Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, is set to make his much-anticipated season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. This marks a critical return for the star pitcher, who has been sidelined for nearly four months following offseason shoulder surgery. Kershaw's last outing was a postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks where he struggled, allowing six runs and recording only one out.
While Kershaw's return is the centerpiece for the Dodgers, the New York Mets are also gearing up for an important game against the Atlanta Braves the same day. The Mets have recently demonstrated their dominance over the New York Yankees, completing both a two-game sweep and an overall four-game season sweep of their crosstown rivals.
Daily Fantasy sports enthusiasts will be keeping a close eye on these matchups. Mike McClure, a renowned daily Fantasy sports pro with over $2 million in career earnings, uses a proprietary model that simulates each game 10,000 times. One player to watch closely is Jurickson Profar, who went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored on Wednesday. Profar’s stellar performance earned him 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings.
Key Players and Performances
Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles is another player making waves this season. Priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel, Henderson leads all shortstops with 28 home runs this season. Beyond just power, Henderson ranks in the top three at his position in runs scored, RBIs, hits, slugging percentage, and OPS. His season so far boasts a .287/.373/.574 slash line and a .946 OPS.
The Orioles, who are facing the Miami Marlins in a three-game series concluding on Thursday, rank second in the AL in runs scored and win percentage. Henderson’s performance against right-handed pitchers has been particularly impressive, hitting .304 with a .982 OPS in such matchups.
Roddery Munoz, slated to face Henderson and the Orioles, has struggled this season with a 5.14 ERA. Left-handed hitters are batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS against Munoz, potentially setting the stage for a strong Orioles performance.
Key Matchups
Xander Bogaerts, another key player, is priced at $4,000 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel. Bogaerts went 4-for-4 with two runs scored on Wednesday and has been on fire since his return from a six-week shoulder injury hiatus. Over seven games, Bogaerts is hitting .483 with a .983 OPS, including six multi-hit performances.
Bogaerts has a career .306 average with an .853 OPS against left-handed pitchers and holds a favorable 3-for-5 record with a home run against Patrick Corbin. Corbin, who has a 5.35 ERA over 20 starts this season, has struggled particularly against right-handed hitters, who are batting .301 with an .855 OPS against him.
As the season progresses, the performances of these key players and the outcome of critical matchups will be closely watched by fans and Fantasy sports enthusiasts alike. With Clayton Kershaw making his return and players like Gunnar Henderson and Xander Bogaerts showcasing their talents, the upcoming games promise to be both exciting and pivotal for their respective teams.