Pirates stack could pummel Milwaukee
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants today.
Neil Walker (Pirates): The second baseman will be primed to provide production at a premium position when he puts his lifetime .798 OPS against right-handers (.659 vs. lefties) to the test against Brewers righty Wily Peralta (4.21 ERA, 1.48 WHIP in 2015). Also of note: Walker and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Brewers squad that ranks 23rd in the Majors with a .685 defensive efficiency ratio.
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Pedro Alvarez (Pirates): Having compiled 109 of his 126 career homers against right-handers, Alvarez will be in prime position to put a ball into the outfield seats when he faces Peralta (career 4.17 FIP, 1.37 WHIP).
Gregory Polanco (Pirates): From his perch atop the lineup, Polanco will be set to improve on his lifetime .737 OPS against right-handers (.520 vs. lefties) when he faces Peralta (4.52 FIP in 2015). The outfielder may also swipe his 24th base of the season against Jonathan Lucroy, who has allowed more steals than all but two catchers in 2015.
Jung Ho Kang (Pirates): The rookie third baseman has registered an .844 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .738 mark vs. lefties. Kang could be part of a Pirates stack -- along with Walker, Alvarez and Polanco -- against Peralta.
Michael Brantley (Indians): Since the outset of last season, the outfielder has posted a difference-making .335/.398/.527 slash line against right-handers. From the three-hole in the lineup, Brantley could succeed against right-hander Alfredo Simon (4.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2015) and a Tigers bullpen that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 4.67 ERA.
Jason Kipnis (Indians): With a .381 on-base percentage and 77 runs scored across 551 plate appearances, the second baseman has been one of the most effective leadoff hitters in baseball this season. Kipnis may use his perch atop the lineup to maximize his opportunities to reach base and score runs when he faces Simon (career 4.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) and a suspect Tigers bullpen.
Francisco Lindor (Indians): The rookie shortstop -- who is hitting .347 since the All-Star break -- owns balanced splits, but he has compiled six of his seven homers and all of his seven steals against right-handers. DraftKings owners could choose to stack the top three hitters in the Indians' lineup against Simon by combining Lindor with Kipnis and Brantley.
Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals): The shortstop could provide production at a premium position when he faces Reds rookie left-hander John Lamb (6.11 ERA, 1.54 WHIP) at homer-happy Great American Ball Park. In his career, Peralta has produced a .795 OPS against left-handers in comparison to a .743 mark vs. righties.
Stephen Piscotty (Cardinals): The rookie outfielder -- who is hitting .331 across 163 at-bats -- may drive in multiple runs when he brings his .947 OPS against left-handers (.875 vs. righties) into a matchup with Lamb at Cincinnati's hitter-friendly venue.
Mark Reynolds (Cardinals): Reynolds has long fared best vs. left-handers, against whom he has produced an .808 OPS (.765 vs. righties). The first baseman may rip a round-tripper when he faces the inexperienced Lamb at Cincinnati's offense-inducing venue.
Adam Lind (Brewers): The first baseman -- who has hit .300 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs across 343 at-bats against right-handers this season -- owns a lifetime .866 OPS against righties in comparison to a .593 mark vs. southpaws. Lind will be in position to excel when he faces Pirates righty A.J. Burnett, who will be making his first start since July 30 due to an elbow injury.
Scooter Gennett (Brewers): Gennett owns some of the most lopsided splits in baseball, with an .814 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .292 mark vs. lefties. The second baseman could reach base often or score multiple runs when he tangles with Burnett. Also of note: Gennett and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Pirates squad that sits 25th in the Majors with a .681 defensive efficiency ratio.
Bartolo Colon (Mets): The red-hot righty -- who was named National League Player of the Week for the most recent stanza -- could excel when he travels to pitcher-friendly Turner Field to faces a Braves lineup that ranks 29th in the Majors with a .680 OPS against right-handers.
Jake Arrieta (Cubs): With a 2.03 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP, the right-hander has been among the most dominant hurlers in baseball with season. Arrieta -- who has not allowed a run in six of his past seven starts -- could continue to silence the opposition when he faces a Phillies lineup that ranks 28th in baseball with a .686 OPS against righties.
Jaime Garcia (Cardinals): With a 1.89 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across 15 starts, Garcia has been a cost-effective starter in DraftKings contests. The left-hander could combine several effective innings with a victory when he leads the winningest club in baseball into a seemingly advantageous matchup against Lamb.
Adam Morgan (Phillies): With a 4.42 ERA, the rookie left-hander may be an economical second starter in DraftKings contests when he faces a Cubs lineup that ranks 22nd with a .687 OPS against southpaws. Morgan may combine several strikeouts with quality frames, as Chicago leads the Majors with 1,274 whiffs.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.