is no object. Michael Brantley $5000 and George Springer $4600 also make my Short List below, but not the sample lineup (above left). There, we spent on corner infielders and are limited to bargains in the outfield. Alex Gordon $3900, Curtis Granderson $3800 and David Murphy $3200 are all capable of paying their way.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Chris Sale $11400 | Eduardo Rodriguez $7300 |
| SP2 | Corey Kluber $10300 | Lance McCullers $7800 |
| C | Salvador Perez $3500 | Blake Swihart $3100 |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman $4700 | Logan Morrison $3500 |
| 2B | Dustin Pedroia $4600 | Kolten Wong $3800 |
| 3B | Manny Machado $4500 | Martin Prado $3500 |
| SS | Hanley Ramirez $4700 | Andrelton Simmons $3300 |
| OF1 | Giancarlo Stanton $5600 | Alex Gordon $3900 |
| OF2 | Michael Brantley $5000 | Curtis Granderson $3800 |
| OF3 | George Springer $4600 | David Murphy $3200 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season and we’re turning out attention to baseball for the summer. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.