DraftKings picks: Harper, A-Gone, Felix
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Monday.
Bryce Harper (Nationals): With 18 homers, 43 RBIs and a .329 average across 161 at-bats, the outfielder has arguably been the best hitter in baseball this season. Harper could be worth a large expenditure by DraftKings participants when he brings his career .914 OPS against right-handers (.739 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Blue Jays righty R.A. Dickey, who has surrendered 73 homers across 78 starts since the outset of the 2013 season.
Ryan Braun (Brewers): The outfielder has excelled vs. left-handers throughout his career, posting a 1.030 OPS in those situations (.879 vs. righties). On Monday, he could reach base often when he faces Cardinals southpaw Jaime Garcia, the owner of a lifetime 1.31 WHIP.
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Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers): Lucroy is back from the disabled list and could quickly reclaim his status as one of the Majors' most productive catchers. He will have a good chance to make progress in that quest Monday, when he brings his lifetime .879 OPS against lefties (.738 vs. right-handers) into a matchup vs. Garcia, who has battled injuries since the outset of 2013.
Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers): On Monday, A-Gone could make improvements on his lifetime .912 OPS against right-handers (.773 vs. lefties) when he vacates his spacious home park to hit at homer-happy Coors Field against Rockies righty Kyle Kendrick (career 4.52 ERA, 1.37 WHIP).
Andre Ethier (Dodgers): With a lifetime .890 OPS against righty hurlers in comparison to a .642 mark vs. lefties, Ethier could drive in multiple runs against the right-handed Kendrick. Working in Ethier's favor could be the venue (Coors Field) and surrounding Los Angeles lineup, which is pacing the Majors with an .814 OPS against righties.
Joc Pederson (Dodgers): Pederson has worn out right-handers this season to the tune of a .979 OPS (.651 vs. lefties). And with 12 homers overall, the speedy outfielder could contribute in multiple ways when he faces Kendrick (6.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP in 2015) on Monday. Moreover, Pederson could benefit from hitting into a Rockies defense that ranks 26th in the Majors with a .676 defensive efficiency ratio.
Jimmy Rollins (Dodgers): Rollins, who's hitting just .206 this season, could have an affordable DraftKings price tag for his Monday matchup at Coors Field. Having recorded five steals in 2015, the shortstop could swipe a base against catcher Nick Hundley, who sometimes struggles to control opposing baserunners.
Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs): With a lofty lifetime .326/.419/.606 slash line against left-handers, Goldschmidt may thrive at his hitter-friendly home park against Braves southpaw Alex Wood on Monday. So far this year, the southpaw has produced a 1.50 WHIP.
A.J. Pollock (D-backs): With five homers, 11 steals, 33 runs and a .309 average across 178 at-bats, Pollock has been an asset to DraftKings participants on many occasions this season. The outfielder could reach base often and score multiple runs when he takes his career .869 OPS against lefties (.730 vs. right-handers) into a matchup with Wood.
Mark Trumbo (D-backs): The outfielder has shown immense power against lefties, slugging 40 homers across 619 career at-bats in those situations. Thanks in large part to that success, the righty slugger has recorded an .834 OPS in his matchups with opposite-handed hurlers (.737 vs. righties). Playing on a team with several key hitters who have traditionally excelled vs. southpaws, Trumbo could be part of a high-scoring offense during Monday's home contest against Wood.
Felix Hernandez (Mariners): The right-hander has gone 8-1 with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP across his first 10 starts and has arguably been baseball's most effective pitcher this season. He could continue to compile dominant frames on Monday, when he faces the Yankees at spacious Safeco Field.
Andrew Cashner (Padres): Righty Cashner has excelled at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, where he has posted a career 2.12 ERA. He could extend his home-field dominance on Monday, when he faces a Mets lineup that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .646 OPS against right-handers.
Gerrit Cole (Pirates): Cole is quickly becoming a fantasy ace, having produced a 2.11 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 70 whiffs across 10 starts this season. On Monday, the right-hander could thrive at pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, where he will look to triumph in a seemingly advantageous matchup against Ryan Vogelsong (career 4.41 ERA, 1.39 WHIP).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Saturday's games.