Blue Jays, Rockies could run wild
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The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.
Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays): With a lofty lifetime .299/.376/.592 slash line against left-handers, Donaldson has proven to wield a potent bat in those matchups. The third baseman -- who has compiled 18 homers, 49 RBIs and 58 runs across 345 plate appearances this season -- could post a difference-making stat line when he hits at home against Red Sox lefty Wade Miley (career 1.33 WHIP).
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Jose Bautista (Blue Jays): Since the outset of the 2010 season, Bautista has produced an impressive .277/.399/.559 slash line against left-handers and a .281/.410/.586 slash line at his hitter-friendly home park. The outfielder could drive in multiple runs against Miley, who in his career has allowed righty batters such as Bautista to post a .752 OPS (.654 OPS allowed to lefty hitters).
Kevin Pillar (Blue Jays): Pillar -- who has hit .365 since June 1 -- could be an economical part of a Blue Jays stack when he brings his career .708 OPS against left-handers (.655 vs. righties) into a matchup with Miley. The outfielder may be part of a productive lineup, as the Blue Jays lead the Majors by a wide margin with an .864 OPS against southpaws.
Russell Martin (Blue Jays): With 11 homers and 37 RBIs across 230 at-bats this season, Martin has been among the most productive catchers in baseball. He could improve on his lifetime .806 OPS against left-handers (.743 vs. righties) at the expense of Miley (4.38 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 2015).
Wilson Ramos (Nationals): Ramos could provide production from a premium position when he puts his career .786 OPS against left-handers (.726 vs. righties) on the line against Braves southpaw Manny Banuelos, who could struggle in his Major League debut against a Nationals lineup that ranks third in the National League with 342 runs.
Mike Moustakas (Royals): Moustakas has traditionally fared best vs. right-handers, against whom he has registered a lifetime .716 OPS (.612 vs. lefties). The third baseman could reach base several times against Twins righty Kyle Gibson (career 1.37 WHIP).
Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs): Goldschmidt -- who has hit .354 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs this season -- has posted a game-changing career .331/.423/.611 slash line against left-handers. The first baseman could be worth a large expenditure in DraftKings contests when he hits at homer-happy Chase Field against Rockies southpaw Chris Rusin (lifetime 4.89 ERA, 1.50 WHIP).
A.J. Pollock (D-backs): Hitting .294 with nine homers, 49 runs and 16 steals across 320 plate appearances this season, the outfielder has been a difference-maker in many DraftKings contests. Pollock could improve on his career .843 OPS against left-handers (.744 vs. righties) at the expense Rusin (1.59 WHIP in 2015). He could also excel late in the game against a Rockies bullpen that ranks last in the Majors with a 4.77 ERA.
Nick Ahmed (D-backs): With a lifetime .721 OPS against left-handers (.583 vs. righties), Ahmed could be an economical portion of a D-backs stack against Rusin. As a big leaguer, the left-handed hurler has allowed righty batters such as Ahmed to post an .868 OPS (.659 OPS allowed to lefty hitters). Also of note: Ahmed and his teammates will attempt to put balls into play against a Rockies unit that ranks 24th in baseball with a .678 defensive efficiency ratio.
Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies): As a big leaguer, Gonzalez has handled right-handers to the tune of a .299/.363/.544 slash line. On Thursday, the outfielder could drive in multiple runs at hitter-friendly Chase Field when he faces righty Jeremy Hellickson (5.38 ERA, 1.42 WHIP in 2015).
Ben Paulsen (Rockies): With a lifetime .296/.353/.497 slash line against right-handers, the first baseman could be an economical addition to DraftKings squads on Thursday. Paulsen could drive in multiple runs against Hellickson, who has posted a 5.10 ERA since the outset of 2013.
Nick Hundley (Rockies): The catcher has logged notable career splits, with a .728 OPS against right-handers in comparison to a .582 mark vs. lefties. Like his teammate Paulsen, Hundley could be an economical portion of a Rockies stack against Hellickson (career 4.38 FIP).
DJ LeMahieu (Rockies): With balanced lifetime splits, LeMahieu could reach base often against Hellickson and an unsettled D-backs bullpen. Hitting .301, the second baseman has been a cost-effective option at a premium position for DraftKings participants at times this season.
Max Scherzer (Nationals): Coming off one of the best three-start stretches in history, the right-hander is arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball. Scherzer could continue to post eye-popping statistics when he works at pitcher-friendly Turner Field against a Braves lineup that ranks last in the Majors with 45 homers and will be without centerpiece Freddie Freeman, who is on the disabled list.
Scott Kazmir (A's): The left-hander could improve on his season-to-date 2.79 ERA when he plies his trade at his pitcher-friendly home park against a Mariners lineup that ranks 29th in baseball with 260 runs scored.
Matt Boyd (Blue Jays): Boyd will be making his second Major League start after posting an impressive 1.26 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP in the Minors this season. The left-hander could compile quality frames against a Red Sox lineup that ranks 26th in baseball with a .664 OPS against southpaws, and will play without sparkplug Dustin Pedroia, who is on the disabled list. Boyd may come away with a win if Toronto's potent lineup has success against Miley.
Chris Young (Royals): The fly-ball-inducing righty -- who has a 2.71 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP this season -- could have success at his offense-suppressing home park against a Twins lineup that sits 13th in the Junior Circuit with 64 homers. Once he leaves the game, Young may be well-supported in his quest for a win by a Royals bullpen that sits second in baseball with a 2.05 ERA.
All statistics are accurate through the completion of Tuesday's games.