Saturday's Third Baseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's third baseman value rankings for Saturday, May 14 (are stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Prado (MIA) | at WAS | 10 |
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | vs. HOU | 9 |
| Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. DET | 9 |
| Matt Carpenter (STL) | at LAD | 8 |
| Kyle Seager (SEA) | vs. LAA | 8 |
| Matt Duffy (SF) | at ARI | 8 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert (KC) | vs. ATL | 8 |
Here's what to expect from Prado: four or five plate appearances batting out of the two-spot, right in front of Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton. So for a modest price, DFSers can roster the player with the second-highest batting average among qualified hitters (.386) with a battalion of power hitters behind him. He can be rostered in cash games or GPPs.
Machado is on an utterly dominant tear to start 2016, hitting .360 with a .416 OBP through 33 games. He arguably offers more value at shortstop but he's still a top cash-game play.
Cuthbert isn't a household name, but he can be found in the bargain bin and has hit safely in his first seven games this season. Against wildly inconsistent flamethrower Mike Foltynewicz, Cuthbert can be deployed as a tournament flier, especially if stacked with other mid-order Royals like C Salvador Perez and OF Alex Gordon.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Juan Uribe (CLE) | vs. MIN | 7 |
| Nick Castellanos (DET) | at BAL | 7 |
| Brett Wallace (SD) | at MIL | 7 |
| Brandon Drury (ARI) | vs. SF | 7 |
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | vs. NYM | 6 |
| Josh Donaldson (TOR) | at TEX | 6 |
| Danny Valencia (OAK) | at TB | 6 |
| Evan Longoria (TB) | vs. OAK | 6 |
| Jake Lamb (ARI) | vs. SF | 5 |
| Gordon Beckham (ATL) | at KC | 5 |
| Maikel Franco (PHI) | vs. CIN | 5 |
| Todd Frazier (CWS) | at NYY | 5 |
| Anthony Rendon (WAS) | vs. MIA | 5 |
| Justin Turner (LAD) | vs. STL | 5 |
| Aaron Hill (MIL) | vs. SD | 5 |
Uribe is a great bargain, as his .258 batting average and .343 OBP will keep the gears turning at the back of the Indians' lineup. He's the type of buy-low target that will make it possible to roster the priciest pitchers in cash games.
Arenado has a great outlook but his price will leave penny-pinchers speechless. He'll also take on Mets SP Logan Verrett, who owns a great 1.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 10 total appearances; he turned in six-inning scoreless gems in each of his two spot-starts this season.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Beltre (TEX) | vs. TOR | 4 |
| Trevor Plouffe (MIN) | at CLE | 4 |
| Chase Headley (NYY) | vs. CWS | 4 |
| Jung Ho Kang (PIT) | at CHC | 4 |
| David Wright (NYM) | at COL | 3 |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | vs. PIT | 3 |
| Luis Valbuena (HOU) | at BOS | 3 |
| Eugenio Suarez (CIN) | at PHI | 2 |
Beltre is hitting just .237 with a .268 OBP over his last 10 games and faces Blue Jays SP Marco Estrada; despite the favorable ballpark dimensions at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Beltre will be in tough against the pitcher with a linedrive rate of 12.9 percent -- the fourth-lowest in the majors.
Kang is very cheap considering he has already slugged three long-balls in 15 plate appearances since returning from injury. The presence of Jake Arrieta means that Kang's chances of returning serious tournament value once again are slim.
An appearance at Coors Field significantly increase Wright's statistical projections but he bears a prohibitively expensive price that will make it hard to roster a competitive lineup.