DraftKings picks: Bryant could go deep vs. Lorenzen
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 on Thursday.
David Ortiz (Red Sox): Hitting .219 with six homers across 196 at-bats this season, the slugger could have an economical DraftKings price tag. He will bring an impressive career .293/.396/.574 slash line against right-handers into a matchup with Orioles righty Chris Tillman (career 4.53 FIP) at hitter-friendly Camden Yards.
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Pablo Sandoval (Red Sox): The third baseman has traditionally fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has registered a lifetime .848 OPS (.681 vs. lefties). Sandoval could display his power at a homer-happy road venue vs. a starter in Tillman who owns a career 1.2 HR/9 rate.
Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox): With a career .297/.356/.439 slash line against right-handers, the second baseman could be part of a Red Sox stack against Tillman (5.61 ERA, 1.62 WHIP in 2015) at Baltimore's offense-inducing venue.
Adam Jones (Orioles): Jones could improve on his lifetime .273/.324/.428 slash line against left-handers at the expense of the Red Sox southpaw Wade Miley, who has a career 1.33 WHIP. As a big leaguer, Miley has allowed right-handed hitters such as Jones to post a .748 OPS (.658 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Matt Wieters (Orioles): The catcher could thrive when he puts his lifetime .829 OPS against left-handers (.713 vs. righties) to the test at his hitter-friendly home park against Miley (4.67 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 2015). On an evening with a light schedule, DraftKings participants may wish to stack players on both sides of the Orioles-Red Sox game, in hopes of benefiting from a high-scoring contest.
Mike Trout (Angels): With a career .311/.395/.564 slash line against right-handers, the superstar outfielder could thrive in a matchup with Rays righty Alex Colome (lifetime 4.54 FIP, 1.38 WHIP). On an evening without high-end hurlers on the schedule, DraftKings participants could combine elite hitters such as Trout with low-cost pitchers.
Buster Posey (Giants): With a career .328/.388/.568 slash line against lefties, Posey wields one of baseball's most potent bats in those matchups. The catcher could reach base often or flash his power when he faces Mets southpaw Jon Niese, who has a 4.43 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP this season.
Nori Aoki (Giants): Hitting .323 with 12 steals across 247 plate appearances this season, the outfielder has proven to be a skilled leadoff hitter for the Giants. From his perch atop the lineup, he could score multiple runs and improve on his lifetime .777 OPS against left-handers (.736 vs. righties) at the expense of Niese.
Brandon Crawford (Giants): Crawford could be a valuable part of a Giants stack against Niese (career 1.37 WHIP). The shortstop -- who has historically fared best vs. southpaws -- is hitting .289 with eight homers and 38 RBIs across 201 at-bats this season.
Anthony Rizzo (Cubs): As a big leaguer, Rizzo has handled right-handers to the tune of an .850 OPS (.754 vs. lefties). The first baseman could reach base often when he faces Reds first-year righty Michael Lorenzen, who has posted a 1.38 WHIP across 38 1/3 innings.
Miguel Montero (Cubs): Montero could provide DraftKings participants with a productive catcher when he brings his lifetime .794 OPS against right-handers (.655 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the inexperienced Lorenzen (5.82 FIP in 2015).
Kris Bryant (Cubs): The third baseman could excel in a battle of first-year players when he puts his .898 OPS against right-handers (.668 vs. lefties) up against Lorenzen. Bryant has collected seven homers across 177 at-bats this season, after totaling 43 round-trippers in the Minors a year ago. With his power, he could be a difference-maker for DraftKings participants with one swing of the bat.
Chris Coghlan (Cubs): On a night with a light schedule, DraftKings participants could roster Coghlan as an inexpensive part of a Cubs stack against Lorenzen, who made just three Triple-A appearances before jumping to the Majors. Coghlan has produced notable career splits, with a .769 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .650 mark vs. lefties.
Tsuyoshi Wada (Cubs): The left-hander -- who has posted a lifetime 3.45 ERA -- could be stacked with the previously mentioned Cubs hitters. With a career 7.8 K/9 rate, Wada could be a cost-effective choice for DraftKings participants if he can compile several strikeouts and a victory against Cincinnati.
Tanner Roark (Nationals): After posting a 2.85 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP across 31 starts last season, the righty has allowed seven runs across three starts since rejoining Washington's rotation on May 25. Roark could continue to work effectively as a starter when he faces a Brewers lineup that ranks 24th in the Majors with a .678 OPS against righties.
David Phelps (Marlins): Phelps is coming off a rough start at Coors Field, but he had carried a respectable season-to-date 3.50 ERA into that outing. The right-hander could fare much better Thursday, when he faces Colorado at his pitcher-friendly home park; the Rockies have several key hitters who tend to regress when playing on the road.
Tim Lincecum (Giants): The owner of a 3.29 ERA this season, Lincecum is set to work at pitcher-friendly Citi Field against a Mets lineup that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .661 OPS vs. righties.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.