Harper could rake vs. Braves' rookie starter
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Wednesday.
Bryce Harper (Nationals): Against righties, Harper has a lifetime .922 OPS -- an impressive mark that factors in his 1.216 OPS against them this season. By comparison, he owns a career .767 OPS vs. southpaws. The outfielder could add to his season-to-date totals of 24 homers and 58 RBIs when he faces Braves righty Matt Wisler, who will be making his third Major League start.
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Denard Span (Nationals): From his perch atop Washington's lineup, Span could reach base often or score multiple runs when he brings his career .760 OPS against right-handers (.715 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the inexperienced Wisler. In his most recent start, the rookie righty did not make it past the fourth inning against a Nationals lineup that ranks third in the Senior Circuit with 336 runs.
Yunel Escobar (Nationals): The third baseman could be an economical portion of a Nationals stack against Wisler and an Atlanta bullpen that ranks 29th in the Majors with a 4.33 ERA. The owner of balanced career righty-lefty splits, Escobar is hitting .324 this season and often occupies the coveted third spot in Washington's lineup.
Chris Davis (Orioles): The lefty-hitting first baseman -- who has 128 homers since the outset of 2012 -- could rip a round-tripper at homer-happy Camden Yards when he faces Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez (career 4.80 FIP, 1.43 WHIP). Davis could also excel against a Texas bullpen that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.31 ERA.
Jason Kipnis (Indians): Hitting .348 with 51 runs across 344 plate appearances, Kipnis has been one of baseball's top second basemen and leadoff hitters this season. He could reach base often when he brings his lifetime .812 OPS against right-handers (.676 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Rays righty Alex Colome (career 4.63 FIP, 1.38 WHIP).
Scooter Gennett (Brewers): Hitting .210 this season, the second baseman could have an economical price tag in DraftKings contests when he faces Phillies righty Aaron Harang (career 1.35 WHIP) at offense-inducing Citizens Bank Park. Gennett owns some of the most lopsided lifetime splits in baseball, with an .821 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .266 mark vs. lefties.
Alex Gordon (Royals): The outfielder could excel when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home venue and heads to Minute Maid Park to face rookie righty Vincent Velasquez. Gordon owns a career .800 OPS against right-handers (.748 mark vs. lefties), and Velasquez has registered a 1.45 WHIP across his initial four Major League starts.
Mike Moustakas (Royals): Moustakas has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has registered a lifetime .716 OPS (.616 vs. lefties). The third baseman could reach base often against Velasquez, who has pitched into the sixth inning in just one of his initial four Major League outings.
Kendrys Morales (Royals): Hitting .287 with 48 RBIs across 268 at-bats this season, the slugger has rebounded nicely from a disappointing 2014 campaign. With a career .812 OPS against right-handers (.723 vs. lefties), Morales could be an integral part of a Royals stack against the inexperienced Velasquez, who jumped straight from Double-A to the Majors in June.
Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals): As a big leaguer, Peralta has handled left-handers to the tune of a .797 OPS (.748 vs. righties). Likely to hit in the heart of St. Louis' lineup on Wednesday, Peralta could provide production at a premium position when he faces White Sox southpaw Jose Quintana (career 1.28 WHIP).
Yadier Molina (Cardinals): With just two homers and 26 RBIs across 249 at-bats this season, Molina could be an economical catcher option when he brings his balanced career splits into a matchup with Quintana (1.38 WHIP in 2015). Of note: Molina and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a White Sox squad that ranks last in baseball with a .658 defensive efficiency ratio.
Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs): With a lifetime .331/.423/.611 slash line against left-handers, Goldschmidt has proven to wield one of baseball's most potent bats in those matchups. He could add to his impressive season-to-date totals of 20 homers, 64 RBIs and 15 steals across 335 plate appearances when he hits at offense-inducing Chase Field against Dodgers southpaw Brett Anderson (career 1.29 WHIP).
A.J. Pollock (D-backs): Hitting .297 with nine homers, 16 steals and 49 runs across 315 plate appearances this season, Pollock has helped DraftKings participants on many occasions. With a career .843 OPS against left-handers (.745 vs. righties), the outfielder could score multiple runs from a spot near the top of an Arizona lineup that ranks second in the NL with 344 runs.
Doug Fister (Nationals): The right-hander could lower his lifetime 3.38 ERA when he steps into pitcher-friendly Turner Field to face a Braves lineup that he shut out across seven innings in his most recent start. Of note: Atlanta ranks last in the Majors with 44 homers and will be without its offensive centerpiece, Freddie Freeman, who is on the disabled list.
Kyle Lohse (Brewers): With a season-to-date 6.28 ERA, the right-hander could be an inexpensive second starter in DraftKings contests when he faces the Phillies on Wednesday. Philadelphia's lineup ranks 28th in the Majors with 260 runs and last with a .637 OPS against right-handers.
Chris Heston (Giants): The 27-year-old rookie could improve on his season-to-date 3.73 ERA when he plies his trade at pitcher-friendly Marlins Park against a lineup that ranks 27th in baseball with a .657 OPS against right-handers. And as most fantasy players know, Miami will be playing without the injured Giancarlo Stanton.
Wei-Yin Chen (Orioles): With a 2.90 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, Chen has arguably been the ace of the Orioles staff this season. On Wednesday, the southpaw could continue to excel when he faces a Rangers lineup that ranks 22nd in baseball with a .686 OPS against lefties. And he could come away with a win if Baltimore -- which ranks fifth in baseball with 349 runs -- can succeed against Martinez.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.