Clayton Kershaw Returns to the Mound
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw is set to make his much-anticipated season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Kershaw has been sidelined for nearly four months following offseason shoulder surgery, and his return is sure to spark interest among fans and analysts alike. The veteran pitcher's last outing was anything but stellar—he allowed six runs and managed to record only one out in a postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. As Kershaw prepares to take the mound, all eyes will be on his performance and how he has recovered from his surgery.
Mets vs. Braves and Completing a Sweep
In other news, the New York Mets are set to face off against their NL East rival, the Atlanta Braves, on Thursday. The Mets are riding high after completing both a two-game sweep and a four-game season sweep over the New York Yankees. With momentum on their side, the Mets will be looking to continue their dominance within the division.
Fantasy Sports Insights
Renowned daily Fantasy sports pro Mike McClure, who has amassed more than $2 million in his career, continues to offer valuable insights for fantasy sports enthusiasts. McClure utilizes a proprietary projection model that simulates each game 10,000 times, offering a data-driven approach to predicting player performances.
Profar and Henderson: Fantasy Performers to Watch
Jurickson Profar delivered an impressive performance on Wednesday, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. This effort earned him 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings. Not to be outdone, Gunnar Henderson has also been making waves this season. Priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel, Henderson leads all shortstops in home runs with 28. He also ranks in the top three in his position in runs scored, RBIs, hits, slugging percentage, and OPS. With a .287/.373/.574 slash line and an impressive .946 OPS this season, Henderson is a key player to watch.
Orioles' Offensive Surge
The Baltimore Orioles, who wrap up a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, are having a notable season. They rank second in the AL in both runs scored and win percentage, driven in part by the stellar performance of players like Henderson.
Munoz and Bogaerts: Key Matchups
Rookie pitcher Roddery Munoz has had a challenging season, posting a 5.14 ERA. Left-handed hitters have found significant success against him, batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS. Gunnar Henderson, who is hitting .304 with a .982 OPS against right-handed pitchers, could pose a significant challenge for Munoz. Meanwhile, another intriguing matchup is Xander Bogaerts against Patrick Corbin. Bogaerts, priced at $4,000 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel, went 4-for-4 with two runs scored on Wednesday. Having returned on July 12 after missing roughly six weeks with a shoulder injury, Bogaerts is hitting .483 with a .983 OPS over seven games since his return, including six multi-hit performances.
Bogaerts has proven to be particularly effective against left-handed pitchers, boasting a career .306 average with an .853 OPS. His past success against Corbin, highlighted by a 3-for-5 record with a home run, further underscores the potential for a strong performance. 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. Considering these factors, McClure views Bogaerts vs. Corbin as a strong matchup for Thursday's MLB DFS lineups.
As the MLB season continues to unfold, these players and matchups will be critical to watch, both for their impact on the field and their implications for fantasy sports enthusiasts.