Friday's First Baseman/DH Value Rankings
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Here are theScore's first baseman/DH value rankings for Friday, September 23 (all stats exclude Thursday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Miguel Cabrera (DET) | vs. KC | 10 |
| David Ortiz (BOS) | at TB | 8 |
| Josh Bell (PIT) | vs. WAS | 8 |
Everything is lining up for Cabrera to have a big night on Friday. He has a .381 OBP with three home runs and two doubles in his last 10 games, and he's hit .308/.414/.531 against left-handed pitchers overall this season. LHP Danny Duffy has given up eight HRs in his last five games. On top of everything, Cabrera is relatively cheap. He should feature heavily across all contest types.
Bell has hit safely in seven of his last nine games, a span which includes four doubles. If he keeps doubling ahead of veteran batters, he'll continue to score runs at an advanced clip. His price still hasn't risen to appropriately reflect his ability and opportunity in the Pirates' two-hole. He hasn't been as effective against lefties though, so restrict him to tournament lineups.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Bour (MIA) | vs. ATL | 6 |
| Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) | vs. COL | 6 |
| Victor Martinez (DET) | vs. KC | 5 |
Martinez's uncertain status -- he's dealing with a swollen knee -- will knock his ownership percentage down a bit. He's in a bit of a slump lately, hitting .200 with a .643 OPS over his last 10 games, but that has pushed his price low enough that he can be rostered in GPP lineups regardless of matchup. V-Mart is still one of the most disciplined hitters in the game. He'll right the ship soon.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Mauer (MIN) | vs. SEA | 3 |
| Mitch Moreland (TEX) | at OAK | 2 |
| Ryan Zimmerman (WAS) | at PIT | 1 |
Mauer has been sitting out with greater regularity, owing to current 4-for-38 stretch at the plate. Since he has only recorded a .620 OPS against LHPs this season, chances are he sits against the Mariners' James Paxton. If he does play, the only thing giving Mauer value is a DFS salary that has cratered in the wake of his slump.