Clayton Kershaw's much-anticipated return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to take place on Thursday, marking the end of nearly four months on the sidelines following offseason shoulder surgery. The left-handed ace, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been sorely missed by the Dodgers and fans alike. His last outing, a postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, saw him allow six runs while recording just one out, raising concerns about his form and fitness. However, optimism abounds as Kershaw prepares to make his season debut.
In another headline match-up on Thursday, the New York Mets will face the Atlanta Braves. The Mets enter the game with a significant morale boost, having completed both a two-game sweep and a four-game season sweep over their city rivals, the New York Yankees. As the Mets look to continue their winning momentum, all eyes will be on players like Jurickson Profar, who recently went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Profar's performance on Wednesday earned him 28.4 points on FanDuel and 21 points on DraftKings, underlining his importance to the Mets' lineup.
Turning to individual player performances, Gunnar Henderson stands out this season. Priced at $6,300 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel, Henderson leads all shortstops in home runs with 28. His impressive stats don't stop there; he ranks in the top three at his position in runs scored, RBIs, hits, slugging percentage, and OPS. With a .287/.373/.574 slash line and a .946 OPS this season, Henderson has been a key player for the Orioles as they face the Miami Marlins in a three-game series concluding on Thursday. The Orioles, ranking second in the AL in runs scored and win percentage, will be relying on Henderson to continue his hot streak.
Roddery Munoz's struggles on the mound this season have not gone unnoticed. Holding a 5.14 ERA, Munoz has particularly struggled against left-handed hitters, who are batting .302 with a 1.072 OPS against him. This statistic could be a crucial factor for the Orioles as they strategize for their remaining games in the series against the Marlins.
In other player news, Xander Bogaerts has made a significant impact since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for roughly six weeks. Bogaerts, who is priced at $4,000 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel, went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored on Wednesday. Since his return on July 12, Bogaerts has hit .483 with a .983 OPS over seven games. His six multi-hit performances in this span highlight his crucial role in the lineup. Known for his consistent performances against left-handed pitchers, Bogaerts boasts a career .306 average with an .853 OPS in these matchups. Additionally, he holds a strong 3-for-5 record with a home run against Patrick Corbin, who has a 5.35 ERA over 20 starts this season. Right-handed hitters are batting .301 with an .855 OPS against Corbin, potentially setting the stage for another big night for Bogaerts.
The landscape of Major League Baseball is continually shifting, with key players coming back from injuries and others stepping up their game. As the season progresses, the performances of Kershaw, Henderson, Bogaerts, and others will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in their teams' fortunes. Fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching these developments, eagerly anticipating the impact these athletes will have as they drive their teams towards postseason success.