Yankees, Giants bats could lead hit parade

On mound, Marlins' Fernandez, Mets' Syndergaard could excel, too

April 11th, 2016

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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Tuesday.
Bryce Harper: Arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball, Harper had a .330/.460/.649 slash line in 2015. The outfielder could post a game-changing total in DraftKings contests when he faces Braves right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, who in his career has allowed left-handed hitters such as Harper to post a .767 OPS (.658 OPS allowed to righty batters).
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Daniel Murphy: Murphy has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he owns a lifetime .784 OPS (.682 vs. lefties). The second baseman could drive in multiple runs when he faces Chacin (career 4.07 FIP, 1.34 WHIP) and an unsettled Braves bullpen that ranked 29th in baseball with a 4.67 ERA in 2015.

David Ortiz: Much of the slugger's impressive lifetime resume can be attributed to a lofty .293/.396/.579 slash line against right-handers. Ortiz could produce a difference-making total in DraftKings contests when he hits at home against Orioles right-hander Mike Wright (career 6.04 ERA, 1.57 WHIP).
Denard Span: Hitting out of the leadoff spot, Span could reach base often and score multiple runs when he leads a deep Giants lineup into hitter-friendly Coors Field to take on right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who will be making his second start since April 29, 2014. In his career, the outfielder has posted a .760 OPS against right-handers (.711 vs. lefties).
Matt Duffy: Since the outset of his breakout 2015 season, Duffy has registered an .803 OPS against right-handers (.642 vs. lefties). The third baseman could thrive against Chatwood (career 4.29 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) and a Rockies relief corps that lacks a reliable bridge to closer Jake McGee and finished last in baseball with a 4.70 ERA in 2015.
Brandon Belt: Having hit 46 of his 64 career homers against right-handers (and 43 of his career homers on the road), Belt will be in prime position to go deep when he faces Chatwood (career 4.59 FIP) at Colorado's long-ball-inducing venue.

Brandon Crawford: After hitting 21 homers last season, the shortstop is regarded as one of the top power hitters at his premium position. Bringing balanced career splits to offense-inducing Coors Field, Crawford could be a key part of a Giants stack -- along with Span, Duffy and Belt -- against Chatwood and a suspect Colorado bullpen.
Nelson Cruz: With a lifetime .298/.374/.544 slash line vs. left-handers, Cruz has proven to be among the best in baseball during those matchups. The outfielder -- the only player to have hit 40 homers in each of the past two seasons -- could display his power when he tangles with Rangers southpaw Derek Holland (career 4.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP).
Franklin Gutierrez: Having produced pronounced career splits -- an .836 OPS against southpaws that exceeds his .657 mark vs. righties - Gutierrez could excel against the left-handed Holland (career 4.20 FIP) on Tuesday. Last year, the powerful outfielder belted 15 homers across 171 at-bats.
Jacoby Ellsbury: Batting leadoff, the outfielder with a lifetime .291/.343/.440 slash line against right-handers could reach base often and score multiple runs against Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez. As a big leaguer, Sanchez has allowed left-handed hitters such as Ellsbury to post a .788 OPS (.406 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Brian McCann: McCann -- who led all catchers with 26 homers last season -- could rip a round-tripper at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre when he faces Sanchez (career 4.02 FIP). Of note: The left-handed-hittingcatcher has registered a career .826 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .755 mark vs. southpaws.

Didi Gregorius: In his career, this shortstop has logged a .732 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .556 mark vs. lefties. On Tuesday, the left-handed hitter could provide DraftKings participants with cost-effective production against the righty Sanchez.
Kenta Maeda: After posting a 2.39 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across eight seasons in the Japan Central League, Maeda shut out the Padres across six innings in his Major League debut. The right-hander could limit the opposition when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a D-backs squad that is dealing with the injury of superstar sparkplug A.J. Pollock.
Gio Gonzalez: Gonzalez did not inspire DraftKings participants with his 3.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP last year, but his 3.07 FIP during the span suggests that better times could be on the horizon. The left-hander will be in prime position to spin a gem when he works at home against a Braves lineup that does not include a player who hit 20 homers last season and will be without injured sparkplug Ender Inciarte.
Jose Fernandez: Fernandez reminded DraftKings participants of his difference-making skill set when he struck out 13 Tigers in his 2016 debut. On Tuesday, the right-hander with a lifetime 10.7 K/9 rate could rack up a handful of strikeouts and scoreless frames against the Mets.

Noah Syndergaard: DraftKings participants who do not select Fernandez may instead opt for his opponent, Syndergaard. The Mets' hurler owns a 10.1 K/9 rate since debuting on May 12, 2015, and could also pad his K total during a home start vs. Miami.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Sunday's games.