Kipnis, Altuve, Tanaka highlight daily fantasy picks
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.
Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins): The shortstop could be an economical selection in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .704 OPS against left-handers (.611 vs. righties) into a matchup with Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. The rookie lefty has produced a 6.63 FIP across his initial three Major League starts. Of note: Hechavarria and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Phillies defense that sits last in the Majors with a .659 defensive efficiency ratio.
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Michael Morse (Marlins): Hitting .201 this season, the first baseman could have a reduced cost in DraftKings contests when he brings his balanced career splits into a homer-happy venue to face the inexperienced Morgan (1.32 WHIP). Morse -- who owns a lifetime .804 OPS vs. lefties -- could rip a round-tripper against the Philadelphia southpaw, who has allowed five homers across 16 2/3 innings.
Jose Altuve (Astros): With a lifetime .344/.386/.477 slash line against left-handers, the second baseman has proven to be among the best in baseball in those matchups. Altuve could reach base often or score multiple runs when he hits at home against Rangers southpaw Martin Perez (career 1.39 WHIP), who is set to make his first start in more than a year after Tommy John surgery.
Carlos Correa (Astros): Since being summoned to the Majors on June 8, the shortstop has impressed by compiling seven homers and five steals across 141 plate appearances. Correa -- who has registered a .340/.377/.680 slash line against southpaws -- could post difference-making totals in DraftKings contests when he meets up with Perez.
Jason Kipnis (Indians): Hitting .323 with 10 steals and 59 runs scored across 403 plate appearances, Kipnis has been among the most productive second basemen this season. The leadoff hitter could continue to spark the lineup when he takes his lifetime .810 OPS against right-handers (.670 vs. lefties) to hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park to face righty Mike Leake (career 1.29 WHIP).
Brandon Moss (Indians): Having hit 89 of his 105 career homers against right-handers, Moss is a candidate to put a ball into the outfield seats when he faces Leake (career 4.20 FIP, 1.1 HR/9 rate) at a homer-happy road venue.
Joey Votto (Reds): As a big leaguer, Votto has produced an impressive .315/.427/.546 slash line against righties. With a patient, powerful approach, the first baseman could be the perfect foil for Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, whose inconsistent control has contributed to a career 1.36 WHIP.
Salvador Perez (Royals): The catcher has long fared best vs. left-handers, against whom he has a career .803 OPS (.723 vs. righties). Perez could provide production from a premium position when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and bats at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field against southpaw John Danks (5.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP in 2015) in Game 2 of a doubleheader.
Alex Rios (Royals): Hitting .316 across 38 July at-bats, Rios seems to be back on track after an injury-affected start to the season. The outfielder could improve on his lifetime .793 OPS against left-handers (.740 vs. righties) at the expense of Danks (career 1.34 WHIP). Of note: Rios and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a White Sox defense that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .667 defensive efficiency ratio.
Justin Upton (Padres): With 14 homers and 17 steals across 362 plate appearances, Upton has been a factor in many 2015 DraftKings contests. The outfielder has the skill set to contribute in multiple ways when he brings his lifetime .898 OPS against left-handers (.800 vs. righties) into a matchup with Rockies southpaw Jorge De La Rosa (career 4.59 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).
Derek Norris (Padres): Norris has produced pronounced lifetime splits, with an .836 OPS against left-handers that greatly exceeds his .641 mark vs. righties. The catcher could excel when he faces De La Rosa (1.42 WHIP in 2015), who in his career has allowed right-handed hitters such as Norris to post a .793 OPS (.642 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Adam LaRoche (White Sox): The slugger has recorded 202 of his 252 career homers against right-handers, which has aided him in producing an .839 OPS in those matchups (.705 vs. lefties). LaRoche could go deep at his hitter-friendly home park when he faces Royals fly-ball-prone righty Chris Young (career 1.1 HR/9 rate) in the second game of Friday's twin bill.
Jose Abreu (White Sox): With 38 homers across 674 career at-bats against right-handers, Abreu is another White Sox slugger with the skills to put one of Young's offerings into the outfield seats at offense-inducing U.S. Cellular Field. This season, Abreu has delivered 12 of his 14 homers at the expense of righties.
Jose Fernandez (Marlins): With a 2.08 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 15 strikeouts across 13 innings in a pair of starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, Fernandez has already regained his status as a fantasy ace. The right-hander could continue to dominate the competition when he faces a Phillies lineup that ranks last in baseball with a .648 OPS against righties. He could also come away with a win in a seemingly advantageous matchup against Morgan.
Kyle Hendricks (Cubs): The right-hander possesses elite control, which has allowed him to produce a 3.06 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP during his big league tenure. Hendricks could excel when he heads to pitcher-friendly Turner Field to face a Braves lineup that ranks last in the Majors with 57 homers and will work without centerpiece Freddie Freeman, who is on the disabled list.
Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees): With a 1.03 WHIP and 67 strikeouts across 67 innings, Tanaka has made a notable difference in several 2015 DraftKings contests. The right-hander could compile several quality frames when he faces a Mariners lineup that sits 24th in the Majors with a .676 OPS against righties.
Sonny Gray (A's): With a 2.04 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, Gray has been among the best pitchers in baseball this season. The right-hander could combine dominant innings with a win when he plies his trade at his pitcher-friendly home park in a seemingly advantageous matchup against Twins right-hander Ervin Santana, who has produced a 6.00 ERA across a pair of 2015 starts.