Graham Pauley DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Miami Marlins third baseman Graham Pauley was optioned back to Triple-A on Thursday. With Connor Norby back as the starting third baseman, there wasn't much opportunity for Pauley to get in the lineup. He only tallied 20 at-bats in the month of May. He'll head to the minors with a disappointing slash line of just .210/.261/.284, but could find himself in the majors again if the Marlins suffer more injuries.

Miami Marlins first baseman Matt Mervis and third baseman Graham Pauley are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Washington Nationals as they will face left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Mervis has typically taken a backseat throughout the early part of the campaign. Over his last seven contests, he has been quite productive at the plate, posting a .360/.400/.909 slash line with four long balls. Instead, Eric Wagman will cover first base, which opens up the designated hitter spot for Jonah Bride. Pauley has only made two starts this season against left-handed pitching. He has been in a bit of a slump at the plate, holding a .138 AVG over his last eight games. Instead, Javier Sanoja will get the nod at the hot corner. The Marlins' offense is not worth targeting in DFS facing Gore in this matchup.

With Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney starting the series finale on Sunday at loanDepot Park against the hosting Miami Marlins, both third baseman Graham Pauley and outfielder Kyle Stowers will start on the bench. Jonah Bride will make the start at third base and will hit fifth, while Javier Sanoja is starting in left field and batting in the nine-hole for the Fish. Neither Bride nor Sanoja have ever faced Heaney. The 24-year-old Pauley and the 27-year-old Stowers will be regulars in Miami's starting lineup when the team faces right-handed pitchers, but they will often be rested against southpaws. Pauley has started the year 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI in the first two games of the year, while Stowers has gone 4-for-12 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in 14 trips to the plate over three games played.