Brewers, Reds could pound each other at plate
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.
Chris Davis (Orioles): With 38 homers across 474 at-bats this season, the first baseman continues to be one of the most powerful sluggers in baseball. Davis could rip a round-tripper when he bring his lifetime .858 OPS against right-handers (.746 vs. lefties) into a matchup with fly-ball-prone Blue Jays righty Drew Hutchison (career 4.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP in 2015) at homer-happy Rogers Centre.
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Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals): The shortstop will be poised to provide production at a premium position when he brings his lifetime .796 OPS against left-handers (.744 vs. righties) into a matchup with Pirates southpaw J.A. Happ (career 4.22 ERA, 1.39 WHIP). Also of note: Peralta and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Pirates squad that sits 24th in the Majors with a .680 defensive efficiency ratio.
Scooter Gennett (Brewers): The second baseman owns some of the most lopsided splits in baseball, with an .815 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .295 mark vs. lefties. Gennett may reach base often when he meets up with Reds rookie righty Keyvius Sampson (6.43 ERA, 1.79 WHIP) at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Adam Lind (Brewers): The first baseman -- who has hit .304 with 18 homers and 68 RBIs across 336 at-bats against right-handers this season -- has produced a career .866 OPS against righties that exceeds his .587 mark vs. southpaws. Lind will be poised to produce when he faces the inexperienced Sampson at Cincinnati's offense-inducing venue.
Joey Votto (Reds): The first baseman has used a patient, powerful approach to build an impressive career .318/.434/.552 slash line against right-handers. Votto -- who has hit .399 with 12 homers across 143 at-bats since the All-Star break -- could excel when he hits at home against Brewers righty Matt Garza (5.56 ERA, 1.54 WHIP in 2015).
Jay Bruce (Reds): As a big leaguer, Bruce has excelled when facing right-handers (.811 OPS) and when batting at his offense-inducing home park (.834 OPS). The outfielder could rip a round-tripper or drive in multiple runs when he hits at home against Garza (career 1.30 WHIP).
Buster Posey (Giants): With a lifetime .330/.386/.561 line against left-handers, the catcher has proven to be among the best in baseball during those matchups. Posey could be worth a major expenditure in DraftKings contests when he ventures into homer-happy Coors Field to face Rockies southpaw Jorge De La Rosa (career 4.58 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).
Nori Aoki (Giants): From his perch atop the lineup, Aoki may maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he brings his career .777 OPS against left-handers (.724 vs. righties) into a matchup with De La Rosa (4.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP in 2015). The outfielder may also excel late in the game against a Rockies relief corps that ranks last in baseball with a 4.83 ERA.
Marlon Byrd (Giants): The outfielder will be primed to rip a round-tripper when he puts his lifetime .806 OPS against left-handers (.741 vs. righties) to the test against De La Rosa. In his career, De La Rosa has allowed right-handed hitters such as Byrd to post a .793 OPS (.637 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies): In his career, the outfielder has fared best when facing right-handers (.301/.366/.501 line) and when working at his hitter-friendly home park (.332/.393/.622 line). Gonzalez could drive in multiple runs when he hits at home against Giants rookie righty Chris Heston, who has posted a 4.28 ERA across 12 road outings.
Nick Hundley (Rockies): The catcher -- who has posted a .360/.396/.577 slash line at Coors Field this season -- has produced a lifetime .731 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .614 mark vs. lefties. Hitting at home, Hundley could be poised for a productive game when he faces Heston.
Robinson Cano (Mariners): The second baseman -- who has hit .339 since July 1 -- owns an impressive lifetime .317/.364/.523 slash line against right-handers. Cano will be set to thrive when he faces righty Aaron Brooks (career 9.00 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) and an A's bullpen that sits 26th in baseball with a 4.43ERA.
Jacob deGrom (Mets): With a season-to-date 2.32 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP, deGrom has established himself as one of the most dominant starters in baseball. The right-hander could spin a gem when he travels to pitcher-friendly Marlins Park to face a Miami lineup that ranks last in baseball with a .668 OPS against righties.
Luis Severino (Yankees): With a 2.17 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across his initial five starts, the rookie righty has already become a trusted option for DraftKings participants. Severino will be in position to continue his successful debut when he meets up with a Rays lineup that ranks 27th in the Majors with a .687 OPS against righties.
Kris Medlen (Royals): With a career 2.98 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, Medlen has the skills to excel as the newest member of the Royals rotation. Backed by a squad that leads the Majors with a .709 defensive efficiency ratio, the right-hander could compile quality frames when he faces a White Sox lineup that ranks 24th in baseball with a .698 OPS against righties.
Joe Kelly (Red Sox): With a season-to-date 4.94 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, the right-hander could have an economical price tag in DraftKings contests when he faces a Phillies lineup that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .683 OPS against righties. Kelly has emerged from his early-season struggles to post a 1.69 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across his past five starts.
Mike Bolsinger (Dodgers): Back from a stint in the Minors, Bolsinger will make his first start since July 29. The right-hander could thrive at pitcher-friendly Petco Park when he brings his season-to-date 2.83 ERA into a matchup with a Padres lineup that ranks 26th in the Majors with a .689 OPS against righties.