August 1B and DH Rankings

Here are the August first baseman and designated hitter rankings. As always, players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 scoring over the rest of the season. I try to list players at the positions at which they're most valuable, so if you can't find that second baseman you're looking for, check shortstop instead. Included along with the position rankings you'll find a fully updated top 300 list.

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Click to see other August rankings:

Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

First Baseman and Designated Hitter Rankings

Dropping off: Carlos Pena (No. 30), Nate Freiman (No. 36), Josh Satin (No. 37)

• Since it was just going to be a two-person DH ranking this month, I folded Ortiz and Hafner into the first base rankings here.

• As bare as the cupboard is apart from the top 10 or so, I was tempted to move some qualified outfielders over to first base. I feel kind of bad about having Chris Carter and Mitch Moreland actually moving up one spot apiece as poorly as they've played of late.

• Of course, that's mostly because Albert Pujols (foot), Ryan Howard (knee) and Lance Berkman all got hurt. Berkman has a chance to be the first of the three to return to the lineup, but depending on how his knee and hip respond, he seems as likely to call it a career as he does to play again this season. My guess is that Pujols is done for the year, but he may aim for a Sept. 1 return if the Angels let him. I think it'd be best for both parties if he just rested and got ready for 2014 instead. Howard should be back for the final three or four weeks, but he won't be 100 percent and the Phillies probably won't play him every day. Odds are that he'll be rather useless in mixed leagues after returning.

• Justin Morneau quietly hit five homers last month. Incredibly, he managed only seven RBI anyway, but if he continues showing that kind of power, he'll be a solid mixed league first baseman the rest of the way. Also, his value could get a boost if he's involved in a waiver deal.