Monday's Third Baseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's third baseman value rankings for Monday, May 30 (all stats exclude Sunday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | at BAL | 9 |
| Jung Ho Kang (PIT) | at MIA | 9 |
| Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. BOS | 9 |
| Eduardo Nunez (MIN) | at OAK | 8 |
| Kyle Seager (SEA) | vs SD | 8 |
| Nick Castellanos (DET) | at LAA | 8 |
Shaw sees his salary leap on many formats, but that shouldn't be a deterrent. He's as good an option as you'll find in cash games, and he could easily run into one against Orioles SP Tyler Wilson. When Kang plays, which he should Monday, he is as reliable as Shaw, if not more so. He's hitting .344 with three home runs over his last 10 games.
If it hasn't happened already, it's probably high time to stop doubting Nunez as a DFS option. Seager's home run drought is balanced by an improved OBP and a matchup against Padres SP Andrew Cashner.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Lamb (ARI) | vs. HOU | 7 |
| Anthony Rendon (WAS) | at PHI | 7 |
| Danny Valencia (OAK) | vs. MIN | 7 |
| Aaron Hill (MIL) | vs. STL | 7 |
| Jose Ramirez (CLE) | vs. TEX | 7 |
| Derek Dietrich (MIA) | vs. PIT | 6 |
| Adrian Beltre (TEX) | at CLE | 6 |
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | vs. CIN | 6 |
| Matt Duffy (SF) | at ATL | 6 |
| Maikel Franco (PHI) | vs. WAS | 6 |
| Yangervis Solarte (SD) | at SEA | 6 |
| Matt Carpenter (STL) | at MIL | 5 |
| Evan Longoria (TB) | at KC | 5 |
| Josh Donaldson (TOR) | vs. NYY | 5 |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | vs. LAD | 5 |
Lamb continues to be a solid bargain as long as he faces RHPs, which is the order du jour against the Astros and Collin McHugh on Monday. Hill has likewise been a consistent piece at a discounted rate. Hill's .349 wOBA is his best since 2013 and his six home runs have him on pace to be his most productive since 2012, his first season in Arizona.
Arenado and Carpenter are expensive, almost prohibitively so, but you're paying for elite upside. Neither has a particularly difficult matchup, but Carpenter's steadily declining batting average is a concern as he continues to favor big production over consistency.
Bryant, in his limited career, has actually fared significantly worse against LHPs than RHPs. The power potential is there, but he's hit only .237 against southpaws since his debut in 2015 and has stumbled at Wrigley Field throughout 2016.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Valbuena (HOU) | at ARI | 4 |
| Todd Frazier (CWS) | at NYM | 4 |
| David Freese (PIT) | at MIA | 4 |
| Chase d'Arnaud (ATL) | vs. SF | 3 |
| Eugenio Suarez (CIN) | at COL | 3 |
| Justin Turner (LAD) | at CHC | 3 |
| Yunel Escobar (LAA) | vs. DET | 3 |
| Martin Prado (MIA) | vs. PIT | 2 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert (KC) | vs. TB | 2 |
| Brett Wallace (SD) | at SEA | 1 |
Prado's .328 batting average plus his matchup against Pirates SP Jeff Locke screams must-play, but Prado isn't an attractive choice most nights. He'll score the occasional run, batting second, but he has no power and doesn't steal bases. Over his last 10 games, he's been moderately valuable twice in DFS.
Frazier may seem low, and considering how Mets SP Matt Harvey has pitched, he could pull through big time. His power is there but the team around him has scuffled. All three of his home runs in his last 10 games have been solo shots. Banking on Harvey to continue spinning his tires, especially after the Mets say they've detected a flaw could be a big mistake.