CarGo in line to crush against Giants
Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball.
The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.
:: Fred Zinkie's Daily Picks ::
Michael Taylor (Nationals): The outfielder may excel when he brings his balanced career splits into a matchup with inexperienced righty Matt Wisler (5.31 FIP) and a Braves bullpen that ranks 29th in baseball with a 4.62 ERA. He may also swipe a base against A.J. Pierzynski, who has allowed more steals than all but three catchers in 2015.
Lorenzo Cain (Royals): With 12 homers and 26 steals across 499 plate appearances this season, the outfielder possesses the diverse skill set that DraftKings participants covet. From the three-hole in the lineup, Cain could thrive when he brings his career .804 OPS against left-handers (.728 vs. righties) into a matchup with Tigers rookie southpaw Matt Boyd (7.12 ERA, 1.64 WHIP).
Salvador Perez (Royals): The catcher has long fared best vs. left-handers, against whom he has produced a lifetime .771 OPS (.725 vs. righties). Perez could provide production at a premium position when he faces Boyd and a Tigers bullpen that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.60 ERA.
Alcides Escobar (Royals): From his perch atop the lineup, Escobar may be poised to reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces Boyd and a suspect Tigers relief corps. Hitting .260 with three homers and 14 steals across 552 plate appearances this season, the shortstop may be an economical addition at a premium position in DraftKings contests.
Ben Zobrist (Royals): The season, the outfielder has produced a .911 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .796 mark vs. lefties. From the two-hole in the lineup, Zobrist could be part of a Royals stack -- with Cain, Perez and Escobar -- against Boyd.
Buster Posey (Giants): With a lifetime .327/.384/.560 line against left-handers, the catcher has proven to be among the best in baseball during those matchups. Posey could provide a game-changing total in DraftKings contests when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and faces Rockies southpaw Chris Rusin (career 4.96 ERA, 1.54 WHIP) at homer-happy Coors Field.
Nori Aoki (Giants): From his perch atop the lineup, Aoki may maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he brings his career .777 OPS against left-handers (.724 vs. righties) into a matchup with Rusin (4.94 ERA, 1.61 WHIP in 2015). The outfielder may also excel late in the game against a Rockies relief corps that sits last in baseball with a 4.91 ERA.
Marlon Byrd (Giants): The outfielder will be primed to rip a round-tripper when he puts his lifetime .808 OPS against left-handers (.741 vs. righties) to the test against Rusin. In his career, Rusin has allowed right-handed hitters such as Byrd to post an .863 OPS (.713 OPS allowed to lefty batters). Also of note: Byrd and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Rockies squad that sits 28th in the Majors with a .673 defensive efficiency ratio.
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies): As a big leaguer, the outfielder has fared best when facing right-handers (.301/.366/.560 line) and when working at his hitter-friendly home park (.332/.393/.618 line). Gonzalez could drive in multiple runs when he hits at home against Giants righty Ryan Vogelsong (career 4.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP).
Nick Hundley (Rockies): The catcher -- who has posted a .357/.394/.573 line at Coors Field this season -- has registered a lifetime .730 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .614 mark vs. lefties. Hitting at home, Hundley could be poised for a productive game when he faces Vogelsong (4.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP in 2015).
Ben Paulsen (Rockies): Having settled into a platoon role, Paulsen has produced an .843 OPS against right-handers this season in comparison to a .526 mark vs. lefties. The first baseman could be a cost-effective option in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Vogelsong.
Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers): With a lofty lifetime .300/.375/.530 slash line against right-handers, the first baseman will be poised to drive in multiple runs when he faces Padres rookie righty Colin Rea. Rea has posted a 5.95 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP across his first four Major League starts.
Andre Ethier (Dodgers): The outfielder has produced notable career splits, with an .889 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .639 mark vs. lefties. Ethier may drive in multiple runs when he faces the inexperienced Rea and a Padres relief corps that ranks 22nd in the Majors with a 3.95 ERA.
Francisco Liriano (Pirates): With a season-to-date 3.28 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, Liriano has been arguably the most effective starter of any hurler on the light Thursday docket. The left-hander could spin a gem when he faces a Brewers lineup that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .654 OPS against southpaws.
Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals): Zimmermann could improve on his season-to-date 3.45 ERA and 1.22 WHIP when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Braves. Atlanta's lineup sits 28th in the Majors with a .681 OPS against righties and last in baseball with 83 homers.
Mat Latos (Dodgers): With a 4.76 ERA, the right-hander could have an economical price tag in DraftKings contests when he travels to pitcher-friendly Petco Park to face a Padres lineup that sits 26th in the Majors with a .690 OPS against righties. Latos may come away with a win if his supporting cast can have success against Rea.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.