Saturday's First Baseman/DH Value Rankings
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Here are theScore's first baseman/DH value rankings for Saturday, September 24 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) | at BAL | 9 |
| Freddie Freeman (ATL) | at MIA | 9 |
| Josh Bell (PIT) | vs. WAS | 8 |
Goldschmidt has fantastic splits against left-handed pitchers (.354/.490/.578) and gets to tee-off against one of the worst pitchers on the slate; Wade Miley has a 6.60 ERA in his last 10 starts. The only thing holding Goldy back is a salary that ranks first among all hitters on the slate, making it difficult for him to return much more than cash-game value, but his floor has never been higher.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Bour (MIA) | vs. ATL | 8 |
| Victor Martinez (DET) | vs. KC | 6 |
| Billy Butler (NYY) | at TOR | 6 |
Bour has struggled lately, posting a .171 batting average and .427 OPS over his last 10 games, but he could nevertheless return tournament value on Saturday. In 2016, Bour has a .830 OPS vs. RHPs. The Marlins will take on Braves SP Aaron Blair, who has more earned runs against him (46) in his last 10 starts than strikeouts (31). Miami as a whole could have a big day at the plate, with Bour playing a key role in the middle of the order.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Hosmer (KC) | at DET | 3 |
| Joe Mauer (MIN) | vs. SEA | 2 |
| Ryan Zimmerman (WAS) | at PIT | 2 |
Hosmer's potential takes a big hit against lefty Daniel Norris; the Tigers' pitcher hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last 10 starts. It doesn't help that Hosmer has slashed just .241/.282/.398 against LHPs this year.
Mauer's struggles against lefties have become more obvious this year. Zimmerman's struggles against pitchers in general have been downright depressing.