Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball. The players listed below could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Thursday.

On a sunny afternoon at AT&T Park, catcher Austin Hedges wore the brightest smile, as he got his first big league hit — an RBI single in the third inning — and deftly handled Kennedy and two relievers as the Padres rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Giants in the prospect’s first Major League start.

Jeff Samardzija officially dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension, as announced in the White Sox notes for Wednesday’s game with the Tigers, meaning the right-hander will begin serving his penalty.

Justin Verlander is throwing again. The 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner, sidelined since late March with a right triceps strain, threw 50 times off flat ground Wednesday afternoon after doctors reviewed his MRI exam and decided inflammation had sufficiently subsided.

Don Mattingly wouldn’t use the word setback, but clearly Hyun-Jin Ryu’s rehab from a left shoulder impingement has hit a snag.

The Astros put outfielder George Springer on the 7-day disabled list, after he suffered a concussion during Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to Texas. That means a fan favorite is on his way.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper had quite a game on Wednesday, one that had the potential to make big-time Major League history as he hit a home run in each of his first three at-bats against the Marlins at Nationals Park.

With Derek Jeter gone, the AL shortstop scene is complicated. We don’t have an established, perennial All-Star who’s going to scoop up the votes from the sentimentalists, and, here in early May, we have only the smallest of statistical samples to guide those driven by data. A few clear candidates could emerge in the coming weeks. But right here, right now, let’s focus on two guys who, not long ago, caused a Boston traffic jam at the position and now could cause a similar scene in the voting.

It’s the classic baseball barroom argument: Take two similar spectacular defensive plays and argue about which one was more impressive. For too long, “diving catch” was the definition of “good defensive play.” We always knew better. Now, thanks to Statcast™, we can know better.

He struck out the side four times.

Carlos Perez made his Major League debut on Tuesday afternoon and became the hero by Tuesday night, hitting a walk-off home run to send the Angels to a 5-4 victory over the Mariners at Angel Stadium.

Ryan Vogelsong worked seven shutout innings and received ample offensive support Tuesday night as the San Francisco Giants lengthened their dual winning streaks to five overall and eight at home with a 6-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Having already joined Nemo Gaines as the only graduates of the United States Naval Academy to ever throw a big league pitch, Cardinals reliever Mitch Harris on Tuesday accomplished what Gaines never did in his time with the Washington Senators some 94 years ago: That is, earn a Major League win.

Off to their best start (through 26 games) in modern franchise history, the Cardinals scored another come-from-behind victory — this one a 7-4 win over the Cubs at Busch Stadium — to run their winning streak to eight on Tuesday. It’s the longest winning streak by the club since July 2010.

Astros fans have likely noticed No. 1 prospect Carlos Correa’s white-hot hitting over the past few nights, and he came through again Tuesday night with his third straight three-hit game.

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg left the game Tuesday night after working three innings against the Marlins. Manager Matt Williams said Strasburg has irritation underneath his right shoulder blade, which could be “an alignment issue.”

The Rangers pounced on Scott Feldman for four runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Prince Fielder and a two-run homer by Carlos Peguero and rode the pitching of Wandy Rodriguez to win consecutive games for the first time this season with a 7-1 victory over the Astros on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.