DraftKings picks: Kinsler, Kemp, Volquez
With eight games on the docket for Monday evening, DraftKings participants may be inclined to stack their hitting lineups with players who are facing a lower-tier starter or those who are playing at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Meanwhile, choosing effective starting pitchers could be the key to victory on this day, as quality hurler choices are scarce. A few of the best options to consider can be found below.
Rajai Davis (Tigers): The outfielder could score multiple runs out of his likely perch at the top of the lineup against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, who has compiled a 4.91 ERA since the beginning of the 2013 season. Davis has performed notably better against lefties in his career, posting an .808 OPS in those matchups compared with a .645 mark vs. right-handers.
Ian Kinsler (Tigers): Kinsler could be part of a Tigers-laden stack against Sabathia, as his career .881 OPS against lefties exceeds his .762 mark vs. right-handers. As a multidimensional talent, the second baseman could smack a homer or swipe a base.
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Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): Cabrera has been absolutely outstanding against lefties during his big league tenure, notching a .991 OPS in those matchups (.952 vs. right-handers). The superstar first baseman could lead the charge for a high-scoring Tigers offense.
Jose Iglesias (Tigers): The shortstop could be an inexpensive source of production for DraftKings participants, as he brings his career .760 OPS against southpaws (.676 vs. righties) into a matchup with Sabathia.
Carlos Santana (Indians): Because Santana possesses catcher eligibility in DraftKings, participants may find great value in rostering him in a matchup with White Sox left-hander John Danks. With a career .284/.393/.465 slash line against southpaws, Santana could fare well against Danks, who has a lifetime 4.30 ERA.
Corey Dickerson (Rockies): Dickerson could be primed for a big game when he brings his lifetime .935 OPS vs. right-handers (.689 against lefties) into a home matchup with Padres righty Odrisamer Despaigne. The Rockies outfielder has compiled a career 1.068 OPS at his hitter-friendly home park, and he has ripped 19 of his 31 career round-trippers at that venue.
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies): The outfielder is another Rockies slugger who could succeed vs. Despaigne, as he owns a career .912 OPS against right-handers (.779 vs. lefties). And with a lifetime 1.018 OPS at Coors Field, Gonzalez should relish the chance to hit at home.
Justin Morneau (Rockies): The first baseman could also have great success against the right-handed Despaigne, as his career .894 OPS vs. right-handers exceeds his .705 mark against lefties. DraftKings participants should also note that Morneau has hit .329 at home as opposed to .295 on the road since joining the Rockies prior the 2014 season.
Derek Norris (Padres): The catcher could flourish during a series at hitter-friendly Coors Field, especially in a matchup with Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa. Norris could rip a homer, as he has posted a lifetime .869 OPS against southpaws (.610 vs. righties).
Matt Kemp (Padres): The outfielder should excel in a matchup with De La Rosa, as his .952 career OPS vs. lefties compares favorably with his .806 mark against right-handers. With homer-happy Coors Field as his backdrop, Kemp could put a ball into the outfield seats.
Jedd Gyorko (Padres): DraftKings players could stack Padres hitters against Colorado's De La Rosa, who may struggle in his first start of the season after logging just 2 1/3 innings during Spring Training. And due to his lifetime .771 OPS against left-handers (.645 vs. righties), Gyorko could be an integral part of that lineup-building strategy.
Jarrod Dyson (Royals): The outfielder could have success against Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, as his career .687 OPS vs. righties exceeds his .536 mark against southpaws. Dyson has compiled 92 of his 120 career steals against righties, and he could add to that total against catcher Kurt Suzuki, who sometimes struggles to control the opposing running game.
Eric Hosmer (Royals): Hosmer has posted a lifetime .784 OPS against right-handers (.671 vs. lefties), and he could fare well against Gibson, who owns a 4.97 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
Trevor Bauer (Indians): The high-strikeout hurler has displayed remarkable swing-and-miss stuff across his first two starts this season, compiling 19 whiffs in 12 innings. Bauer seemingly has a distinct advantage in Monday's matchup with Danks, who has the third-highest ERA (4.75 ERA) among pitchers with at least 500 innings since the start of 2011.
Matt Shoemaker (Angels): After posting a 3.08 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP during a breakout season in 2014, the right-hander has registered quality starts in each of his two initial 2015 outings. Shoemaker could record low ratios and a win when he faces the A's at his pitcher-friendly home park.
Hisashi Iwakuma (Mariners): The right-hander could be a cost-effective DraftKings option for his scheduled start against the Astros following a pair of disappointing early-season outings. Iwakuma could rack up several whiffs against a group of Houston hitters who have struck out a big league-worst 106 times in 11 games.
Edinson Volquez (Royals): With a 2.30 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP across his first two starts of the season, Volquez is proving that he can sustain his 2014 improvements. Facing a Twins offense that ranks last in the American League this season with a .585 OPS, the Royals right-hander could deliver another terrific outing. And with Gibson (career 4.97 ERA) on the bump for the opposition, Volquez has a good chance to pick up a win.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Sunday's games.