Ortiz, Davis could show off big power

Duda with bat, Scherzer from mound also represent solid picks for Sunday

April 8th, 2016

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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants Sunday:
David Ortiz: The slugger will be ready to display his power when he faces fly-ball-prone righty Marco Estrada (career 1.4 HR/9 rate) at homer-happy Rogers Centre. Much or Ortiz's career-long productivity can be traced to an impressive lifetime .293/.396/.579 slash line against right-handers.
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Lucas Duda: The first baseman has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has logged a lifetime .842 OPS (.670 vs. lefties). Duda could drive in multiple runs when he tangles with Phillies righty Jeremy Hellickson, who has produced a 4.78 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP since the outset of the 2013 season.
Curtis Granderson: From his perch atop the lineup, Granderson could reach base often or score multiple runs at the expense of Hellickson (4.62 ERA, 1.33 WHIP in 2015) and a Phillies relief corps that lacks reliable options. In his career, Granderson has registered an .859 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .695 mark vs. lefties.
Neil Walker: As a big leaguer, Walker has posted an .801 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .657 mark vs. lefties. The second baseman could be part of a Mets stack -- along with Duda, Granderson and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera -- against Hellickson (career 4.35 FIP) and a suspect Philadelphia bullpen.

Cory Spangenberg: The second baseman could provide cost-effective production at a premium position when he brings his lifetime .743 OPS against right-handers (.678 vs. lefties) into offense-inducing Coors Field to face righty Chad Bettis (career 5.31 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). Spangenberg could also excel late in the game against a Rockies relief corps that lacks a reliable bridge to closer Jake McGee.
Wil Myers: Myers will be in position to thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and faces Bettis (4.23 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2015) at homer-happy Coors Field. During his career, the first baseman has logged a .745 OPS against right-handers, which exceeds his .699 mark vs. lefties.
Chris Davis: With 127 homers and 328 RBIs since the outset of 2013, Davis is arguably the most powerful slugger in baseball. The first baseman could rip a round-tripper at his hitter-friendly home park when he brings his lifetime .877 OPS against right-handers (.740 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Rays fly-ball-prone right-hander Jake Odorizzi.

Jonathan Schoop: Schoop posted an impressive .301/.329/.563 slash line against right-handers during a breakout 2015 season in which he tallied 15 homers across 305 at-bats overall. The second baseman could provide DraftKings participants with power at a premium position when he hits at home against Odorizzi.
Pedro Alvarez: Having hit 114 of his 131 career homers against right-handers, the slugger will be in prime position to put a ball into the outfield seats when he faces Odorizzi (lifetime 1.0 HR/9 rate). In his career, Alvarez has registered a .791 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .599 mark vs. lefties.
Craig Gentry: The right-handed-hitting outfielder may be a cost-effective option in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .720 OPS against left-handers (.631 vs. righties) into a matchup against Rangers southpaw Martin Perez (lifetime 4.19 ERA, 1.39 WHIP). In his career, Perez has allowed right-handed batters to post a .769 OPS (.655 OPS allowed to lefty hitters).
Matt Carpenter: Carpenter -- who showed improved power by hitting 28 homers in 2015 -- owns a lifetime .851 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .765 mark vs. lefties. From his perch atop the lineup, the third baseman could reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces Braves righty Williams Perez (career 4.78 ERA, 1.55 WHIP).
Kolten Wong: Wong has produced notable career splits, with a .700 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .603 mark vs. lefties. The second baseman has the plate skills to thrive against Williams (lifetime 4.87 FIP), and he could swipe a base against catchers A.J. Pierzynski or Tyler Flowers. Both backstops were among the bottom-10 catchers in steals allowed in 2015.
Matt Adams: With a lifetime .295/.337/.484 slash line against right-handers, Adams could be part of a Cardinals stack -- along with Carpenter, Wong and outfielder Randal Grichuk -- against Perez.
Matt Harvey: Harvey -- who owns an impressive lifetime 2.56 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP -- could post a substantial total in DraftKings contests when he works at home against the Phillies on Sunday. Philadelphia's lineup includes just one player (Ryan Howard) who exceeded the 15-homer mark in 2015.
Adam Wainwright: With a lifetime 2.99 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, Wainwright has the skills to spin a gem when he travels to pitcher-friendly Turner Field to face a Braves lineup that does not include a single player who hit 20 homers in 2015. The right-hander could combine several effective innings with a win in a seemingly advantageous matchup with Perez.

Dallas Keuchel: The 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner could use his ground-ball tendencies to pitch a gem when he heads to the Senior Circuit to face the Brewers. Keuchel may also come away with a win if his talented supporting cast can have success against Jimmy Nelson (career 4.16 ERA, 1.30 WHIP).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Friday's games.
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