DraftKings picks: Davis, Paredes, Duda
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.
Chris Davis (Orioles): The first baseman could rip a round-tripper at cozy Camden Yards on Friday, when he faces Angels righty Jered Weaver. The right-handed hurler is prone to fly balls, and Davis has compiled a lifetime .850 OPS against righties (.732 vs. lefties).
Jimmy Paredes (Orioles): The breakout candidate has hit .364 with five homers across 88 at-bats this season. On Friday, he could improve on his career .740 OPS against right-handers (.486 vs. lefties) at the expense of Weaver, who has surrendered 35 homers across 41 starts since the outset of last season.
Lucas Duda (Mets): On Friday, the first baseman will bring his lifetime .839 OPS against right-handers (.643 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Brewers righty Kyle Lohse. In his career, the right-hander has allowed left-handed hitters such as Duda to compile a .781 OPS (.732 OPS allowed to righty batters), and he has surrendered at least one homer in each of his seven starts this season.
Curtis Granderson (Mets): With a lifetime .856 OPS against right-handers (.701 vs. lefties), Granderson is another lefty hitter who could have success against Lohse, who has posted a 7.03 ERA this season.
George Springer (Astros): Having smacked 18 homers across 292 career at-bats against right-handed hurlers, Springer could add to R.A. Dickey's homer woes on Friday. Because the outfielder is hitting .196 this season, he could be a cost-effective hitter in DraftKings contests.
Ender Inciarte (D-backs): On Friday, the outfielder will bring his career .717 OPS against right-handers (.660 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Phillies righty Chad Billingsley at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. As a big leaguer, Billingsley has allowed left-handed hitters such as Inciarte to compile a .761 OPS (.660 OPS surrendered to righty batters).
Jason Heyward (Cardinals): Heyward has long fared best against right-handers, against whom he has posted a career .826 OPS (.658 vs. lefties). On Friday, the outfielder could display his extra-base power against Tigers righty Shane Greene (career 1.33 WHIP).
Angel Pagan (Giants): Pagan could fare well on Friday, when he gets away from his spacious home park and hits at offense-inducing Great American Ball Park against Reds righty Jason Marquis. The switch-hitting outfielder has recorded a lifetime .774 OPS against right-handers (.709 vs. lefties), and Marquis in his career has allowed those who bat from the left side to post a .798 OPS (.765 vs. righty hitters).
Hanley Ramirez (Red Sox): On Friday, Ramirez will bring his lofty lifetime .921 OPS against left-handers (.856 vs. righties) into a matchup with Mariners southpaw J.A. Happ. In the big leagues, the fly-ball-prone southpaw has allowed right-handed hitters such as Ramirez to compile a .759 OPS (.726 vs. lefty hitters).
Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox): With a lifetime .852 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .794 mark vs. righties, the second baseman could reach base often and score multiple runs against Happ (career 4.20 ERA, 1.38 WHIP).
Madison Bumgarner (Giants): With a 3.07 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in his career, the ace left-hander could have the skills to excel at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Bumgarner could come away with a win, as he will be opposed by Marquis, who has posted a 5.66 ERA in 2015 after missing all of last season.
Michael Pineda (Yankees): Pineda could attract substantial attention in DraftKings contests, as he is coming off a 16-strikeout performance against a powerful Orioles lineup. With a 3.10 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP in his career, the right-hander could thrive at spacious Kauffman Stadium.
Bartolo Colon (Mets): With a 6-1 record, a 3.30 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP through seven starts, Colon has been among the most effective starters in the Senior Circuit this season. The right-hander has posted a 3.46 ERA at his home park since joining the Mets at the outset of last season, and he could lower that mark against a Brewers lineup that ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .680 OPS against righties. On Friday, Colon could pick up his seventh win if the Mets can extend Lohse's early-season woes.
Wei-Yin Chen (Orioles): Chen has compiled a 2.52 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP this season, which represents a notable improvement on his already-respectable career marks (3.77 ERA and 1.25 WHIP). On Friday, the left-hander could be a cost-effective second starter in DraftKings contests if the O's potent offense can provide ample run support against Weaver.
Wandy Rodriguez (Rangers): The left-hander has been on a tear of late, setting a team record by retiring 34 straight batters across his past two starts. In fact, Rodriguez has allowed just two runs on seven baserunners across 14 frames during his past two outings. On Friday, he will face an Indians lineup that possesses many key performers who traditionally fare best against righties. There is no doubt that the 36-year-old is a risky option for DraftKings participants, but he could provide value as a low-cost second starter.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Wednesday's games.