Hot Blue Jays bats poised to thrive

Shoemaker, Schoop could join Donaldson, Edwin as top picks to click

June 21st, 2016

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 Wednesday.
Josh Donaldson: Since joining the Blue Jays at the outset of 2015, the third baseman has posted a .296/.400/.592 slash line against left-handers and a .324/.399/.628 line at his hitter-friendly home park. Donaldson may be worth a major investment in DraftKings contests when he hits at home against D-backs southpaw Robbie Ray (4.44 ERA, 1.57 WHIP in 2016).
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Edwin Encarnacion: Hitting .317 with eight homers and 21 RBIs across 60 at-bats in June, the first baseman will bring a red-hot bat into a matchup at his hitter-friendly home park against the southpaw Ray. In his career, Ray has allowed right-handed hitters such as Encarnacion to post an .817 OPS (.712 OPS allowed to lefty batters).

Troy Tulowitzki: Hitting .206 this season, the shortstop could have a reduced cost in DraftKings contests when he brings his impressive lifetime .941 OPS against left-handers (.845 vs. righties) into a matchup with the left-handed Ray (career 4.40 ERA, 1.48 WHIP).
Chris Davis: The left-handed-hitting first baseman could display his power when he brings his lifetime .875 OPS against right-handers (.744 vs. lefties) into a home matchup against righty Erik Johnson (career 4.89 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) and a Padres bullpen that ranks 25th in baseball with a 4.48 ERA. Also working in Davis' favor: Camden Yards has proven to be especially power-inducing for lefty batters.
Pedro Alvarez: The slugger has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he owns a lifetime .794 OPS (.591 vs. lefties). As a left-handed hitter set to bat at homer-happy Camden Yards against the right-handed Johnson (7.66 ERA, 1.79 WHIP in 2016), Alvarez is a prime candidate to put a ball into the outfield seats.
Jonathan Schoop: The second baseman will be poised to improve on his lifetime .753 OPS against right-handers (.588 vs. lefties) when he faces the right-handed Johnson and a Padres squad that ranks 29th in baseball with a .677 defensive efficiency ratio. Schoop may be part of a productive lineup, as the Orioles ranks third in the Majors with an .807 OPS against righties.
Avisail Garcia: The owner of a lifetime .741 OPS against left-handers (.679 vs. righties), Garcia could drive in multiple runs when he tangles with Red Sox southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (6.97 ERA, 1.60 WHIP in 2016).
Todd Frazier: With 19 homers across 252 at-bats, the third baseman has been one of the most powerful players at his position this season. Frazier could rip a round-tripper when he brings his lifetime .829 OPS against left-handers (.764 vs. righties) into a matchup with the southpaw Rodriguez (7.03 FIP in 2016).
Christian Yelich: Hitting .317 with a .404 on-base percentage, the outfielder has been a major contributor to many 2016 DraftKings squads. From the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Yelich could reach base often or drive in multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .823 OPS against right-handers (.704 vs. lefties) into a matchup with righty rookie righty John Gant (4.37 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) and a Braves bullpen that ranks 24th in the Majors with a 4.46 ERA.

Justin Bour: Bour owns notable lifetime splits, with an .835 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .539 mark vs. lefties. The first baseman could excel against the inexperienced righty Gant (22 2/3 innings) and an inconsistent Braves bullpen.
Derek Dietrich: The left-handed-hitting second baseman could provide production at a premium position when he brings his lifetime .792 OPS against right-handers (.624 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the right-handed Gant and an unreliable Braves bullpen.
Buster Posey: With a lifetime .327/.386/.557 slash line against left-handers, the catcher has proven to be among the best in baseball during those matchups. Posey could provide outstanding production at a premium position when he faces Pirates southpaw Francisco Liriano, who has logged a 5.03 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP this season.
Brian Dozier: With a lifetime .836 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .687 mark vs. righties, the powerful second baseman (59 homers since the outset of 2014) will be poised to go deep or drive in multiple runs when he faces Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan (career 5.26 ERA, 1.35 WHIP).
Matt Shoemaker: Having produced a 1.83 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP and a 55-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio across his past six starts, the right-hander is among the hottest pitchers in baseball. Shoemaker could continue to rack up whiffs when he faces an Astros lineup that leads the Majors with 679 strikeouts.

Adam Conley: The left-hander will be poised to improve on his lifetime 3.86 ERA when he works at home against a Braves lineup that ranks last in the Majors in OPS against southpaws (.587) and total home runs (32).
Joe Ross: With a 3.38 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in his career, the second-year right-hander has already become a trusted option for DraftKings participants. Ross could compile six-plus effective innings when he works at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium against a Los Angeles lineup that ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .701 OPS against righties.
Kyle Gibson: With a 6.06 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP this season, the right-hander could have a reduced cost in DraftKings contests when he works at home against a Phillies lineup that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .646 OPS against righties.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.