It's a good thing MLB players have internalized the idea that the season is a marathon and not a sprint. All but two teams played Tuesday, and every game started at 6:35 p.m. EDT or later. Now Wednesday has rolled around, all 30 teams are in action, and 13 of those games start at 4:10 p.m. or earlier. We have ourselves an afternoon slate of MLB baseball, which you do need to note when making sure to get your DFS lineups in sufficiently early. First pitch is at 12:15 p.m. Here are my lineup recommendations.
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Pitching
Cristopher Sanchez, PHI vs. WAS ($10,800): While I don't expect much from the Nationals this year, and they will likely finish in the bottom 10 in runs scored, Sanchez doesn't need much help to look good on the mound. Last season he was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young, and even the season before that he had a 2.99 FIP with an elite HR/9 rate. The lefty opened the 2026 campaign with six innings of shutout ball, so I'm expecting this year to be a continuation of the run he has been on.
Kevin Gausman, TOR vs. COL ($9,800): The Rockies starting the season on a road swing has made it easier on MLB DFS players looking for pitchers, though they did really take it to the Toronto bullpen to open this series. Gausman, though, should be able to handle a squad that was one of two teams to finish not just below 600 runs, but 640 runs, last season. He started this season with a stellar outing, and even his 3.41 FIP last year speaks to the capacity to mow through Colorado's lineup.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA vs. CWS ($9,000): Hmmm. Alcantara is further removed from the Tommy John surgery that nixed his 2024 season and, possibly, tanked his 2025 season. He opened 2026 by going seven innings with four hits, two walks, and one unearned run allowed. However, it was against the Rockies. The White Sox finished 27th in runs scored last year, so roster improvements this offseason should only yield so much success. It may be worth it to see if Alcantara can at least be the average pitch he was in 2023, if not the Cy Young winner he was in 2022.
Top Targets
You don't get points for Matt Olson ($3,400) being an iron man, but you do for his many extra-base hits and RBI. While his 54 home runs in 2023 were anomalous, in each of the last two seasons he's had 29 homers and gotten to at least 95 RBI. The lefty is in line to face Luis Severino on Wednesday. He's had a K/9 rate under 8.00 in each of the prior three seasons, and lefties hit .270 against him last year.
Even without the kind of sterling slash line early-season sample sizes can yield, Gunnar Henderson ($3,200) has a home run and a stolen base and I think he'll be just fine. By his already impressive standards, Henderson was a little disappointing in 2025 while dealing with an injury early in the year, and he still managed 34 doubles and 30 stolen bases. Kumar Rocker had his first real foray against MLB pitching last year. He posted a 9.29 ERA on the road, and lefties hit .319 against him.
Bargain Bats
Though Wilyer Abreu ($3,100) fell from 50 extra-base hits in 2024 to 39 in 2025, he also played in 17 fewer games. This year he's started the season on fire for Boston. Since 2024, the lefty has an .833 OPS versus righties, and an .826 OPS on the road. I'm going with a Bargain Bat but not a stack before it's only been one start for Mike Burrows with the Astros. However, he allowed five runs in 5.2 innings in that start.
Last year, Dansby Swanson ($2,900) had a 20-20 season as a shortstop, but he also had a .717 OPS. In a mirror image of many lefties, Swanson hit lefties well but struggled with his fellow righties. Yusei Kikuchi is a lefty, and he's allowed 1.51 homers per nine innings in his career. Even two plate appearances against a left-handed pitcher could be enough for Swanson to deliver.
Stacks to Consider
Phillies vs. Nationals (Cade Cavalli): Kyle Schwarber ($4,200), Bryce Harper ($3,500), Bryson Stott ($2,900)
Cavalli had a 4.25 ERA in 10 starts for the Nationals last season. While it's only one start here in 2026, Cavalli did allow three hits, three walks, and two earned runs in 3.2 innings to the Cubs. On top of that, the righty had a 6.17 ERA on the road last year. I have opted for a three-lefty stack from the Phillies.
Schwarber hit a homer in Philly's opener after hitting 56 home runs last season. He's scuffled some since then, but I trust he still has the skill in his bat, not to mention his eye at the plate, and he hit another homer Tuesday. Over the last four seasons he's never had fewer than 38 homers or 94 RBI. Harper is off to a slow start, but he's got a proven affinity for hitting at Philadelphia in his time with the team. Just last season he had a .941 OPS at home, not to mention an .864 OPS against righties. Stott is off to a strong start, which is encouraging. Last season he tweaked his approach, and while he didn't return to his 2024 levels of production, he was better. The second baseman hit .257 with 13 homers, 22 doubles, and 24 stolen bases. If he can get closer to his 2024 self, then he's going to help out a lot of DFS players this year.
Blue Jays vs. Rockies (Kyle Freeland): Vladimir Guerrero ($3,800), Ernie Clement ($3,000), Kazuma Okamoto ($2,900),
Freeland's first start this season went poorly, which is not encouraging given that it was against the Marlins. It also wasn't surprising, as he has a career 4.54 ERA. Additionally, last season he had a 5.75 ERA at home and a 4.37 ERA on the road, but a 0.9 HR/9 rate at home and a 1.5 HR/9 rate on the road. This illustrates both the fact Freeland's poor pitching is not just about Coors and the fact Coors is also very conducive to doubles and triples. Since Freeland is a lefty, this is a three-righty stack.
Guerrero has been hitting, and getting on base, though without power. That will arrive soon enough, as Vladito has slugged .484 over the prior four seasons. Clement doesn't walk at all, but he hit .277 with 35 doubles last year. He also showed an affinity for facing lefties, posting a .900 OPS in those matchups. So far, so good acclimating to North America for Okamoto. He's hit .333 and knocked two home runs already.
