DraftKings: Freeman, Pierzynski likely to blast Red Sox
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 Monday.
Freddie Freeman (Braves): The first baseman could improve on his lifetime .886 OPS against right-handers (.741 vs. lefties) when he heads to Fenway Park to face Red Sox righty Rick Porcello, who has posted a 5.26 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP this season.
A.J. Pierzynski (Braves): Pierzynski has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has produced a career .768 OPS (.661 vs. lefties). The catcher could be part of a productive lineup against Porcello (career 4.36 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), as the Braves will be playing at hitter-friendly Fenway Park as opposed to their pitcher-friendly home venue.
Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox): From his perch atop the lineup, the second baseman could reach base often or score multiple runs when he faces rookie righty Williams Perez. Pedroia owns a career .297/.355/.439 slash line against right-handers, and Perez has posted a 1.44 WHIP across 33 1/3 Major League innings.
Chris Davis (Orioles): The first baseman could show off his power at homer-happy Camden Yards when he puts his lifetime .844 OPS against right-handers (.738 vs. lefties) to the test against fly-ball-prone righty Aaron Harang (career 1.35 WHIP).
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): The outfielder could provide DraftKings participants with difference-making stats when he brings his lofty lifetime .977 OPS against left-handers (.855 vs. righties) into a matchup with White Sox rookie southpaw Carlos Rodon (1.55 WHIP). Notably, McCutchen -- who has batted .329 since May 1 -- will hit into a White Sox defense that ranks last in the Majors with a .663 defensive efficiency ratio.
Starling Marte (Pirates): With 12 homers and 11 steals, Marte has aided DraftKings participants on many occasions this season. The outfielder could reach base often when he brings his career .983 OPS against lefties (.744 vs. right-handers) into a matchup with the inexperienced Rodon. He could also swipe a bag against catcher Tyler Flowers, who sometimes struggles to thwart would-be base stealers.
Denard Span (Nationals): From the leadoff spot, Span could score multiple runs against the Rays' Erasmo Ramirez, who has posted a 4.96 ERA this season. For his part, the outfielder has registered a career .759 OPS against right-handers such as Ramirez, in comparison to a .715 mark vs. lefties.
Joc Pederson (Dodgers): With 17 long balls across 206 at-bats, the outfielder has delivered premier power during his first full Major League season. With an .937 OPS against right-handers in comparison to an .915 mark vs. lefties in 2015, Pederson could homer at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington against Rangers righty Yovani Gallardo (career 1.30 WHIP).
Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers): The first baseman could thrive when he takes his lifetime .910 OPS against right-handers (.772 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the Rangers' Gallardo. With the benefit of playing in Texas' offense-inducing venue and the designated-hitter rule, Los Angeles' NL club could improve on its big league-best .800 OPS against right-handers.
Joey Gallo (Rangers): The third baseman, who is hitting .306 with three homers across 36 at-bats since a June 2 callup, has certainly displayed his potent bat. On Monday, the lefty-hitting Gallo could demonstrate his pop at his power-happy home park against Dodgers righty Carlos Frias. The hurler owns a career 4.76 ERA and could struggle on the road against a Texas lineup that ranks second in the Majors in runs scored since May 1.
Eric Hosmer (Royals): Hosmer, the owner of a lifetime .793 OPS vs. right-handers (.677 vs. lefties), could find considerable success Monday when he vacates his spacious home venue to hit at offense-inducing Miller Park against Brewers righty Kyle Lohse. In addition to posting a 6.27 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and a 1.8 HR/9 rate this season, during his big league tenure Lohse has allowed left-handed hitters such as Hosmer to notch a .780 OPS (.734 opponents' OPS vs. righties).
Kendrys Morales (Royals): The switch-hitting Morales has long fared best batting lefty against right-handers, registering an .811 OPS in those situations compared to a .720 mark vs. lefties. With that in mind, look for the Royals slugger to have a strong contest on Monday against Lohse, who has a career 4.34 ERA.
Francisco Liriano (Pirates): Liriano could dominate when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a White Sox lineup that ranks last in the Majors with a .542 OPS against lefties. The southpaw has produced a 3.25 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP this season, and he owns a lifetime 3.32 ERA at PNC Park.
Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees): Despite pitching in the American League and making roughly half his starts at offense-inducing Yankee Stadium, Tanaka has produced a 2.71 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP as a Major Leaguer. On Monday, Tanaka could thrive at Miami's pitcher-friendly venue against a Marlins lineup that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .664 OPS vs. righties.
Dallas Keuchel (Astros): With a 1.90 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, the left-hander has been one of this season's top performers. Keuchel could continue to thrive when he works at home against a Rockies lineup that traditionally fares better at Coors Field and ranks 22nd in the Majors with a .677 OPS against southpaws.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Saturday's games.