Saturday's First Baseman/DH Value Rankings
Here are theScore's first baseman/DH value rankings for Saturday, July 23 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Edwin Encarnacion (TOR) | vs. SEA | 9 |
| Albert Pujols (LAA) | at HOU | 8 |
| Kennys Vargas (MIN) | at BOS | 8 |
Oddly enough, MLB's RBI leader (Encarnacion) isn't priced among the top-tier of first baseman. He has posted an OPS of .980 in the month of July and hits in a loaded lineup that is coming off a 10-run outburst in Arizona. He's an easy selection for top choice against Hisashi Iwakuma, who has allowed 18 home runs in 19 starts this season.
Pujols is 7-for-19 in his career against Collin McHugh and is hitting .342/.419/.620 over his last 21 games. It is just 315 feet down the left field line at Minute Maid Park, giving one of the greatest sluggers of all time copious amounts of upside.
Vargas has been red-hot since being recalled to the big leagues and his price is still very affordable. The switch-hitter has always preferred hitting right in his big league career, and will do just that against LHP David Price at Fenway Park.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Martinez (DET) | at CWS | 7 |
| Brandon Belt (SF) | at NYY | 6 |
| Justin Smoak (TOR) | vs. SEA | 5 |
V-Mart is ice cold and has to face one of the best in the game in Chris Sale. He is priced near the minimum because of this. He can be drafted as a tournament-only contrarian, however, as Martinez is a career .500 hitter with a 1.453 OPS in 36 career at-bats against the gangly lefty.
Belt, a left-handed hitter, could easily poke one into the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium against RHP Ivan Nova.
Smoak will be seeking vengeance against his former team, and comes into this matchup hitting .353/.476/.588 in his last five starts.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | vs. MIN | 4 |
| Mark Reynolds (COL) | vs. ATL | 3 |
| Wil Myers (SD) | at WAS | 2 |
Shaw and Reynolds are both ice-cold, yet have huge price spikes because of a weak opposing pitcher and a hitter-friendly ballpark, respectively. Myers will be in tough against Max Scherzer.