Bruce, Choo, Marte poised to put on show

From mound, Pirates' Taillon, O's Tillman could also thrive

August 10th, 2016

Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball.
The players listed below are in position to provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.
: Hitting leadoff, the outfielder may maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he brings his lifetime .391 wOBA against right-handers (.315 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Rockies righty (career 5.18 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) and a Rockies relief corps that ranks 28th in baseball with a 4.91 ERA.
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: Moreland has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has a lifetime .796 OPS (.662 vs. lefties). The first baseman could hit his 19th homer of the season or drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against the right-handed Bettis (5.13 ERA, 1.44 WHIP in 2016) and a Rockies squad that ranks 28th in baseball with a .674 defensive efficiency ratio.

: From his perch atop the lineup, the outfielder could produce a substantial DraftKings total when he brings his lifetime 129 wRC+ against right-handers (88 vs. lefties) into a matchup with rookie righty (4.15 ERA, 1.62 WHIP) and a D-backs relief corps that ranks last in baseball with a 5.14 ERA.
: With a lifetime .180 ISO against right-handers that exceeds his .098 mark vs. lefties, the second baseman will be poised to deliver production at a premium position when he tangles with the inexperienced righty Shipley and a D-backs squad that ranks last in the Majors with a .666 defensive efficiency ratio.
: The former longtime Reds slugger could continue to make his mark in the Big Apple when he faces the rookie righty Shipley (6.92 FIP) and an unreliable D-backs bullpen. In his career, Bruce has posted an .817 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .722 mark vs. lefties.

: Hitting .315 this season, the outfielder has the skills to produce in multiple ways when he takes his lifetime .306/.360/.481 slash line against left-handers into a matchup against Padres righty (career 5.47 ERA, 1.56 WHIP). Marte also has the speed to swipe his 40th base of the season against , who has allowed more steals than all but two catchers in 2016.
: Sporting a career-low .242 average this season, McCutchen could have a reduced cost in DraftKings contests when he takes his lifetime .959 OPS vs. lefties (.844 vs. RHP) into a matchup with Friedrich (6.65 ERA since June 17). During his big league tenure, the Padres southpaw has allowed an .847 OPS to right-handed hitters such as McCutchen.
: The shortstop owns notable lifetime splits, with a 144 wRC+ against left-handers in comparison to a 76 mark vs. righties. Mercer could be part of a Pirates stack -- including Marte and McCutchen -- against the left-handed Friedrich and an unreliable Padres bullpen.

: The outfielder has traditionally excelled against right-handers (lifetime .804 OPS) and at his offense-inducing home park (lifetime .888 OPS). Blackmon has the plate skills to reach base often against the Rangers righty (career 4.72 ERA, 1.56 WHIP) and the speed to swipe a base against , who has allowed more steals than all but one catcher in 2016.
: With a 117 wRC+ vs. right-handers this season (62 vs. LHP), Shaw has a good chance to have success when he faces Yankees righty (5.17 ERA, 1.5 HR/9 rate in 2016).
: Hitting .211 with two homers across 90 at-bats since the All-Star break, the first baseman could have a reduced price tag in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .802 OPS against right-handers (.691 vs. lefties) into a matchup with White Sox fly-ball-prone righty (career 4.58 FIP, 1.3 HR/9 rate).

: With a lifetime .206 ISO against right-handers that exceeds his .149 mark vs. lefties, the first baseman could thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and bats at homer-happy Miller Park against Brewers righty (5.03 ERA, 1.53 WHIP in 2016).
: Having posted a 2.54 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and a 9.7 K/9 rate across his past eight starts, the left-hander ranks among the hottest hurlers in baseball heading into a matchup at his pitcher-friendly home park against a White Sox lineup that ranks 22nd with a .149 OPS against lefties.
: The right-hander will be in line to deliver a stellar start when he vacates his hitter-friendly home park and works at offense-suppressing Oakland Coliseum against an A's lineup that ranks 26th in baseball with a .698 OPS against righties.

: The rookie righty will be poised to improve on his impressive 3.29 ERA when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Padres lineup that ranks second to last in the Majors in OPS vs. righties (.682) and third in total strikeouts (1,022).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.