Blue Jays could rake vs. Warren, Yankees
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Monday.
Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays): Hitting .299 with 39 homers, 120 RBIs and 113 runs scored in 659 plate appearances, the third baseman has been among the best hitters in baseball this season. He could post a game-changing total in DraftKings contests when he bats at his hitter-friendly home park against Yankees right-hander Adam Warren, who has made one start since June 26.
Jose Bautista (Blue Jays): Since the outset of the 2010 season, the outfielder has used a patient, powerful approach to post a .268/.389/.557 slash line against right-handers and a .283/.408/.594 slash line at his hitter-friendly home park. From the three-hole in the highest-scoring lineup in baseball, Bautista could drive in multiple runs at Warren's expense.
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Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays): Since his breakout 2012 season, Encarnacion has delivered a stellar .912 OPS against right-handers and a .939 OPS in home contests. The slugger, who has batted .364 with 15 homers, 46 RBIs and a 1.248 OPS in his past 35 games, could post big numbers in a matchup with Warren at Rogers Centre.
Evan Longoria (Rays): The centerpiece of the Rays' lineup, Longoria could thrive when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home venue and travels to Fenway Park to face rookie southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (1.29 WHIP). In his career, Longoria has registered a .921 OPS against left-hander that exceeds his .800 mark vs. righties.
Logan Forsythe (Rays): Hitting .281 with 16 homers, 65 runs scored and nine steals in 583 plate appearances, the second baseman is wrapping up a breakout season. He could continue to excel when he brings his career .825 OPS against left-handers (.631 vs. righties) into a matchup with Rodriguez. He could also thrive late in the game against a Red Sox relief corps that is 26th in the Majors with a 4.31 ERA.
Anthony Rizzo (Cubs): With 30 homers, 93 RBIs and 17 steals in 644 plate appearances, the first baseman has a diverse skill set that can be matched by few players at his position. He will be poised to improve on his lifetime .850 OPS against right-handers (.766 vs. lefties) when he faces Brewers righty Wily Peralta (4.41 ERA, 1.49 WHIP in 2015).
Chris Coghlan (Cubs): The outfielder has notable lifetime splits, with a .788 OPS against right-handers compared with a .626 mark vs. lefties. He could reach base often or drive in multiple runs when he faces Peralta (career 4.24 FIP, 1.38 WHIP).
Addison Russell (Cubs): The rookie shortstop has registered a .761 OPS against right-handers compared with a .494 mark vs. lefties. He could be a cost-effective option at a premium position as part of a Cubs stack -- one that may include Rizzo, Coghlan, outfielder Kyle Schwarber and catcher Miguel Montero -- against Peralta.
Pedro Alvarez (Pirates): Having ripped 111 of his 128 career roundtrippers against right-handers, Alvarez will be poised to put a ball in the outfield seats when he travels to homer-happy Coors Field to face rookie righty Jon Gray (5.00 ERA, 1.36 WHIP). Alvarez may also thrive late in the game against a Rockies relief corps that ranks 29th in baseball with a 4.68 ERA.
Neil Walker (Pirates): The second baseman will be set to provide production at a premium position when he vacates his pitcher-friendly home park and bats at offense-inducing Coors Field against the inexperienced Gray and a suspect Rockies bullpen. In his career, Walker has an .801 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .657 mark vs. lefties.
Gregory Polanco (Pirates): From his perch atop the lineup, the outfielder may reach base often and score multiple runs when he brings his lifetime .736 OPS against right-handers (.516 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Gray at Colorado's hitter-friendly venue. Also of note: Polanco and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Rockies squad that ranks 28th in the Majors with a .673 defensive efficiency ratio.
Bryce Harper (Nationals): Hitting .340 with 41 homers across 480 at-bats, Harper has been one of the most dominant sluggers in baseball this season. The outfielder could post a game-changing total in DraftKings contests when he brings his lifetime .961 OPS against right-handers (.781 vs. lefties) into a matchup with Orioles righty Ubaldo Jimenez (4.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP in 2015).
Dallas Keuchel (Astros): With a 2.56 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP, the left-hander will be set to produce a difference-making total in DraftKings contests when he works at home against an Angels lineup that ranks 26th in baseball with a .663 OPS against southpaws. When pitching at Minute Maid Park in 2015, Keuchel has gone 13-0 with a 1.49 ERA.
David Price (Blue Jays): Since joining the Blue Jays, the left-hander -- who has an impressive career 3.09 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP -- has gone 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA in nine starts. Price has the skills to combine several effective innings with a win when he faces the Yankees in a seemingly advantageous matchup with Warren.
Jaime Garcia (Cardinals): With a 2.52 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP, the left-hander has been a cost-effective starter in many 2015 DraftKings contests. He could continue his excellent campaign when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Reds in a seemingly advantageous matchup with rookie John Lamb (5.35 ERA).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Saturday's games.