Big lefty bats set up to provide ample pop

O's Davis, Phillies' Howard, Rockies' CarGo could excel tonight

May 9th, 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 tonight.
Odubel Herrera: With a 25-to-23 walk-to-strikeout ratio, the outfielder has shown notable improvements at the dish this season. Herrera could make gains on his lifetime .799 OPS against right-handers (.745 vs. lefties) when he faces Braves righty Matt Wisler (career 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP).
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Ryan Howard: The first baseman could go deep or drive in multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .281/.371/.564 slash line against right-handers into a matchup with the righty Wisler and a Braves bullpen that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.73 ERA. As a big leaguer, Wisler has allowed left-handed hitters such as Howard to post a .913 OPS (.617 OPS allowed to righty batters).

Joey Votto: The first baseman has used a patient, powerful approach to build a lofty lifetime .315/.432/.544 slash line against right-handers. From the No. 3 spot in the Reds' lineup, Votto could post a difference-making total in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Pirates righty Juan Nicasio (career 4.76 ERA, 1.46 WHIP).
Jay Bruce: The outfielder has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has a lifetime .809 OPS (.713 vs. lefties). Bruce could homer from his offense-inducing home park against the right-handed Nicasio (4.24 FIP, 1.34 WHIP in 2016).
Chris Davis: With 134 homers since the outset of 2013, the first baseman is arguably the most powerful slugger in baseball. Davis -- who has logged a .260/.371/.587 slash line against right-handers since the outset of 2013 -- could go deep or drive in multiple runs when he faces Twins righty Jose Berrios, who has posted a 6.75 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP across his initial two big league starts.
Manny Machado: With 44 homers, 20 steals, 126 runs and 108 RBIs since the outset of 2015, the third baseman has become one of baseball's best offensive players. Machado has the plate skills to thrive against the inexperienced Berrios and the speed to steal a base against catcher Kurt Suzuki, who sometimes struggles to thwart would-be basestealers.

Gregory Polanco: The outfielder has produced pronounced career splits, with a .766 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .524 mark vs. lefties. Polanco could reach base often or score multiple runs when he bats at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park against righty Alfredo Simon (5.54 ERA, 1.51 WHIP since the outset of 2015) and a Reds relief corps that ranks last in the Majors with a 6.59 ERA.
Carlos Gonzalez: In his career, Gonzalez has fared best when batting against right-handers (.304/.368/.564 slash line) and at his hitter-friendly home park in Colorado (.330/.390/.619 slash line). Tonight, CarGo could provide a notable total in DraftKings contests when he hits at home against D-backs righty Rubby De La Rosa (career 4.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP).
Gerardo Parra: As a big leaguer, this lefty batter has logged a .764 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .609 mark vs. southpaws. Tonight, Parra could excel against the righty De La Rosa, who in his career has allowed left-handed hitters to post an .863 OPS (.692 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Paul Goldschmidt: With an impressive lifetime .327/.429/.595 slash line against left-handers, Goldschmidt has proven to wield a potent bat during those matchups. The first baseman could post a memorable total in DraftKings contests when he bats at homer-happy Coors Field against southpaw Chris Rusin (career 5.11 ERA, 1.53 WHIP) and a Rockies relief corps that ranks 26th in the Majors with a 4.55 ERA.

Welington Castillo: The powerful catcher (seven homers across 95 at-bats in 2016) could go deep when he brings his lifetime .875 OPS against left-handers (.696 vs. righties) into a matchup with the lefty Rusin and a shaky Rockies relief corps. In his career, Rusin has allowed right-handed hitters such as Castillo to post an .859 OPS (.740 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Brandon Drury: Hitting .310 with six homers across 100 at-bats, Drury has been a cost-effective option at third base or in the outfield in many recent DraftKings contests. The right-handed hitter could have a great game when he faces the southpaw Rusin (career 4.56 FIP) and an unreliable Rockies bullpen at offense-inducing Coors Field.
Dustin Pedroia: Hitting .306 this season, Pedroia could post an impactful total in DraftKings contests when he takes his lifetime .304/.387/.456 slash line against southpaws into a matchup with A's rookie Sean Manaea. The left-handed hurler has logged a 7.20 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP across his initial two Major League starts..
Xander Bogaerts: From the No. 3 spot in the Red Sox's talented lineup, the shortstop will be poised to provide production at a premium position when he takes his lifetime .849 OPS against left-handers (.686 vs. righties) into a matchup with the inexperienced southpaw Manaea.
Jacob deGrom: With a 2.57 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP as a big leaguer, the right-hander has the skills to spin a gem when he faces the Dodgers at their pitcher-friendly park. deGrom could come away with a win if his supporting cast has success against Alex Wood, who has a 5.18 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP this season.

Kyle Hendricks: The right-hander could post a significant total in DraftKings contests when he brings his solid lifetime 3.45 ERA and 1.12 WHIP into a home start against a Padres lineup that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .637 OPS against righties. Hendricks may also pick up a win if his talented supporting cast can thrive against Colin Rea (career 4.03 ERA, 1.30 WHIP).
Adam Morgan: Despite a career 4.63 ERA, the southpaw should be considered as a cost-effective second starter in DraftKings contests for a matchup at pitcher-friendly Turner Field vs. a Braves lineup that ranks last in the Majors with a 7-23 record and a .530 OPS against lefties.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Sunday's games.