Mariners could rally at Yankee Stadium
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Sunday.
Nelson Cruz (Mariners): In his career, Cruz has excelled against left-handers to the tune of a .912 OPS (.810 vs. righties). The outfielder could rip a round-tripper when he bats at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium against southpaw CC Sabathia, who has allowed 57 homers across 57 starts since the outset of 2013.
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Mike Zunino (Mariners): Hitting .162, the catcher could be an economical addition to DraftKings squads when he brings his lifetime .657 OPS against left-handers (.592 vs. righties) into a matchup with Sabathia (5.47 ERA, 1.42 WHIP in 2015). At an offense-inducing road venue, Zunino could hit his 32nd homer since the outset of last season.
Mark Trumbo (Mariners): Like Zunino, Trumbo could have an economical price tag in DraftKings contests due to his mediocre 2015 production (11 homers, 32 RBIs across 280 at-bats). The outfielder will bring a lifetime .811 OPS against left-handers (.730 vs. righties) into a matchup with the homer-prone Sabathia.
Yoenis Cespedes (Tigers): The outfielder -- who is on pace to top the 20-homer mark for the fourth consecutive season -- has the necessary power to put a ball in the outfield seats when he faces Orioles fly-ball-prone right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (career 1.3 HR/9 rate).
J.D. Martinez (Tigers): Thanks in large part to 35 homers across 592 at-bats against right-handers since the start of last season, the outfielder has produced a .307/.349/.554 slash line in those matchups. Martinez could rip his 27th round-tripper of 2015 when he meets up with Baltimore's homer-prone Gonzalez (1.6 HR/9 rate in 2015).
Jose Abreu (White Sox): With a lofty lifetime .328/.405/.583 slash line against left-handers, the first baseman has proven to wield a potent bat in those matchups. He could drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy (4.65 ERA, 1.55 WHIP in 2015).
Chris Davis (Orioles): With a patient, powerful approach, Davis has produced a .257/.349/.534 slash line against right-handers since the outset of the 2012 season. On Sunday, the first baseman could reach base often or drive in multiple runs against Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (5.34 ERA, 1.38 WHIP in 2015).
Jimmy Paredes (Orioles): Paredes -- who is eligible at first base and second base in DraftKings contests -- has been one of baseball's most improved players this season, with a .297 average and 10 homers across 266 at-bats. He could improve on his career .733 OPS against right-handers (.483 vs. lefties) when he faces Verlander, who has posted a 1.36 WHIP since the outset of 2013.
Will Venable (Padres): With 36 homers and 39 steals since the start of 2013, Venable could produce in multiple ways from an economical price point when he faces Rockies righty Kyle Kendrick (5.94 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 2015). In his career, he has amassed 71 of his 81 homers and 117 of his 125 steals against right-handers. The outfielder could also excel late in the game against a Rockies bullpen that ranks last in baseball with a 4.51 ERA.
Yonder Alonso (Padres): As a big leaguer, Alonso has handled right-handers to the tune of a .752 OPS (.669 vs. lefties). The first baseman could drive in multiple runs when he faces Kendrick (lifetime 4.54 ERA, 1.37 WHIP), who in his career has allowed left-handed hitters such as Alonso to post an .827 OPS (.744 OPS allowed to righty batters).
Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals): Hitting .297 with 14 homers across 340 at-bats, the shortstop has been among the premier producers at his position this season. From a premium lineup position, Peralta could improve on his lifetime .798 OPS against left-handers (.748 vs. righties) when he faces Mets southpaw Jon Niese (career 1.36 WHIP).
John Jaso (Rays): Since coming off the disabled list on July 7, Jaso -- who is eligible at catcher in DraftKings contests -- has hit .385 across 26 at-bats. On Sunday, he could improve on his career .798 OPS against right-handers (.514 vs. lefties) at the expense of Blue Jays fly-ball-prone righty Marco Estrada at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre.
Dallas Keuchel (Astros): The American League starter in the Midsummer Classic, Keuchel has posted a 2.23 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 19 starts this season. To close out the weekend, the left-hander could excel in a matchup with a Rangers offense that ranks 24th in baseball with a .669 OPS against southpaws. And even though the game will take place at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington, Keuchel has the ground-ball skills to avoid the negative effects often incurred by pitchers in the venue.
Tommy Milone (Twins): With a 1.62 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP across six starts since June 12, Milone has been a productive second starter in many recent DraftKings contests. The left-hander could continue to compile quality innings when he heads to pitcher-friendly O.co Coliseum to face an A's lineup that ranks 22nd in the Majors with a .673 OPS against southpaws.
Jake Arrieta (Cubs): With a 2.75 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP since joining the Cubs during the 2013 season, Arrieta has emerged as a fantasy ace. The right-hander -- who allowed two hits in a complete-game win in his most recent start -- could thrive at pitcher-friendly Turner Field against a light-hitting Braves lineup that will be without injured slugger Freddie Freeman.
Zack Greinke (Dodgers): DraftKings participants will struggle to resist Greinke, who owns a 1.39 ERA in 2015 and has not allowed a run across his past 35 2/3 regular-season innings. The right-hander could thrive at pitcher-friendly Nationals Park against a Washington lineup that will be without several injured hitters, such as Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth.
Chris Sale (White Sox): With a 131-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio across his past 12 starts, Sale has been a game-changer in many DraftKings contests. He could combine a handful of dominant innings with a win in a seemingly advantageous matchup against Duffy and a Royals lineup that ranks near the middle of the pack in baseball with a .699 OPS against southpaws.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Friday's games.