Clayton Kershaw, the esteemed Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is set to make his highly anticipated season debut on Thursday. This comes after being sidelined for nearly four months due to an offseason shoulder surgery. Kershaw's last appearance was a challenging postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he struggled significantly, allowing six runs and recording only one out.
In contrast to the battle Kershaw faces on his return, the New York Mets are gearing up for their matchup against the Atlanta Braves, having recently completed both a two-game sweep and a four-game season sweep over their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees. Such performances have solidified the Mets' confidence and could make their upcoming game a captivating encounter.
Fantasy Sports Insights
Navigating daily Fantasy sports can be daunting, but Mike McClure, a renowned Fantasy sports expert, simplifies it through his proprietary projection model. McClure's system simulates each game 10,000 times, providing insights that have earned him more than $2 million in his career. Players like Jurickson Profar, who recently went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored, are the types of athletes McClure's model highlights. Profar's impressive performance amassed 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings, underscoring his current hot streak.
Standout Performers
Gunnar Henderson, another player making waves, leads all shortstops in home runs with 28 this season. His remarkable stats include being in the top three at his position in runs scored, RBIs, hits, slugging percentage, and OPS. Henderson boasts an impressive .287/.373/.574 slash line and a .946 OPS. As the Orioles conclude their three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, Henderson’s contributions will be crucial. The Orioles, ranking second in the AL in runs scored and win percentage, have shown they are a formidable team with players like Henderson at the helm.
Opposing pitchers have taken note of these offensive juggernauts. For instance, Roddery Munoz, who has a 5.14 ERA this season, struggles particularly against left-handed hitters, who are batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS against him. Henderson, hitting .304 with a .982 OPS against right-handed pitchers, is likely to exploit such matchups.
Xander Bogaerts' Return
Xander Bogaerts has returned with a vengeance after missing approximately six weeks with a shoulder injury. Since his return on July 12, Bogaerts is hitting an astounding .483 with a .983 OPS over seven games. He has six multi-hit performances in these games, illustrating his pivotal role in the lineup. On Wednesday, Bogaerts went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, further solidifying his comeback. Historically, Bogaerts has a career .306 average with an .853 OPS against left-handed pitchers and has a favorable 3-for-5 record with a home run against pitcher Patrick Corbin, who currently holds a 5.35 ERA over 20 starts this season. Right-handed hitters have found success against Corbin, batting .301 with an .855 OPS, indicating Bogaerts could continue his hot streak.
The landscape of Major League Baseball is continuously shifting, with players like Clayton Kershaw, Gunnar Henderson, and Xander Bogaerts shaping the narrative through their significant performances and comebacks. As teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Orioles vie for dominance, the contributions of these standout athletes will undoubtedly play a crucial role in determining their season outcomes.