Davis, Jones have ability to erupt vs. Tigers
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.
Chris Davis (Orioles): With 136 homers since the outset of the 2012 season, the first baseman has established himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters. Davis will be in position to improve on his lifetime .847 OPS against right-handers (.738 vs. lefties) when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Tigers righty Buck Farmer (career 10.17 ERA, 1.87 WHIP).
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Adam Jones (Orioles): In his career, the outfielder has handled right-handers to the tune of a .282/.319/.474 slash line. Jones will be primed to drive in multiple runs or rip a round-tripper at his offense-inducing home park when he meets up with Farmer, who has logged just 23 Major League innings.
Pedro Alvarez (Pirates): Having compiled 104 of his 118 career homers against right-handers, Alvarez will be in position to put a ball in the outfield seats when he faces Reds rookie righty Michael Lorenzen at homer-happy Great American Ball Park. Lorenzen has posted a 4.58 ERA and a 1.6 HR/9 rate in his initial Major League season.
Neil Walker (Pirates): The second baseman could improve on his career .800 OPS against right-handers (.661 vs. lefties) when he faces the inexperienced Lorenzen (5.84 FIP, 1.58 WHIP) at Cincinnati's hitter-friendly venue. Walker will also be in position to excel late in the game against a Reds bullpen that ranks 27th in baseball with a 4.24 ERA.
Brandon Crawford (Giants): With 15 homers and 63 RBIs across 347 at-bats, the shortstop has been among the most productive players at his position this season. Crawford could thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park to hit at offense-inducing Globe Life Park in Arlington against righty Nick Martinez (career 4.95 FIP, 1.45 WHIP) and a Rangers bullpen that ranks last in baseball with a 4.67 ERA.
Matt Duffy (Giants): Hitting .304 with nine homers and 46 RBIs across 316 at-bats, Duffy has been a cost-effective option for DraftKings participants on many occasions this season. The third baseman will be in an excellent position to improve on his career .797 OPS against right-handers (.722 vs. lefties) when he faces Martinez (4.93 FIP, 1.42 WHIP in 2015) at Texas' hitter-friendly venue.
Randal Grichuk (Cardinals): Since being activated from the disabled list on May 16, the outfielder has collected 10 homers and 34 RBIs across 217 at-bats. Grichuk will be primed to improve on his career .841 OPS against right-handers (.788 vs. lefties) when he faces Rockies righty Kyle Kendrick (career 4.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP).
Jason Heyward (Cardinals): Heyward owns notable lifetime splits, with an .830 OPS against right-handers that exceeds a .660 mark vs. lefties. The outfielder could thrive against Kendrick, who in his career has allowed left-handed hitters such as Heyward to post an .833 OPS (.744 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Matt Carpenter (Cardinals): From a premium lineup spot, Carpenter could excel when he brings his career .831 OPS against right-handers (.745 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Kendrick (6.33 ERA, 1.52 WHIP in 2015). Also of note: Carpenter and his teammates will attempt to put balls in play against a Rockies squad that ranks 27th in the Majors with a .675 defensive efficiency ratio.
Kolten Wong (Cardinals): With 11 homers, 11 steals and 51 runs across 409 plate appearances, the second baseman has been a factor in many 2015 DraftKings contests. Wong could improve on his career .706 OPS against right-handers (.647 vs. lefties) at the expense of Kendrick and a Rockies bullpen that ranks 29th in the Majors with a 4.48 ERA.
Eric Hosmer (Royals): As a big leaguer, Hosmer has posted an .804 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .679 mark vs. lefties. The first baseman could flash his power when he bats at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre against fly-ball-prone righty Drew Hutchison (career 4.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP).
Todd Frazier (Reds): With 27 homers and 67 RBIs across 391 at-bats, the third baseman has been among the most powerful players in baseball this season. Frazier could drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke (4.15 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2015). In his career, Frazier has posted an .844 OPS against southpaws (.780 vs. righties).
Brandon Phillips (Reds): From a likely perch atop the lineup, the second baseman will try to improve on his lifetime .799 OPS against left-handers (.716 vs. righties) when he hits at home against Locke (career 4.04 ERA, 1.37 WHIP).
Madison Bumgarner (Giants): Bumgarner is the model of a stable ace, having posted an ERA between 2.77 and 3.37 in each season since 2010. The left-hander could thrive against a Rangers lineup that ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .670 OPS against southpaws and contains several same-sided batters.
Taylor Jungmann (Brewers): With a 2.14 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across his initial nine Major League starts, the rookie right-hander has become a trustworthy second starter in DraftKings contests. Jungmann could combine several strikeouts with quality innings when he faces a Cubs lineup that ranks 25th in baseball with a .682 OPS vs. righties and leads the Majors with 915 whiffs.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Wednesday's games.