Harper, CarGo, Ray set to excel Wednesday
Giants' Posey, Boston's Price could join trio as top picks to click
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 Wednesday.
Bryce Harper: The outfielder could produce a substantial DraftKings total when he brings his lifetime .294/.400/.539 slash line against right-handers into a matchup with Braves righty Mike Foltynewciz (career 4.96 ERA, 1.43 WHIP). In his career, Foltynewicz has allowed left-handed hitters such as Harper to post an .891 OPS (.777 OPS allowed to righty batters).
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Daniel Murphy: With 25 homers and 98 RBIs across 486 at-bats, the second baseman has been one of the most productive players at his premium position this season. Hitting behind Harper, Murphy could drive in multiple runs when he brings his lifetime 121 wRC+ against right-handers (95 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the right-handed Foltynewicz (4.31 ERA in 2016) and a Braves bullpen that ranks 21st in baseball with a 4.13 ERA.
Carlos González: As a big leaguer, the outfielder has excelled when facing right-handers (.926 OPS) and batting at his hitter-friendly home park (1.019 OPS). CarGo could post an impactful DraftKings total when he hits at home against Giants rookie righty Albert Suárez (4.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP).
Buster Posey: With a lifetime .324/.388/.552 slash line against left-handers, the catcher has proven to be one of the best in baseball during those matchups. Posey could thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and bats at homer-happy Coors Field against southpaw Jorge De La Rosa (4.88 ERA, 1.57 WHIP in 2016) and a Rockies relief corps that ranks 29th in baseball with a 5.07 ERA.
Hunter Pence: The outfielder has long fared best vs. left-handers, against whom he has a lifetime .847 OPS (.795 vs. righties). Pence could excel in a matchup with the left-handed De La Rosa (career 4.58 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) and a Rockies squad that ranks 28th in baseball with a .675 defensive efficiency ratio.
Anthony Rizzo: From the heart of a lineup that ranks third in baseball with 691 runs scored, the first baseman could go deep or drive in multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .227 ISO against right-handers (.181 vs. lefties) into a matchup at hitter-friendly Miller Park against Brewers righty Matt Garza (4.57 ERA, 1.52 WHIP in 2016).
Addison Russell: The shortstop could thrive when he brings his lifetime 101 wRC+ against right-handers (79 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the right-handed Garza and a Brewers bullpen that lacks reliable options after trading Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress in late July.
Jason Heyward: Hitting .232 with six homers across 465 at-bats this season, the outfielder could have a reduced price tag in DraftKings contestswhen he brings his solid lifetime .811 OPS against right-handers (.651 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the right-handed Garza (career 4.02 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) and an unsettled Brewers bullpen.
Mookie Betts: Hitting .317 with 30 homers and 21 steals across 623 plate appearances, the outfielder has been one of the most productive players in baseball this season. Betts has the plate skills to reach base often against Padres righty Jarred Cosart (5.14 ERA, 1.67 WHIP in 2016) and the speed to swipe a base against catcher Derek Norris, who has allowed more steals than any other catcherin 2016.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: In his breakout 2016 season, the outfielder has produced a .907 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .685 mark vs. lefties. Bradley has the plate skills and speed to contribute in multiple ways against a likely battery combination of Norris and the right-handed Cosart (career 4.23 FIP, 1.67 WHIP).
Ian Desmond: In his bounceback 2016 season, the outfielder has logged an .898 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .777 mark vs. righties. With 21 homers and 20 steals across 590 plate appearances this year, Desmond has the skills to produce in multiple ways when he meets up with Mariners rookie southpaw Aríel Miranda (5.76 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).
Kyle Seager: From the heart of a lineup that ranks ninth in baseball with a .761 OPS against right-handers, the third baseman could go deep or drive in multiple runs when he faces the homer-prone righty Griffin. In his career, Seager has posted an .822 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .711 mark vs. lefties.
Robbie Ray: With a 2.86 ERA and a 9.9 K/9 rate across his past five starts, the left-hander has been a factor in many recent DraftKings contests. Ray could continue his second-half surge when he vacates his hitter-friendly home park and works at offense-suppressing Dodger Stadium against a Los Angeles lineup that ranks last in the Majors with a .642 OPS against southpaws.
Noah Syndergaard: With a 2.88 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 rate in his career, the right-hander could spin a gem when he faces a Reds lineup that ranks 19th in baseball with a .725 OPS against righties and will work without injured sparkplug Billy Hamilton.
David Price: Having posted a 2.06 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP across his past five starts, the left-hander is back in ace form. Price could post a substantial DraftKings total when he gets a break from facing deep American League offenses and tangles with a Padres lineup that ranks last in baseball in OPS vs. righties (.671) and second in total strikeouts (1,279).
Stephen Strasburg: With a 3.17 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 rate as a big leaguer, the right-hander has the skills to deliver a stellar start when he returns from the disabled list to work at home against a Braves lineup that ranks 28th in baseball in ISO vs. righties (.134) and last in total home runs (98).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.