Saturday's Third Baseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's third baseman value rankings for Saturday, June 18 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Donaldson (TOR) | at BAL | 8 |
| Kyle Seager (SEA) | at BOS | 8 |
| Adrian Beltre (TEX) | at STL | 8 |
| Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. TOR | 7 |
Seager's left-handed power stroke should play well at Fenway Park; Boston RHP Rick Porcello has done well to limit the damage at home, but he has still allowed 12 home runs in 13 starts.
The priciest option at the position, Donaldson has been red hot, with eight hits, eight runs scored, two homers and six RBIs in his last three games. A back-from-the-DL Yovani Gallardo could get thrown to the wolves.
Beltre comes cheaper than usual on some sites ahead of an encounter with St. Louis' Carlos Martinez. It's not the easiest matchup, but Beltre is seemingly healthy, recording three hits in his Thursday return from a seven-game hamstring absence.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | at MIA | 7 |
| Matt Carpenter (STL) | vs. TEX | 7 |
| Chase Headley (NYY) | at MIN | 7 |
| Matt Duffy (SF) | at TB | 7 |
| Danny Valencia (OAK) | vs. LAA | 7 |
| Anthony Rendon (WAS) | at SD | 7 |
| Jose Ramirez (CLE) | vs. CWS | 7 |
| Evan Longoria (TB) | vs. SF | 7 |
| Eugenio Suarez (CIN) | at HOU | 6 |
| Nick Castellanos (DET) | at KC | 6 |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | vs. PIT | 6 |
| Eduardo Nunez (MIN) | vs. NYY | 6 |
| Yunel Escobar (LAA) | at OAK | 6 |
| Martin Prado (MIA) | vs. COL | 6 |
| Jake Lamb (ARI) | at PHI | 6 |
| Trevor Plouffe (MIN) | vs. NYY | 6 |
| Jung Ho Kang (PIT) | at CHC | 5 |
| Todd Frazier (CWS) | at CLE | 5 |
| Javier Baez (CHC) | vs. PIT | 5 |
| Justin Turner (LAD) | vs. MIL | 5 |
| Jurickson Profar (TEX) | at STL | 5 |
Headley's power has seemingly disappeared, but he's starting to hit with regularity, with at least one hit in five straight games, and comes at a bargain price.
James Shields' struggles in his first three White Sox outings (23 earned runs, and no fewer than six in any contest) have bumped off the price of Ramirez and his teammates. Ramirez doesn't have a whole lot of power, but is a solid enough hitter to be productive if the men ahead of him reach base.
Bryant was ill on Friday and held out of the lineup; he could return, but is still somewhat of a pricey risk.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | vs. SEA | 3 |
| Yangervis Solarte (SD) | vs. WAS | 3 |
| Maikel Franco (PHI) | vs. ARI | 3 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert (KC) | vs. DET | 3 |
| Chase d'Arnaud (ATL) | at NYM | 2 |
Poor pitching matchups and/or slight overpricings relative to recent production mar the members of the bottom tier, especially Shaw, who could easily hit the bench thanks to his struggles against lefties this year (.143 average).