DraftKings picks: Kershaw excels at home
Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball.
The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants today.
Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays): Donaldson -- who has hit .309 with 17 homers, 45 RBIs and 52 runs scored across 259 at-bats this season -- has produced an impressive lifetime .301/.379/.598 slash line against left-handers. He could be part of a productive lineup against Mets lefty Jon Niese (4.24 ERA, 1.49 WHIP in 2015) as the Blue Jays lead the Majors by a wide margin with an .876 OPS against southpaws.
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Danny Valencia (Blue Jays): Valencia has long fared best vs. left-handers, against whom he has produced a career .876 OPS (.622 vs. righties). With eligibility at third base and in the outfield in DraftKings contests, he could be a cost-effective option on a night with several attractive star sluggers.
Jose Reyes (Blue Jays): The shortstop could reach base often out of the leadoff spot when he brings his balanced career splits into a matchup with Niese (career 1.36 WHIP). Additionally, Reyes could score multiple times for a Blue Jays lineup that has compiled 66 more runs than any other team in the Majors this season.
Brian McCann (Yankees): The catcher could improve on his lifetime .833 OPS against right-handers (.748 vs. lefties) when he faces Marlins rookie righty Jose Urena, who has posted a 4.44 ERA across his initial 26 1/3 Major League innings.
Brett Gardner (Yankees): Gardner -- who has compiled 22 homers and 36 steals since the outset of the 2014 season -- can contribute in multiple ways when he brings his balanced career splits into a matchup with the inexperienced Urena. The outfielder could put a ball into the outfield seats at homer-happy Yankee Stadium or swipe a base against an inexperienced battery of Urena and catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Alex Rodriguez (Yankees): The slugger -- who has hit 12 homers across 210 at-bats this season -- could be involved in plenty of run scoring from his premium lineup position against a possibly overmatched Urena. Having made just six appearances at the Triple-A level before joining the Marlins, the righty hurler could struggle at an offense-inducing American League ballpark.
Chris Davis (Orioles): Hitting .230 this season, the first baseman could have an economical DraftKings price tag when he faces Phillies righty Kevin Correia, who will be making his second start of the season after posting a 5.44 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP a year ago. Since the outset of 2012, Davis has produced an .889 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .755 mark vs. lefties.
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): With a career .325/.412/.564 slash line vs. lefties, McCutchen has proven to be among the best in baseball in those matchups. The outfielder could drive in multiple runs when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park for homer-happy U.S. Cellular Field to face southpaw John Danks, who has a 4.92 ERA since the outset of the 2012 season.
Starling Marte (Pirates): With 12 homers and 11 steals across 62 games played, the outfielder has been a difference-maker for DraftKings participants on a number of occasions this season. Marte could improve on his lofty lifetime .980 OPS against left-handers (.751 vs. righties) when he faces Danks (5.16 ERA, 1.53 WHIP in 2015) at a hitter-friendly venue.
DJ LeMahieu (Rockies): Hitting .333 this season, the second baseman could reach base often when he bats out of a premium lineup position at his hitter-friendly home park against Astros southpaw Brett Oberholtzer. The left-handed hurler has produced a career 1.30 WHIP that factors in a 1.50 mark during an injury-affected 2015 season.
George Springer (Astros): With 22 homers across 365 career at-bats against right-handers, the outfielder could rip a round-tripper when he faces Rockies righty Kyle Kendrick (5.87 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2015) at homer-happy Coors Field.
Evan Gattis (Astros): Gattis could hit his 13th homer of the season against Kendrick, who has posted a 1.37 WHIP and a 1.2 HR/9 rate in his career. The slugger -- who owns balanced lifetime splits -- has driven in 30 runs across 160 at-bats since May 1. Also of note: Gattis will hit against a Rockies squad that ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .682 defensive efficiency ratio.
Bryce Harper (Nationals): Hitting .337 with 21 homers across 208 at-bats this season, the outfielder could improve on his lifetime .921 OPS against right-handers (.751 vs. lefties) when he faces Rays righty Matt Andriese. The inexperienced hurler has a 1.48 WHIP across 26 1/3 Major League innings.
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): The left-hander has regained the form that led to a 1.80 ERA from 2013-14 by posting a 56-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio across his past six starts. Kershaw could excel at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Rangers lineup that will have to work without a designated hitter and with several hitters who usually fare best against righties.
Michael Pineda (Yankees): With a 3.74 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 74 2/3 innings this season, the right-hander could have great success against a Marlins lineup that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .666 OPS against righties. Pineda could come away with a win if a high-scoring Yankees offense can compile runs against the inexperienced Urena.
Jesse Chavez (A's): Chavez has made the most of his second chance as a starter by posting a 2.91 ERA across 10 starts this season. The right-hander could compile several quality frames when he works at his offense-suppressing home park against a Padres lineup that ranks 26th in the Majors with a .669 OPS against righties.
Ubaldo Jimenez (Orioles): With a 3.19 ERA and 66 whiffs across 67 2/3 innings, Jimenez could compile several strikeouts and quality frames when he faces the Phillies on Wednesday. Philadelphia ranks last in the Majors in runs scored (197) and OPS vs. right-handers (.619).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Monday's games.