This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
The NFL season hasn't started just yet, which means you can still dedicate your Sundays to MLB. As usual, there are 15 games, with the bulk of them taking place in the afternoon. In fact, the last game of the day is starting even earlier than usual, with the Mets and Phillies squaring off at 7PM ET. However, before the 1PM games, be sure to get your daily fantasy lineup in. Here are some recommendations.
STARTING PITCHER
Mike Clevinger, CLE vs. BAL ($44): Clevinger's ERA has risen a smidge from his breakout season in 2017 (3.11 to 3.38), but his FIP has actually dropped (3.89 to 3.62). There's a great chance he'll pick up a win in this matchup, as the Indians have 70 wins, while the Orioles have a mere 37. Baltimore also sit in the bottom-five in runs scored.
Jake Odorizzi, MIN vs. DET ($35): Over his last nine starts, Odorizzi has posted a 3.52 ERA and has struck out 9.6 batters per nine innings. Meanwhile, the Tigers have been a truly lousy road team. They find themselves last in the league in runs scored in away games, and also come in with a woeful .644 OPS.
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CATCHER
Rene Rivera, LAA vs. TEX ($12): Rivera's action has been limited this year, but he's performed well when on the field. In his first year with the Angels, he's slashed .262/.314/.492. While it's impressive that 45-year old Bartolo Colon is still pitching, the fact is he enters with a 5.17 FIP on the season and comes off a 5.26 FIP mark last year.
FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger, LAD at SEA ($17): Bellinger's numbers are down from his rookie season, but it's mostly because he's struggled against lefties this year. Against right-handed pitchers, he's posted a .276/.356/.503 slash line. Felix Hernandez is a righty, and recently what would have once been unthinkable happened to King Felix. The former ace was removed from the Mariners rotation due to his 5.62 ERA, and he's only starting again due to injury.
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez, PHI vs. NYM ($16): Hernandez's .260 batting average comes in below his career number of .279, but he's doing just fine thanks to an .369 OBP. He's also hit 10 homers and swiped 16 bags in 122 games. The move to the Mets has been a disaster for starting pitcher Jason Vargas, who has made 13 starts and has posted a .8.10 ERA.
THIRD BASE
Eduardo Escobar, ARI at SD ($21): Escobar was having a fine season with the Twins, and has been even better since moving to the Diamondbacks. Overall, he has a .515 slugging percentage, but that number is up to .525 with Arizona. Padres starter Brett Kennedy has only made two starts in his career, but they have not gone well, as the 11.00 ERA will prove. Even if this game is at Petco Park, it looks like a favorable matchup for Escobar.
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner, WAS vs. MIA ($19): Turner has endured a complicated year, but he's still hit a career-high 15 homers and added 32 stolen bases. With 113 stolen bases in his career, the 25-year-old remains one of the rare players who can be a threat with his bat and legs. Jose Urena will be getting the start while he awaits the result of his suspension appeal, but he's still bringing a 4.74 ERA to the mound. That number lines up neatly with his career ERA of 4.72.
OUTFIELD
Yasiel Puig, LAD at SEA ($17): Puig has a pretty big platoon split, but he's proven he can punish right-handed pitchers with a .540 slugging percentage against righties in 2018 after posting a .554 slugging percentage against them in 2017. Felix Hernandez is a righty and has given up 1.46 home runs per nine innings, which comes after he allowed 1.76 homers per nine innings last year.
Nomar Mazara, TEX vs. LAA ($16): Mazara recently returned from the disabled list, and looks no worse for the wear. On the season, he's slashed .272/.334/.453 – all career highs – and he has 16 homers in 93 games, which puts him well on his way to hit the 20-homer mark for the third time in his career. In his first season in the majors, Jaime Barria has struggled to a 4.78 FIP and has allowed 1.46 homers per nine innings. The Rangers' ballpark tends to be conducive to offense – and to homers – in the summer, which bodes well for Mazara.
Eddie Rosario, MIN vs. DET ($12): Rosario has killed it against righties (.891 OPS) and at home (.865 OPS), which will both come into play in this matchup. In addition to being in Minnesota, it is expected that righty Warwick Saupold will take the mound for the Tigers. Saupold has only ever pitched out of the bullpen for Detroit, but still enters with a career 4.98 ERA.
