Peralta, Yelich eyeing big performances today

Cubs, Reds players may be worth selecting

April 30th, 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 Sunday.
Joe Mauer: The first baseman has long fared well against right-handers, including a lifetime .896 OPS that is partly fueled by a .939 mark this season. Batting from the heart of the Minnesota lineup, Mauer could reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces Tigers righty Mike Pelfrey (career 4.52 ERA, 1.49 WHIP).
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Adam Eaton: With a lifetime .779 OPS against right-handers (.717 vs. lefties) and a solid .300 average this year, Eaton could provide solid production from the leadoff spot when he faces Orioles righty Ubaldo Jimenez (career 4.01 ERA, 4.1 BB/9). This season, Jimenez has struggled to prevent baserunners to the tune of a 1.57 WHIP.
Stephen Vogt: The A's catcher could go deep when faces off against struggling Astros righty Doug Fister. Vogt's career .763 OPS against righties is far superior than his .645 mark against lefties, while Fister owns a 4.44 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP since the beginning of last year -- including a 5.56 ERA in four starts this season.

David Peralta: Peralta owns notable lifetime splits, with an .890 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .626 mark vs. lefties. The outfielder could drive in multiple runs when he faces Rockies righty Chad Bettis (career 5.02 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) and a Rockies relief corps that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 5.40 ERA.
Jake Lamb: Since arriving to the Majors during the 2014 season, the third baseman has posted notable splits that include a .751 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .579 mark vs. lefties. Batting at his hitter-friendly home park, Lamb could thrive in a matchup against the righty Bettis (career 4.33 FIP) and the shaky Rockies bullpen.
Devin Mesoraco: Hitting .140 this season, the catcher could be a cost-effective option at a premium position when he faces Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke (career 4.19 ERA, 1.41 WHIP). Mesoraco -- who compiled 25 homers and 80 RBIs during his most recent full season in 2014 -- owns a lifetime .829 OPS against left-handers in comparison to a .685 mark vs. righties.
Zack Cozart: From his perch atop the lineup, Cozart may maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he brings his lifetime .725 OPS against left-handers (.651 vs. righties) into a matchup with the southpaw Locke (4.55 ERA, 1.50 WHIP since the outset of 2015). Hitting .373 with 13 runs scored across 71 plate appearances, the shortstop has been a cost-effective option at his premium position this season.

Brandon Phillips: With 13 homers and 26 steals since the outset of 2015, the second baseman possesses a combination of power and speed that makes him appealing to DraftKings participants. The owner of a lifetime .799 OPS against left-handers (.720 vs. righties), Phillips could be part of a Reds stack -- along with Mesoraco, Cozart and third baseman Eugenio Suarez -- against the lefty Locke (career 4.24 FIP).
Christian Yelich: With a .351/.469/.481 slash line this season, Yelich has been a regular contributor to DraftKings squads. From the three-hole in a lineup that includes superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton at the cleanup spot, the outfielder could thrive in a matchup with righty Wily Peralta (career 4.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) and a Brewers bullpen that ranks 26th in the Majors with a 4.99 ERA. He could also swipe a base against Jonathan Lucroy, who has allowed more steals than any other catcher in 2016.
Addison Russell: The second-year shortstop has posted notable lifetime splits that include a .749 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .505 mark vs. lefties. Set to work against righty Julio Teheran (4.11 ERA, 1.31 WHIP since the start of 2015) and a Braves bullpen that ranks 27th in the Majors with a 5.10 ERA, Russell could be primed for a productive game.
Jason Heyward: With substantial lifetime splits that include an .832 OPS against right-handers that dwarfs his .657 mark vs. lefties, the outfielder could reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces the right-handed Teheran. In his career, Teheran has managed just a 1.98 strikeout-to-walk ratio against left-handed batters such as Heyward (4.65 mark vs. fellow righties).
Anthony Rizzo: With 39 homers, 125 RBIs and 18 steals since the outset of 2015, the first baseman has shown that he can contribute to DraftKings squads in multiple ways. Hitting out of the cleanup spot in a lineup that ranks second in the Majors with an .827 OPS against right-handers, Rizzo could drive in multiple runs against the righty Teheran (.806 OPS allowed to lefties in his career, .585 mark vs. righties). He could also steal a base against A.J. Pierzynski or Tyler Flowers, as both catchers ranked among the top-10 catchers in steals allowed in 2015.

David Price: On the surface, Price's 5.76 ERA suggests he has been struggling this year. A deeper look indicates he has been just fine, as his impressive 14.0 K/9 combined with a strong 2.4 BB/9 have contributed to a 2.40 FIP. With that in mind, Price could be in for a big outing against the Yankees, who have hit just .241/.321/.344 against lefties this year (their resulting .665 OPS good for 23rd in baseball).
Clayton Kershaw: Having logged a 1.94 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP since the outset of 2013, the left-hander has become the consensus choice as the most effective pitcher in baseball. Kershaw may be worth a massive investment in DraftKings contests when he tangles with the Padres at his pitcher-friendly home park.
Danny Salazar: With a lifetime 3.58 ERA and a 9.9 K/9 rate, Salazar has the skills to post a difference-making total in DraftKings contests when he gets a break from deep American League lineups and faces the Phillies. Philadelphia sits 24th in the Majors with a .684 OPS against righties.
Marcus Stroman: On a day with many aces on the docket, the right-hander will warrant consideration when he brings his lifetime 3.50 ERA and 1.12 WHIP into a matchup with the Rays at pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay ranks 25th in the Majors with a .666 OPS against righties, and they sit sixth in baseball with 205 whiffs.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Friday's games.