Goldschmidt, Fielder set to provide power

Duda, Braun, Liriano could join sluggers among Saturday's stars

April 29th, 2016

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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Saturday.
Stephen Vogt: The catcher will be poised to provide production at a premium position when he brings his lifetime .766 OPS against right-handers (.633 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Astros righty Chris Devenski, who will be making his first big league start. The 25-year-old Devenski owns a career 4.37 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in the Minors.
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Michael Conforto: Hitting .338 with a .429 on-base percentage across 77 plate appearances this season, Conforto has emerged as one of the best outfielders in the National League. The young slugger could produce a notable total in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .293/.367/.567 slash line against right-handers vs. the Giants' Matt Cain (5.95 ERA, 1.54 WHIP since the outset of 2015).
Lucas Duda: Duda has traditionally excelled vs. right-handers, against whom he has logged a lifetime .838 OPS (.669 vs. lefties). From the heart of the Mets lineup, the first baseman could be part of a stack -- including Conforto, second baseman Neil Walker and outfielder Curtis Granderson -- against the righty Cain (6.43 ERA, 1.67 WHIP in 2016).

Paul Goldschmidt: With a lofty lifetime .327/.428/.599 slash line against left-handers, Goldschmidt has proven to wield a potent bat in those matchups. The first baseman could produce a game-changing total in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against lefty Chris Rusin, who in his career has allowed right-handed hitters such as Goldschmidt to post an .861 OPS (.718 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Welington Castillo: The catcher -- who has hit six homers across 69 at-bats this season -- could display his power when he takes his lifetime .860 OPS against left-handers (.699 vs. righties) into a matchup with the southpaw Rusin (career 5.05 ERA, 1.51 WHIP). Castillo could also succeed late in the game against a Rockies relief corps that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 5.57 ERA.
Nick Ahmed: Hitting .190 this year, along with a lifetime .218/.269/.344 slash line, the right-handed-hitting shortstop could be a cost-effective option at a premium position as part of a D-backs stack -- along with Goldschmidt, Castillo and outfielder Yasmany Tomas -- against the lefty Rusin (career 4.65 FIP). As a big leaguer, Ahmed has logged a .701 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .576 mark vs. righties.
Gregory Polanco: With substantial lifetime splits -- such as a .765 OPS against right-handers that dwarfs his .528 mark vs. lefties -- the outfielder could reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces righty Alfredo Simon (career 4.33 ERA, 1.36 WHIP). Polanco could also thrive late in the game against a Reds relief corps that ranks last in the Majors with a 6.22 ERA.
John Jaso: Jaso has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has logged a lifetime .799 OPS (.542 vs. lefties). The first baseman could drive in multiple runs when he faces the right-handed Simon (5.59 ERA, 1.51 WHIP since the outset of 2015) and an unreliable Reds bullpen.
Prince Fielder: Much of Fielder's notable big league success can be traced to an impressive lifetime .297/.407/.547 slash line against right-handers. Hitting .190 this season, the slugger could have a reduced price tag in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Angels fly-ball-prone righty Matt Shoemaker (career 1.3 HR/9 rate).
Nomar Mazara: A premium prospect, Mazara has posted a .345/.415/.491 slash line since making his big league debut on April 10. The left-handed-hitting outfielder could use his premium lineup spot to post a notable total in DraftKings contests when he bats at his offense-inducing home park against the righty Shoemaker (4.74 ERA, 1.7 HR/9 rate since the outset of 2015).
Ryan Braun: In his productive career, the outfielder has registered a lofty .335/.403/.627 slash line against left-handers. Set to bat at his power-happy home park, Braun could go deep against Marlins southpaw Wei-Yin Chen (career 1.2 HR/9 rate).
Justin Bour: With a lifetime .807 OPS against right-handers that greatly exceeds his .589 mark vs. lefties, the first baseman will be poised to display his power when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home venue and faces the righty Chase Anderson (career 1.2 HR/9 rate) at homer-happy Miller Park.
Christian Yelich: With a .371/.489/.514 slash line this season, Yelich has been a regular contributor to DraftKings squads. From the three-hole in a lineup that includes superstar cleanup hitter Giancarlo Stanton, the outfielder could thrive in a matchup with Anderson (career 4.25 FIP) and an unreliable Brewers bullpen.
Francisco Liriano: Having logged a 3.32 ERA and a 9.6 K/9 rate since joining the Pirates at the outset of 2013, Liriano has the skills to spin a gem when he works at his offense-suppressing home park against the Reds in a seemingly advantageous matchup with Simon.
Ross Stripling: Since making his big league debut on April 8, Stripling has logged a solid 3.22 ERA. On Friday, the righty could be a cost-effective DraftKings option against Colin Rea (career 4.58 ERA) and the Padres at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium.
 Jesse Hahn: Set to make his first start of the season, the right-hander owns a solid lifetime 3.23 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Hahn could be a serviceable second starter in DraftKings contests when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against an Astros lineup that leads in the Majors with 224 strikeouts.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Thursday's games.