Tuesday's First Baseman/DH Value Rankings
Here are theScore's first baseman/DH value rankings for Tuesday, May 30 (all stats exclude Monday's games unless otherwise noted):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Pujols (LAA) | vs. DET | 9 |
| Victor Martinez (DET) | at LAA | 9 |
| Adam Lind (SEA) | vs. SD | 9 |
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | at BAL | 8 |
| Joe Mauer (MIN) | at OAK | 8 |
| Edwin Encarnacion (TOR) | vs. NYY | 8 |
Pujols will never be the .300 hitter of old, but the power surges will continue and there aren't many matchups as attractive as Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez has posted an awful 6.04 ERA in 10 starts and has a 1.84 HR/9 against. This bodes really well for Pujols.
On the flip side, Martinez should handle Angels LHP Hector Santiago well. The switch-hitter has succeeded universally and owns a .429 batting average with a pair of dingers over his last 10. Lind is the best bargain option at 1B despite playing at cavernous Safeco Field. Lind has actually hit four of his five long balls at home.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) | vs. HOU | 7 |
| David Ortiz (BOS) | at BAL | 7 |
| Mark Reynolds (COL) | vs. CIN | 7 |
| Mike Napoli (CLE) | vs. TEX | 7 |
| Joey Votto (CIN) | at COL | 6 |
| Matt Adams (STL) | at MIL | 6 |
| Eric Hosmer (KC) | vs. TB | 6 |
| Steve Pearce (TB) | at KC | 6 |
| Tommy Joseph (PHI) | vs. WAS | 6 |
Goldschmidt and Ortiz are just outside the top tier because of their salaries. They will require some creative rostering, but Ortiz has homered in three straight games and Goldschmidt was one of the few to solve Astros SP Collin McHugh on Monday.
Napoli hasn't done much in the way of batting average, but with the rest of Cleveland's lineup getting on base, he's been taking care of the rest with three home runs and nine RBIs over his last 10 games. He has a pair of stolen bases in that time, too, but you can't count on that happening again. He is also a bit less expensive than teammate Carlos Santana in case you load up at OF.
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Miguel Cabrera (DET) | at LAA | 5 |
| Carlos Santana (CLE) | vs. TEX | 5 |
| Logan Morrison (TB) | at KC | 5 |
| Freddie Freeman (ATL) | vs. SF | 5 |
| Brandon Moss (STL) | at MIL | 5 |
| Ryan Zimmerman (WAS) | at PHI | 5 |
| Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) | at CHC | 5 |
| Justin Smoak (TOR) | vs. NYY | 5 |
| John Jaso (PIT) | at MIA | 5 |
Gonzalez and Jaso are the most intriguing here because they're at steep discounts because they are facing elite starting pitching in Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta and Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, respectively. As part of a contrarian GPP lineup, either one could prove difference maker as both have been on a roll. Jaso is hitting .400 over his last 10 while Gonzalez is close behind at .342.
If you trust Morrison's recent surge, by all means put him in against Royals RHP Dillon Gee, who has allowed close to two home runs per nine innings pitched in 2016. His salary has surged, at least for this day, and he's still fairly strikeout prone. Moss could be a home run threat with Brewers RHP Wily Peralta on the mound, but that salary is a little high.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Wil Myers (SD) | at SEA | 4 |
| Brandon Belt (SF) | at ATL | 4 |
| Anthony Rizzo (CHC) | vs. LAD | 4 |
| Chris Davis (BAL) | vs. BOS | 4 |
| Alex Rodriguez (NYY) | at TOR | 3 |
| Hanley Ramirez (BOS) | at BAL | 3 |
| Prince Fielder (TEX) | at CLE | 3 |
| Ryan Howard (PHI) | vs. WAS | 2 |
| Tyler White (HOU) | at ARI | 2 |
| Chris Carter (MIL) | vs. STL | 2 |
| Byung Ho Park (MIN) | at OAK | 1 |
| Billy Butler (OAK) | vs. MIN | 1 |
You can do better. Rizzo and Davis have not done well against left-handed pitching, so why take the plunge. Even on the off chance they connect, it's been such a rarity that the odds are very much against them. Myers has had a couple good games recently, but he's been uneven on the whole. Until Park can start hitting, stay away from him.