Here are theScore's third baseman value rankings for Sunday, April 24:
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Manny Machado (BAL) | at KC | 9 |
| Maikel Franco (PHI) | at MIL | 8 |
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | vs. LAD | 8 |
| Josh Donaldson (TOR) | vs. OAK | 8 |
Machado has to be your cash game option at this point. He has opened the season hitting .397 thanks to a 15-game hit streak. It almost seems like a personal insult to Machado should you choose to fade him.
Franco mashed two homers in the opening game of the Phillies-Brewers series and drilled another in Game 2. He draws a great matchup against Wily Peralta and his career 12.8 percent HR/FB ratio. Franco's reliability on the long ball makes him a strict tournament play.
Arenado and Donaldson provide the home run power desired in tournament formats. Both come with high price tags.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Moustakas (KC) | vs. BAL | 7 |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | at CIN | 7 |
| Evan Longoria (TB) | at NYY | 7 |
| Brandon Drury (ARI) | vs. PIT | 7 |
| Adrian Beltre (TEX) | at CWS | 6 |
| David Freese (PIT) | at ARI | 6 |
| David Wright (NYM) | at ATL | 6 |
| Javier Baez (CHC) | at CIN | 6 |
| Todd Frazier (CWS) | vs. TEX | 6 |
| Matt Carpenter (STL) | at SD | 6 |
| Justin Turner (LAD) | at COL | 6 |
Moustakas has been hot of late putting together a handful of multi-hit games and knocking four homers in his last ten.
Drury is likely to start at third for Arizona with Pittsburgh's LHP Francisco Liriano on the hill. He comes at a bargain salary and should hit second. The Pirates and Diamondbacks both rank in the top-10 in runs scored and team batting average. The hitter-friendly park in Arizona will also benefit both teams. A high-scoring affair could be in the cards.
It is home run or bust with Frazier, so reserve him for tournament play. However, opposing pitching pitcher Derek Holland owns a 1.19 HR/9, which gives Frazier an improved chance at launching his sixth long ball of the season.
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Coghlan (OAK) | at TOR | 5 |
| Eduardo Nunez (MIN) | at WAS | 5 |
| Travis Shaw (BOS) | at HOU | 5 |
| Jose Ramirez (CLE) | at DET | 5 |
| Yunel Escobar (LAA) | vs. SEA | 5 |
| Nick Castellanos (DET) | vs. CLE | 5 |
| Anthony Rendon (WAS) | vs. MIN | 5 |
| Eugenio Suarez (CIN) | vs. CHC | 5 |
| Matt Duffy (SF) | vs. MIA | 5 |
| Chase Headley (NYY) | vs. TB | 5 |
Suarez's hot streak is starting to cool. He was batting .200 with just one extra-base hit in nine-games leading up to Saturday. Though he launched a three-run homer Saturday night, his inflated salary makes him a risk.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Rodriguez (NYY) | vs. TB | 4 |
| Kyle Seager (SEA) | at LAA | 4 |
| Aaron Hill (MIL) | vs. PHI | 4 |
| Juan Uribe (CLE) | at DET | 4 |
| Lonnie Chisenhall (CLE) | at DET | 3 |
| Luis Valbuena (HOU) | vs. BOS | 3 |
Seager isn't likely to bump out of his slump considering the Angels' ballpark is one of the most pitcher-friendly in the league.
A-Rod is batting a measly .143 for the season and gets LHP Drew Smyly who has struck out 11 batters in both of his last two starts.
