D-backs could homer at home vs. De La Rosa
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Sunday.
Brian McCann (Yankees): McCann looks to be on track for his eighth season in a row with 20-plus homers, as he has already left the yard 13 times in his first 66 contests. Facing off against Rays right-hander Erasmo Ramirez at Yankee Stadium, the veteran slugger could go deep once again, considering he holds an impressive .274/.346/.503 batting line against righties in 2015. For his part, Ramirez has posted a 6.18 ERA on the road this year, compared to a 2.50 mark at Tropicana Field.
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Yoenis Cespedes (Tigers): With balanced career splits, the outfielder -- who has surpassed the 20-homer mark in each of his three full Major League seasons -- could put one of Blue Jay Marco Estrada's offerings into the outfield seats. The righty hurler has surrendered 39 homers across 226 innings since the outset of last season.
Adam LaRoche (White Sox): The first baseman has long fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has posted a lifetime .840 OPS (.710 vs. lefties). He could drive in multiple runs when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Orioles righty Miguel Gonzalez (4.04 ERA in 2015).
Mike Moustakas (Royals): Moustakas could make improvements on his lifetime .715 OPS against right-handers (.606 vs. lefties) when he faces Twins righty Ervin Santana. The right-handed hurler -- who owns a career 4.17 ERA and 1.2 HR/9 rate -- will be making his first start of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs): In his career, the first baseman has registered a game-changing .331/.423/.608 slash line against left-handers. Goldschmidt could be worth a major investment in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa (career 4.60 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).
A.J. Pollock (D-backs): The outfielder -- who has compiled 10 homers and 16 steals across 334 plate appearances this season -- will bring a lifetime .854 OPS against left-handers (.746 vs. righties) into a matchup with De La Rosa (4.59 ERA, 1.48 WHIP in 2015). Pollock could also excel late in the game against a Rockies bullpen that sits last in the Majors with a 4.80 ERA.
Nick Ahmed (D-backs): Ahmed could be an economical part of a D-backs stack when he puts his career .731 OPS against left-handers (.578 vs. righties) on the line against De La Rosa. As a big leaguer, De La Rosa has allowed righty batters such as Ahmed to produce a .793 OPS (.640 OPS allowed to lefty hitters).
Nick Hundley (Rockies): The catcher -- who is hitting .297 this season -- could provide production at a premium position when he brings his lifetime .728 OPS against right-handers (.584 vs. lefties) into a matchup with D-backs righty Rubby De La Rosa (career 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP).
Brian Dozier (Twins): Having compiled 16 homers across 311 at-bats this season, Dozier has become one of the most powerful players at his position. He could excel when he puts his lifetime .864 OPS against left-handers (.692 vs. righties) on the line against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy (5.44 ERA, 1.63 WHIP in 2015).
Trevor Plouffe (Twins): The third baseman has produced notable career splits, with an .814 OPS against left-handers that exceeds his .692 mark vs. righties. Plouffe could be stacked with Dozier, in hopes that the former will drive in the latter on multiple occasions at the expense of Duffy (career 1.39 WHIP). As a big leaguer, Duffy has allowed right-handed hitters such as Plouffe to post a .770 OPS (.603 OPS allowed to lefty batters).
Cole Hamels (Phillies): The consistent lefty -- who has posted an ERA between 2.46 and 3.60 in each season since 2010 -- could excel at pitcher-friendly Turner Field against a Braves lineup that ranks 29th in baseball with a .630 OPS vs. southpaws. Hamels may be facing the Braves at the right time, as offensive centerpiece Freddie Freeman is currently on the disabled list.
Shelby Miller (Braves): DraftKings participants who do not select Hamels could instead opt for his mound opponent Miller, who has excelled this season to the tune of a 2.20 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Miller could continue to thrive when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Phillies lineup that ranks last in the Majors with a .643 OPS against righties.
Lance Lynn (Cardinals): The right-hander could improve on his season-to-date 2.74 ERA when he plies his trade at home against a Padres lineup that ranks 26th in the Majors with a .668 OPS against righties. With 89 strikeouts across 85 1/3 innings this season, Lynn could be in position to combine several whiffs with quality innings.
Kyle Hendricks (Cubs): The right-hander could be a cost-effective second starter for DraftKings participants when he works at home against a Marlins lineup that sits 25th in baseball with a .668 OPS against right-handers. Hendricks -- who owns a career 3.33 ERA and 1.13 WHIP -- should benefit from the absence of Miami superstar outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who is currently on the disabled list.
Mike Bolsinger (Dodgers): With a 2.76 ERA that is well-supported by a 2.97 FIP, Bolsinger has been an excellent second starter for DraftKings participants across many of his 11 outings this season. The right-hander could continue to have success when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Mets lineup that sits 29th in baseball with a .646 OPS against righties.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Friday's games.