DraftKings: Harper could lead power parade

Cano from plate, Strasburg from mound could also excel Wednesday

April 5th, 2016

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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Wednesday.
Bryce Harper: After hitting .330 with 42 homers in 2015, Harper is arguably the top offensive force in baseball. The outfielder could produce a difference-making total in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .957 OPS against right-handers (.783 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Braves righty Bud Norris (6.72 ERA, 1.58 WHIP in 2015).

Daniel Murphy: Murphy will be in prime position to drive in multiple runs when he faces Norris (career 4.44 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) and a Braves relief corps that finished 29th in baseball with a 4.67 ERA last season. In his career, the second baseman has registered a .785 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .676 mark vs. lefties.
Darin Ruf: The first baseman has pronounced lifetime splits, with a .946 OPS against left-handers and a .659 mark vs. righties. Ruf could rip a round-tripper as he visits hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park to face left-hander Brandon Finnegan, who will be making his fifth career start.
Cesar Hernandez: From his perch atop the lineup, Hernandez will maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he puts his lifetime .706 OPS against left-handers (.651 vs. righties) on the line against Finnegan (career 4.29 FIP). The second baseman could also thrive late in the game against a Reds relief corps that lacks reliable options.
Pedro Alvarez: Working at his hitter-friendly home park, the slugger could display his power when he faces Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson (lifetime 4.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). In his career, Alvarez has registered a .793 OPS against right-handers that greatly exceeds his .600 mark vs. southpaws. Additionally, he has hit 114 of his 131 career homers against righties.

Jonathan Schoop: After hitting 15 homers across 305 at-bats in 2015, Schoop has emerged as one of the most powerful second basemen in baseball. On Wednesday, he could drive in multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .731 OPS against right-handers (.558 vs. lefties) into his offense-inducing home park against Gibson (career 4.03 FIP).
Jason Castro: The catcher has registered lopsided lifetime splits, with a .752 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .548 mark vs. lefties. Castro could provide cost-effective production at a hard-to-fill position when he suits up at homer-happy Yankee Stadium to face righty Michael Pineda (4.37 ERA, 1.2 HR/9 rate in 2015).
David Peralta: Peralta's career has been propped up by his success vs. righties, against whom he owns a lifetime .321/.369/.535 slash line. On Wednesday, the outfielder could drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Rockies righty Tyler Chatwood, who will be making his first start since April 2014.
Adam Lind: Like Peralta, Lind has thrived vs. Major League righties -- hitting an impressive .293/.354/.509 slash line against them. On Wednesday, the first baseman could reach base often or drive in multiple runs when he ventures into hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington to tangle with righty Colby Lewis (lifetime 4.81 ERA, 1.37 WHIP).
Robinson Cano : Although he has held his own against southpa

ws, Cano is another option to crush righties on Wednesday. The numbers speak for themselves, as the left-handed hitter owns a lifetime .886 OPS against opposite-handed hurlers (.779 vs. lefties). On Wednesday at the Rangers' hitter-friendly home park, the second baseman could fare well against Lewis (4.66 ERA in '15).

Seth Smith: OK, now we are sensing a theme. Smith is yet another hitter who mashes righties, as he owns an .833 career OPS off them as compared to a lowly .602 mark against lefties. On Wednesday, he could drive in multiple runs against Lewis (career 4.47 FIP, 1.3 HR/9 rate) in hitter-friendly Texas.
Kyle Seager: At this point, you're thinking "Maybe I should set up a Mariners stack on Wednesday." Well, Seager will give you another option to do just that given his -- shocker -- success vs. right-handed pitching. With a lifetime .792 mark against them that exceeds his .710 clip vs. lefties, the third baseman could be party to a Mariners offensive parade against Lewis (4.15 FIP in '15) in Texas.
Delino DeShields: Finally, a matchup vs. a lefty pitcher! Hitting out of the leadoff spot, DeShields will be poised to reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces Mariners southpaw Wade Miley (career 1.33 WHIP). During a productive 2015 rookie season, the outfielder posted a .282/.363/.403 slash line against left-handers.
Elvis Andrus: DeShields' teammate, Andrus could provide production out of a tough-to-fill position when he bats at his offense-inducing home park against Miley (4.46 ERA, 1.37 WHIP in '15). For his part, the speedy shortstop owns a lifetime .718 OPS against left-handers in comparison to a .663 mark vs. righties.
Stephen Strasburg: With a lifetime 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 rate, Strasburg has the elite skills to post game-changing totals in DraftKings contests. The right-hander could spin a gem at pitcher-friendly Turner Field against a Braves lineup that does not include a single player who hit 20 homers in '15.

Kenta Maeda: DraftKings participants should strongly consider Maeda, who will be making his Major League debut at offense-suppressing Petco Park vs. a Padres lineup that contains just one player (Matt Kemp) who hit 15 homers last season. Before entering the states, the right-hander posted an impressive 2.39 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across eight seasons in Japan's Central League.
Carlos Rodon: One of the most talented young pitchers in baseball, Rodon posted a 1.81 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across the final eight starts of his rookie season in '15. The southpaw -- who owns a lifetime 9.0 K/9 rate -- could compile a handful of strikeouts and quality frames against the A's at pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.