DraftKings picks: McCann, Bautista, Kiermaier
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Monday.
Brian McCann (Yankees): The catcher could display his power at homer-happy Yankee Stadium when he puts his lifetime .833 OPS vs. right-handers (.749 vs. lefties) up against Phillies righty Kevin Correia. The 34-year-old hurler will make his third start of the season after posting a 5.44 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP last year.
Brett Gardner (Yankees): With 24 homers and 36 steals since the outset of 2014, the outfielder has shown that he can contribute to DraftKings squads in multiple ways. At Yankee Stadium on Monday, he could flash his power or score multiple runs against Correia (career 4.57 ERA), or swipe a base against catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has allowed more steals this season than all but four catchers.
Alex Rodriguez (Yankees): Holding a career .303/.383/.561 slash line against righty pitchers and batting from his premium lineup position, the slugger could be a key part of a Yankees stack against Correia. Rodriguez could do so as part of a productive lineup, as the Yankees rank second in the Majors with 322 runs scored overall and an .828 OPS at home.
Chase Headley (Yankees): Headley could complete a Yankees stack when he puts his lifetime .765 OPS against right-handers (.718 vs. lefties) on the line against Correia (career 1.42 WHIP). Of note: Headley and his teammates will hit into a Phillies defense that ranks 27th in the Majors with a .672 defensive efficiency ratio.
Jose Bautista (Blue Jays): Since the outset of the 2010 season, Bautista has registered an impressive .268/.391/.554 slash line against right-handers. The outfielder -- who has hit .317 with six homers and 20 RBIs across 82 at-bats since May 26 -- could drive in multiple runs against righty Matt Andriese, who has logged just 30 1/3 Major League innings.
Kevin Kiermaier (Rays): Kiermaier has produced pronounced lifetime splits, with an .810 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .513 mark vs. lefties. The outfielder could reach base often or score multiple runs against righty Drew Hutchison (career 4.71 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) and a Blue Jays bullpen that lacks elite options.
David DeJesus (Rays): DeJesus could join Kiermaier as economical additions for DraftKings participants when he puts his lifetime .808 OPS against right-handers (.661 vs. lefties) up against the inconsistent Hutchison (5.33 ERA, 1.38 WHIP in 2015).
Brad Miller (Mariners): Miller could be a cost-effective option at a premium position when he brings his career .747 OPS against right-handers (.558 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Royals righty Joe Blanton (4.98 ERA since 2010).
Seth Smith (Mariners): Smith has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has a lifetime .834 OPS (.620 vs. lefties). The outfielder could excel against Blanton, who has thrown 20 innings this year after posting a 6.04 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP in 2013 and not pitching in the Majors during the '14 season.
Kyle Seager (Mariners): With a career .798 OPS against right-handers (.686 vs. lefties), the third baseman could complete a Seattle stack against Blanton. By compiling 11 homers and 37 RBIs across 251 at-bats this season, Seager has cemented his status as one of the best power hitters at his position.
Brian Dozier (Twins): Having tallied 13 homers and 54 runs across 297 plate appearances, the second baseman has been among the best options at his premium position this season. Dozier could reach base often and score multiple runs when he takes his lifetime .863 OPS against left-handers (.689 vs. righties) into a matchup with White Sox southpaw John Danks (career 4.33 ERA, 1.34 WHIP).
Trevor Plouffe (Twins): Plouffe -- who has compiled nine homers and 38 RBIs across 241 at-bats this season -- could be stacked with Dozier, in hopes that the former will drive in the latter on multiple occasions. Having registered a career .815 OPS against left-handed hurlers (.694 vs. righties), the third baseman could excel against Danks (5.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 2015).
Howie Kendrick (Dodgers): The second baseman could thrive when he leaves his pitcher-friendly home park to hit at Wrigley Field against Cubs southpaw Tsuyoshi Wada. Kendrick has registered a lifetime .790 OPS against left-handers (.743 vs. righties), and Wada has not finished the sixth inning in five of six starts this season.
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): In his past five starts, Kershaw has dominated the competition to the tune of a 49-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The left-hander -- who posted an incredible 1.80 ERA across the 2013-14 seasons -- could compile a handful of strikeouts and dominant frames when he faces a Cubs lineup that ranks second in the Majors with 627 whiffs. He could also come away with a win in a seemingly advantageous matchup vs. Wada.
Felix Hernandez (Mariners): Like Kershaw, Hernandez could be worth a large expenditure by DraftKings participants, as he'll bring his dominant skills into a matchup against a subpar starter (Blanton). The right-hander -- who will work at his pitcher-friendly home park on Monday -- has gone 25-9 with a 2.40 ERA since the outset of 2014.
Michael Pineda (Yankees): With a 3.54 ERA and 87 strikeouts across 81 1/3 innings, Pineda has been a productive starter for DraftKings participants on many occasions this season. On Monday, the right-hander may dominate a Phillies lineup that ranks last in the Majors in runs scored (211) and OPS vs. righties (.620). He could also pick up a win if his high-scoring lineup mates succeed against Correia.
Tommy Milone (Twins): The left-hander could be a cost-effective second starter when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a White Sox lineup that ranks last in baseball by a wide margin with a .516 OPS vs. southpaws. Since rejoining the rotation on June 4, Milone has posted a 2.37 ERA and a 13-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio across three starts.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Saturday's games.