Clayton Kershaw Set for Season Debut
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to welcome back a key player to their rotation on Thursday as three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw makes his season debut. Kershaw has been out of action for nearly four months following offseason shoulder surgery and will be eager to make an impact upon his return.
In his last outing, Kershaw faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in a postseason start, allowing six runs and managing to record only one out. The veteran pitcher will undoubtedly be looking to put that disappointing performance behind him and help the Dodgers as they push forward in the season.
A Look at the Opponents
While the Dodgers and their fans are excited about Kershaw's return, baseball action elsewhere is also heating up. The New York Mets are set to face division rivals Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The Mets, who have had a successful run recently, completed both a two-game sweep and a four-game season sweep over the New York Yankees, adding an extra layer of confidence heading into their matchup with the Braves.
In other exciting game news, the Baltimore Orioles will be concluding their three-game series against the Miami Marlins. The Orioles have shown impressive form this season, ranking second in the American League in both runs scored and win percentage.
Fantasy Sports Insights
Fantasy sports enthusiasts have a lot to consider with these upcoming games. Mike McClure, a renowned daily Fantasy sports professional who has amassed more than $2 million in his career, uses a proprietary projection model that simulates each game 10,000 times to provide insights for fantasy players.
Gunnar Henderson, one of the top performers, is priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel. Henderson leads all shortstops in home runs with 28 this season and ranks in the top three at his position in several key categories, including runs scored, RBIs, and slugging percentage. His impressive slash line of .287/.373/.574 and a .946 OPS makes him a strong pick, especially considering his .304 average and .982 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
Meanwhile, Jurickson Profar showcased his skills with a stellar performance on Wednesday, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. This earned him 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings, making him another player to watch for fantasy sports aficionados.
Player Spotlight: Xander Bogaerts
Xander Bogaerts has made a remarkable return after missing roughly six weeks with a shoulder injury. Since his return on July 12, he has been in outstanding form, hitting .483 with a .983 OPS over seven games. Bogaerts has six multi-hit performances in this span, including a perfect 4-for-4 game with two runs scored on Wednesday.
Priced at $4,000 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel, Bogaerts offers excellent value for fantasy sports players. His career average against left-handed pitchers sits at .306 with an .853 OPS, and he has a solid record against Patrick Corbin, going 3-for-5 with a home run. 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.
The Pitching Landscape
Roddery Munoz, another pitcher to keep an eye on, has faced his own challenges this season, with a 5.14 ERA. Left-handed hitters have taken advantage, batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS against him. The Orioles will be looking to exploit this as they face Munoz and the Marlins in their series finale.
The unfolding storylines this week are sure to provide plenty of excitement for baseball fans and fantasy sports players alike. With key players returning and crucial matchups on the horizon, there's no shortage of drama and action in the world of Major League Baseball.