Dodgers could go yard vs. Colon, Mets
Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball.
The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.
Jake Lamb (D-backs): As a big leaguer, Lamb -- who was a career .321 hitter in the Minors -- has posted a .700 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .574 mark vs. lefties. He could be an economical option at the hot corner for DraftKings participants when he welcomes Fiers to his offense-inducing home park. Of note: Lamb and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Brewers defense that ranks 23rd in baseball with a .683 defensive efficiency ratio.
:: Fred Zinkie's Daily Picks ::
Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs): Hitting .341 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs across 331 at-bats, Goldschmidt has been arguably the best hitter in baseball this season. The first baseman -- who owns a career .290/.384/.511 slash line against right-handers -- could be the lynchpin of a D-backs stack against Fiers.
Jason Heyward (Cardinals): The outfielder has produced pronounced career splits, with an .832 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .663 mark vs. lefties. Heyward could put a ball into the outfield seats when he faces Royals fly-ball-inducing righty Chris Young, who owns a lifetime 1.2 HR/9 rate despite pitching most of his career on teams with offense-suppressing home parks.
Randal Grichuk (Cardinals): With nine homers across 208 at-bats this season, the outfielder has been a cost-effective option for DraftKings participants on several occasions this season. Grichuk has the necessary power to put a ball into the outfield seats when he brings his lifetime .830 OPS against right-handers (.760 vs. lefties) into a matchup with the homer-prone Young.
Justin Turner (Dodgers): Hitting .322 across 239 at-bats, the third baseman has been one of baseball's most improved players this season. He will be in position to reach base often when he puts his lifetime .822 OPS against right-handers (.680 vs. lefties) on the line against Mets righty Bartolo Colon (4.86 ERA in 2015).
Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers): Gonzalez may drive in multiple runs when he brings his lofty lifetime .301/.377/.533 slash line against right-handers into a matchup with Colon (career 1.31 WHIP). The first baseman could be part of a productive lineup on Thursday, as the Dodgers sit third the Majors with a .768 OPS vs. righties.
Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers): With a lifetime .827 OPS against right-handers that exceeds his .714 mark vs. lefties, Grandal will be primed to have one of his most productive games of the season when he faces Colon. The right-handed hurler has posted a 6.18 ERA across his past five starts.
Carlos Gomez (Brewers): With 55 homers and 81 steals since the outset of the 2013 season, the outfielder has proven that he can consistently contribute to DraftKings squads in multiple ways. Gomez -- who owns balanced career splits -- could excel at hitter-friendly Chase Field on Thursday, when he faces a D-backs team that will need to dig into their pitching depth to cover the absence of injured starter Chase Anderson.
Ryan Braun (Brewers): Having compiled 16 homers, 57 RBIs and 14 steals across 366 plate appearances, the outfielder has been a terrific asset in many 2015 DraftKings contests. Braun -- who has had notable success in his career against both righties and southpaws -- could be part of a Brewers stack against a lower-profile D-backs starter.
Jose Altuve (Astros): With a career .344/.389/.478 slash line against left-handers, the second baseman has proven to be among the best in baseball during those matchups. On Thursday, Altuve has the skills to reach base often and score multiple runs when he greets Red Sox southpaw Wade Miley (4.49 ERA, 1.37 WHIP in 2015) to Minute Maid Park.
Carlos Correa (Astros): Having compiled eight homers and five steals across 158 plate appearances, the rookie can contribute to DraftKings squads in multiple ways. Correa is primed to post a difference-making stat line when he brings his .992 OPS against left-handers (.786 vs. righties) into a matchup against Miley (career 1.33 WHIP).
Evan Gattis (Astros): The slugger -- who owns balanced career splits -- has the power to rip his 16th round-tripper of the season or drive in multiple runs at the expense of Miley. In his career, Miley has allowed right-handed batters such as Gattis to post a .749 OPS (.659 OPS allowed to lefty hitters).
Tyson Ross (Padres): Having registered a 2.26 ERA across his past six starts, the right-hander has regained his dominant form after an inconsistent beginning to the season. Ross could continue his recent surge when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Marlins lineup that ranks 26th in the Majors with a .667 OPS against right-handers and will be working without injured star Giancarlo Stanton.
Trevor Bauer (Indians): With 107 strikeouts across 109 1/3 innings, the right-hander has been a useful second starter in several DraftKings contests this season. Bauer -- who owns a lifetime 8.5 K/9 rate -- could compile strikeouts and quality frames when he works at home against a White Sox lineup that sits last in the Majors with 308 runs scored.
Francisco Liriano (Pirates): The left-hander has emerged as a fantasy ace, with a season-to-date 2.98 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Liriano has the skills to spin a gem when he works at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Nationals lineup that may be without several injured regular, such as Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon.
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): The left-hander -- who has posted a 2.01 ERA since the outset of the 2013 season -- could be primed to silence the opposition when he plies his trade at pitcher-friendly Citi Field against a Mets lineup that ranks 28th in baseball in OPS vs. southpaws (.662) and 29th in runs (326).
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.