Thursday's Third Baseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's third baseman value rankings for Thursday, June 2 (all stats exclude Wednesday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | vs. CIN | 9 |
| Nick Castellanos (DET) | vs. NYY | 8 |
| Kyle Seager (SEA) | at SD | 8 |
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | at BAL | 7 |
Arenado is the priciest option at the position, but has a confluence of factors in his favor: he's at Coors Field, he's hot (two home runs on Tuesday) and he's facing arguably baseball's worst starting pitcher, Alfredo Simon, holder of a 9.60 ERA.
While he's cooled off over the past several games, Castellanos still has 10 home runs and a .319 average, and should thrive against the struggling Michael Pineda, who has allowed eight home runs in right-handed batters.
Seager homered during the first two games of the series in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, and shouldn't be affected by a shift to Petco Park in San Diego. He's batting .333 against RHPs, and Colin Rea has struggled to a 4.47 ERA.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Nunez (MIN) | vs. TB | 7 |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | vs. LAD | 7 |
| Jose Ramirez (CLE) | vs. KC | 7 |
| Evan Longoria (TB) | at MIN | 7 |
| Luis Valbuena (HOU) | vs. ARI | 7 |
| Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. BOS | 7 |
| Eugenio Suarez (CIN) | at COL | 6 |
| Alex Rodriguez (NYY) | at DET | 6 |
| Chase Headley (NYY) | at DET | 6 |
| Aaron Hill (MIL) | at PHI | 6 |
| Jung Ho Kang (PIT) | at MIA | 6 |
| Yangervis Solarte (SD) | vs. SEA | 5 |
| Maikel Franco (PHI) | vs. MIL | 5 |
| Martin Prado (MIA) | vs. PIT | 5 |
| Brandon Drury (ARI) | at HOU | 5 |
Nunez has put together multi-hit games in five of his last six and is relatively affordable, though the weak Twins offense as a whole caps his upside somewhat.
Machado always has explosive potential, but he hasn't driven in a run in four games, and Red Sox SP Rick Porcello has typically been able to limit damage this season.
The versatile, switch-hitting Ramirez should find himself somewhere in the lineup everyday with OF Marlon Byrd's suspension knocking him out for the rest of the season.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Turner (LAD) | at CHC | 4 |
| Trevor Plouffe (MIN) | vs. TB | 4 |
| Juan Uribe (CLE) | vs. KC | 4 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert (KC) | at CLE | 3 |