Clayton Kershaw, the revered three-time Cy Young Award winner, is primed to make a highly anticipated season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers this Thursday. This comes after he has spent nearly four months sidelined, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. His return is highly awaited by fans and analysts alike, especially given the mixed outcomes that have dotted his recent performances.
In his last outing, which was a postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kershaw struggled significantly. He allowed six runs and managed to record only one out, a performance that stirred discussions about his form post-surgery. As he steps back on the mound, all eyes will be on him to see if he can reclaim his dominant form.
Other Teams in Action
Meanwhile, the New York Mets are gearing up to face the Atlanta Braves on Thursday as well. The Mets have been making headlines with their recent performance, having completed both a two-game sweep and a four-game season sweep over their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees. The rivalry games showcased their resilience and depth, significant factors as they prepare for the Braves' challenge.
Fantasy Sports Insights
For daily Fantasy sports enthusiasts, Mike McClure, a renowned pro who has amassed over $2 million in his career, offers valuable insights. McClure's approach leverages a proprietary projection model that simulates each game 10,000 times, providing data-driven recommendations that have proven highly effective.
A standout performance was observed from Jurickson Profar, who went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored on Wednesday. His exemplary performance earned him 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings, making him a noteworthy consideration for Fantasy lineups.
Rising Stars and Returnees
Gunnar Henderson continues to shine this season, leading all shortstops with 28 home runs to his name. Priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel, Henderson is not just a power hitter but also ranks in the top three at his position in runs scored, RBIs, hits, slugging percentage, and OPS. His current slash line of .287/.373/.574 and a .946 OPS speaks volumes of his consistent performance. The Orioles, who face the Miami Marlins in a three-game series concluding on Thursday, have been bolstered by Henderson’s contributions, ranking second in the AL in runs scored and win percentage.
On the other hand, Roddery Munoz has had a challenging season, maintaining a 5.14 ERA. Left-handed hitters have particularly found success against Munoz, batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS. In contrast, Gunnar Henderson has a robust .304 average and a .982 OPS against right-handed pitchers, further cementing his value.
Bogaerts' Comeback
Xander Bogaerts, priced at $4,000 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel, made a remarkable return on July 12 after missing roughly six weeks due to a shoulder injury. Since his return, Bogaerts has been on a tear, hitting .483 with a .983 OPS over seven games. Highlighting his consistency are his six multi-hit performances within that span, a testament to his batting prowess.
Bogaerts has a career .306 average with an .853 OPS against left-handed pitchers and has a solid track record against Patrick Corbin, going 3-for-5 with a home run. Corbin, with a 5.35 ERA over 20 starts this season, has allowed right-handed hitters to bat .301 with an .855 OPS, which further bolsters the appeal of Bogaerts in upcoming matchups.
The upcoming games and individual performances are sure to captivate fans and analysts alike, with several key players and matchups promising high-stake excitement. As Kershaw returns and rising stars like Henderson and bounce-back players like Bogaerts continue their impressive runs, the dynamics of the season remain as thrilling as ever.