Rizzo, Matz may lead stars in day-heavy slate

Trout, Bogaerts, Trumbo could also rank among Wednesday's best

May 4th, 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.
Mark Trumbo: With six homers and 19 RBIs across 94 at-bats, the outfielder has been among the most productive sluggers in the American League this season. Trumbo could go deep or drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia (4.83 ERA since the outset of 2013).
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Matt Wieters: As a big leaguer, Wieters has produced an .814 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .711 mark vs. righties. Hitting .214 with one homer across 56 at-bats this season, the catcher could be a cost-effective option at a premium position when he faces the southpaw Sabathia, who since the outset of 2013 has allowed right-handed batters such as Wieters to post an .840 OPS (.609 OPS allowed to lefty batters).

Kole Calhoun: In his career, the outfielder has posted a .770 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .721 mark vs. lefties. Calhoun could rip a round-tripper or drive in multiple runs when he bats at hitter-friendly Miller Park against righty Zach Davies (career 5.13 ERA, 1.50 WHIP). Also of note: The Brewers rank 29th in baseball with a .658 defensive efficiency ratio.
Mike Trout: Among the most feared sluggers in baseball, Trout has logged a lofty lifetime .310/.396/.572 slash line against right-handers. The outfielder has the plate skills to excel against the inexperienced righty Davies (47 1/3 career innings) and the speed to swipe a base against Jonathan Lucroy, who has allowed more steals than any other catcher this season.
Mitch Moreland: With a lifetime .798 OPS against right-handers (.646 vs. lefties), the first baseman could go deep when he faces right-hander Aaron Sanchez at homer-happy Rogers Centre. In his career, Sanchez has allowed left-handed hitters such as Moreland to post a .788 OPS (.409 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Nomar Mazara: Since making his big league debut on April 10, the left-handed-hitting outfielder has logged an impressive .400/.453/.622 slash line against right-handers. Mazara could display his power when he bats at offense-inducing Rogers Centre against the righty Sanchez.
Rougned Odor: As a left-handed batter with balanced career splits, Odor will be in prime position to provide impactful production at a premium position at the expense of the right-handed Sanchez. In 2016, Sanchez has allowed left-handed batters to post a .747 OPS (.462 OPS allowed to righty batters).

Colby Rasmus: Since joining the Astros at the outset of 2015, the outfielder has hit 32 homers across 515 at-bats. Rasmus will be in prime position to display his power when he brings his lifetime .790 OPS against right-handers (.675 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Twins righty Phil Hughes, who owns a lifetime 1.2 HR/9 rate and has posted a 1.6 mark since the outset of 2015.
Jason Castro: Hitting .175 and without a homer in 57 at-bats this season, the catcher could have a reduced cost in DraftKings contests when he takes his lifetime .750 OPS against right-handers (.535 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the homer-prone righty Hughes (career 4.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP).
Addison Russell: The second-year shortstop owns pronounced career splits, with a .748 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .501 mark vs. lefties. Russell could provide production at a premium position when he faces Pirates righty Juan Nicasio (career 4.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).
Anthony Rizzo: With 39 homers, 126 RBIs and 19 steals since the outset of 2015, the first baseman has regularly offered diverse production to DraftKings participants. Rizzo has the plate skills (lifetime .268/.365/.495 slash line against right-handers) to excel against Nicasio and the speed to swipe a base against Francisco Cervelli, who has allowed more steals than all but three catchers in 2016.
Michael Saunders: Hitting atop the lineup in front of superstar sluggers Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, Saunders could reach base often and score multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .710 OPS against right-handers (.657 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Rangers righty Colby Lewis (career 4.76 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). In his career, Lewis has allowed left-handed hitters such as Saunders to post an .818 OPS (.730 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Steven Matz: The left-hander will be poised to improve on his impressive lifetime 2.86 ERA when he works at home against a Braves lineup that ranks last in the Majors in homers (five) and OPS vs. southpaws (.552). Matz could also come away with a win if his supporting cast can succeed against Jhoulys Chacin.

Drew Smyly: Since joining the Rays during the 2014 season, Smyly has posted a game-changing 2.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 rate. The left-hander has the skills to spin a gem when he works at his offense-suppressing home park against a Dodgers lineup that ranks 24th in the Majors with a .661 OPS against southpaws. Smyly may also be well-supported by a Rays squad that ranks second in the Majors with a .729 defensive efficiency ratio.
Mike Fiers: With a 4.97 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP this year, the right-hander could have a reduced price tag in DraftKings contests when he works at home against a Twins lineup that ranks 20th in the Majors with a .699 OPS against righties. Fiers -- who owns a lifetime 8.9 K/9 rate -- could also compile a handful of whiffs, as Minnesota sits fourth in baseball with 235 strikeouts.
Mike Leake: Having logged a 5.83 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 2016, the right-hander could be a cost-effective second starter in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime 3.93 ERA into a matchup at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Phillies. Also of note: Philadelphia ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .671 OPS against righties.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.