DraftKings picks: Miggy, Ellsbury, Gattis
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.
Rajai Davis (Tigers): The outfielder could improve on his lifetime .304/.359/.447 line against left-handers when he faces southpaw Jose Quintana on Thursday at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field. Quintana has struggled to the tune of a 1.45 WHIP this season, which has increased his career mark to an unimpressive 1.27.
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): With a lofty .988 career OPS against left-handers (.953 vs. righties), the first baseman could display his power and drive in multiple runs when he faces Quintana at a hitter-friendly venue on Thursday.
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Jose Abreu (White Sox): Abreu is among the best in baseball against lefties, with a career 1.035 OPS in those matchups, which exceeds his .919 mark vs. righties. On Thursday, the first baseman could have a big game at his offense-inducing home venue when he faces Tigers lefty Kyle Lobstein (lifetime 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP).
Ike Davis (A's): Davis has long fared best against right-handers, posting a career .808 OPS (.580 vs. lefties) in those situations. He could showcase his power stroke on Thursday against the Twins' Ricky Nolasco, who has recorded a 5.60 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP since starting his tenure with Minnesota at the outset of the 2014 season.
Stephen Vogt (A's): Vogt is hitting .358 with seven homers and 25 RBIs this season, and he could stay hot when he brings his lifetime .779 OPS against right-handers (.703 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Nolasco on Thursday. In his career, the Twins starter has allowed left-handed hitters such as Vogt to post a .794 OPS (.720 vs. right-handed batters).
Josh Reddick (A's): Reddick is another left-handed-hitting slugger who could drive in multiple runs against the righty Nolasco (career 4.51 ERA). The owner of a lifetime .772 OPS against right-handers (.688 vs. lefties), Reddick is hitting .368 this season.
Brian McCann (Yankees): On Thursday, the catcher will bring his .830 career OPS against right-handers (.751 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Orioles righty Chris Tillman. McCann could rip a round-tripper at his homer-happy home stadium against Tillman, who has posted a lifetime HR/9 rate of 1.3.
Jacoby Ellsbury (Yankees): The outfielder could use his strong plate skills (lifetime .797 OPS vs. right-handers) and impressive speed (291 career steals) to score multiple runs against Tillman (lifetime 4.08 ERA) and the O's at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
Chris Davis (Orioles): With a career .852 OPS against right-handers (.734 vs. lefties), the first baseman could accumulate multiple extra-base hits at cozy Yankee Stadium against righty Nathan Eovaldi (lifetime 1.39 WHIP).
Yonder Alonso (Padres): The first baseman has long fared best against right-handers, notching a lifetime .283/.347/.414 line in those matchups. Alonso could thrive on Thursday, when he gets away from his spacious home venue and faces righty Rubby De La Rosa (career 4.49 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) at homer-happy Chase Field.
Jose Altuve (Astros): Having worn out left-handers to the tune of a lifetime .886 OPS, Altuve could succeed against Angels southpaw Hector Santiago on Thursday. In his big league tenure, Santiago has allowed right-handed hitters such as Altuve to post a .745 OPS; he's held lefty hitters to a .624 OPS.
Evan Gattis (Astros): Look for this catcher-eligible slugger to improve on his lifetime .826 OPS against southpaws (.758 vs. righties) when he faces Santiago (career 1.36 WHIP) on Thursday.
Chris Archer (Rays): Having posted a 1.64 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP and 42 strikeouts across 38 1/3 innings this season, the right-hander could be emerging as a high-end fantasy hurler. On Thursday, Archer could continue to surge when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Rangers lineup that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .588 OPS vs. righties.
Jake Arrieta (Cubs): Arrieta may be the closest thing to an ace on the Thursday docket, as his 2.84 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through five starts represent a promising follow-up to the 2.53 ERA and 0.99 WHIP he produced during a breakout 2014 season. He could continue to rack up quality innings on Thursday at Busch Stadium, which has traditionally not had a dramatic effect on hitters or pitchers.
Edinson Volquez (Royals): Supported by a defense that ranks first in the Majors in MLB.com's defensive efficiency ratio (.738), the right-hander has posted a 2.10 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP across five starts. Volquez could continue to thrive on Thursday, when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Indians.
A.J. Burnett (Pirates): Burnett has shown why he was intent on returning to Pittsburgh, as he has fashioned a 1.45 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across five starts in 2015. The early-season success is not shocking, as the right-hander posted a 3.41 ERA as a member of the Bucs rotation from 2012-13. Burnett could continue to thrive at his pitcher-friendly home field (career 2.69 ERA at PNC Park) against the Reds on Thursday.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.