Wednesday's Outfielder Value Rankings
Here are theScore's outfielder value rankings for Wednesday, July 6 (all stats exclude Tuesday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Odubel Herrera (PHI) | vs. ATL | 9 |
| Yoenis Cespedes (NYM) | vs. MIA | 8 |
| George Springer (HOU) | vs. SEA | 8 |
Herrera has done a bit of everything over his last 10 games -- and all season, really -- as he's slashed .317/.356/.610 with three home runs, seven RBIs, nine runs scored and a stolen base as the cherry on top. He's far and away the best option in the Phillies' lineup, consistently defying naysayers who projected him as mediocre at best. His DFS salary isn't insane, either. Get him in lineups.
A bit pricier, Cespedes and Springer offer elite power upside while both being threats to score on the regular, especially Springer of late. Springer, hitting atop the Astros lineup, is becoming an OBP machine, walking more than he's been striking out of late and plating a ton of runs. To roster both would be expensive, but the upside has to be tempting.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Jones (BAL) | at LAD | 7 |
| Nelson Cruz (SEA) | at HOU | 6 |
| Ian Desmond (TEX) | at BOS | 5 |
Jones keeps on trucking as the Orioles' leadoff man hitting a cool .341 over his last 10 games while scoring 11 runs and drilling a pair of dingers. The only thing he hasn't done is steal bases. His salary is a bit below the top tier and despite Dodgers RHP Bud Norris' recent string of success, it shouldn't be enough of a deterrent where Jones is concerned.
Cruz is probably overpriced in most formats because he's largely boom or bust. He's a great GPP option because when he reaches his ceiling, he's getting multiple hits, a home run among them, and driving in a bunch of runs.
Desmond has been the cash game mainstay, and still a solid tournament option, because of his consistency all season. With Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright on the hill, though, that certainty goes away. He could drill a couple into or over the Green Monster, or the knuckleball could dance and baffle him all night long. He's still not an auto-fade, but he's far from a lock.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Starling Marte (PIT) | at STL | 4 |
| Matt Kemp (SD) | at ARI | 3 |
| Marcell Ozuna (MIA) | at NYM | 2 |
In what may be a pair of options who appear to be in favorable situations, both Marte and Kemp should be avoided, instead. Marte has showcased superior numbers versus right-handers this season, batting .342 with five of his six home runs. Against left-handers, he's batting a decent .250. Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia has been hit-and-miss, but has been much better at home.
Kemp draws struggling Diamondbacks SP Shelby Miller who looked decent upon initially returning from the disabled list before getting shelled in two straight starts. Kemp has followed the predictable splits pattern, however, that Marte has not. While he has eight homers against righties, he's also hitting a paltry .235 with 65 strikeouts in 263 plate appearances. Look elsewhere.
Ozuna, despite having relative success against Mets SP Jacob deGrom, can't be recommended with any confidence. Even though he's 6-for-19, only one hit has been for extra bases and deGrom has still struck him out seven times.