DraftKings picks: Keuchel could toss another gem
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 Saturday.
Adam Lind (Brewers): The first baseman has produced notable career splits, with an .858 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .588 mark vs. lefties. Lind could rip a round-tripper in the thin air at Coors Field when he faces righty Chad Bettis (lifetime 5.67 ERA).
Jean Segura (Brewers): Though the shortstop owns balanced lifetime batting splits, he has compiled 65 of his 79 career steals against right-handers. Segura may reach base often against Bettis (career 1.61 WHIP), which would give him opportunities to swipe a bag against catcher Nick Hundley, who sometimes struggles to stop would-be base stealers.
Scooter Gennett (Brewers): The second baseman possesses some of the most lopsided career splits in baseball, with an .819 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .278 mark vs. lefties. Gennett and Segura could fill premium positions as part of a Brewers stack at an offense-inducing road venue against Bettis.
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies): As a big leaguer, Gonzalez has fared best vs. right-handers (.911 OPS) and when hitting at Coors Field (1.006 OPS). The outfielder could display his power when he faces Brewers righty Kyle Lohse, who owns a lifetime 1.1 HR/9 rate that factors in a 1.8/9 mark this season.
DJ LeMahieu (Rockies): The second baseman -- who is hitting .325 this season -- has long fared best at Coors Field (.786 OPS). On Saturday, he could reach base often and score multiple runs from a premium lineup position against Lohse (6.44 ERA in 2015).
Matt Carpenter (Cardinals): With a lifetime .847 OPS against right-handers (.758 vs. lefties), Carpenter could reach base often when he heads to hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park to face righty Aaron Harang (career 1.35 WHIP). The third baseman could be part of a productive lineup, as the Cards rank ninth in the Majors with a .739 OPS against righties.
Jason Heyward (Cardinals): The outfielder has traditionally excelled vs. right-handers, against whom he owns a career .823 OPS (.663 vs. lefties). Heyward could drive in multiple runs against Harang (career 4.17 ERA) or swipe his eighth base of the season against catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has thrown out just seven of 36 basestealers this season.
Randal Grichuk (Cardinals): With a career .764 OPS against right-handed hurlers (.692 vs. lefties), Grichuk could be part of a Cardinals stack against the fly-ball-inducing Harang. Of note: Grichuk will put the ball into play against a Phillies defense that ranks 25th in the Majors with a .676 defensive efficiency ratio.
Jason Kipnis (Indians): Hitting .335 with 10 steals and 45 runs across 300 plate appearances, the second baseman has been among the most productive players at his position this season. Kipnis could cross home plate multiple times when he brings his lifetime .808 OPS against right-handers (.666 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Rays righty Erasmo Ramirez (career 4.58 ERA).
Brandon Moss (Indians): Moss has hit 88 of his 102 career homers against right-handers, which has helped him produce a .798 OPS in those matchups (.741 vs. lefties). On Saturday, he could smack a home run off Ramirez, who owns a lifetime 1.2 HR/9 rate.
Justin Upton (Padres): The outfielder could thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and heads to homer-happy Chase Field to face D-backs left-hander Robbie Ray. Upton has registered a lifetime .916 OPS against southpaws (.802 vs. righties), and Ray owns a career 4.89 ERA.
Derek Norris (Padres): Norris has posted notable career splits, with an .861 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .650 mark vs. righties. Against Ray (lifetime 1.46 WHIP), the catcher could display his power by hitting his ninth homer of the season at an offense-inducing road venue.
John Lackey (Cardinals): Lackey could improve on his season-to-date 3.59 ERA and 1.23 WHIP when he faces a Phillies lineup that ranks last in the Majors in runs scored (206) and OPS vs. right-handers (.621). DraftKings participants could choose to stack the right-hander with the previously mentioned Cardinals hitters in hopes of a lopsided win against the last-place Phillies.
Dallas Keuchel (Astros): Keuchel has emerged as a fantasy ace this season, registering a 2.04 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across 14 starts. The left-hander could continue to post difference-making statistics when he pitches at offense-suppressing Safeco Field against a Mariners lineup is tied for 28th in baseball with 225 runs scored.
Taijuan Walker (Mariners): DraftKings participants who do not select Keuchel could instead opt for his mound opponent. Walker has emerged as a productive starter by allowing five runs across 29 innings in his past four starts. If he can continue to work deep into games, the hurler could accumulate several strikeouts against an Astros lineup that leads the Majors with 627 K's.
Corey Kluber (Indians): With 111 strikeouts across 96 2/3 innings this season, Kluber has been a game-changer for DraftKings participants on several occasions. He could post difference-making totals when he takes the mound at home vs. a Rays lineup that ranks 22nd in baseball with a .678 OPS against righties.
Trevor May (Twins): The right-hander has made great strides in his past five starts, producing a 3.19 ERA behind a 31-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. May could continue to compile strikeouts and quality innings when he plies his trade at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Cubs lineup that ranks second in the Majors with 612 whiffs.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Thursday's games.