Lineup Analysis (8/22/20)

Just some quick valuation changes on each MLB lineup.

American League

Angels

• I’m far from a Brian Goodwin fan but he’s an undervalued available asset. He’s hitting fine with a .836 OPS, four homers, and a steal. With Albert Pujols, Justin Upton, Shohei Ohtani, and Jo Adell all struggling at the plate, he’s now started seven games in a row.

• David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella are cemented into the top two lineup spots.

Astros

• Josh Reddick has hit clean up the last few days.

• With Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez on the IL, Taylor Jones has started the last three games. The 26-year-old Jones hit .291/.388/.501 with 22 home runs in AAA last season.

Athletics

• Extremely stable lineup with Khris Davis and Chad Pinder starting against lefties and Robbie Grossman and Tony Kemp against righties.

Blue Jays

• The lineup is all over the place.

• Travis Shaw (sits vs LHP), Brandon Drury, Rowdy Tellez, Joe Panik, and Santiago Espinal are in some rotation for three lineups spots.

Indians

• About as consistent as possible.

• Tyler Naquin (vs RHP) and Jordan Luplow (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Delino DeShields (.267/.353/.267) has started four of the last five games.

Mariners

• Tim Lopes (.247/.293/.351, 5 SB) has started 12 of the last 14 games.

• Catcher qualified Austin Nola (.276/.329/.487, 3 HR) has started 10 of the 11 games.

• Evan White is leading the major with 40 strikeouts.

Orioles

• Cedric Mullins (.324/.378/.412, 2 SB) has started six straight games.

• Highly-touted prospect, Ryan Mountcastle, hit sixth in his debut.

Rangers

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has started five straight games at shortstop with Elvis Andrus out.

• Since returning from the IL, Danny Santana (since back: .250/.400/.450, 1 HR, 1 SB) is batting second.

Rays

• The normal mess. The only everyday regulars are Austin Meadows (.798 OPS), Yandy Díaz (.822), Willy Adames (.876), and Brandon Lowe (1.149).

Red Sox

• Mitch Moreland and Michael Chavis are still in a first base platoon.

• Alex Verdugo (vs RHP) and Kevin Pillar (vs LHP) are sharing the leadoff spot.

Royals

• Nicky Lopez (.226/.304/.323) has hit second over the last five games.

• Ryan O’Hearn (.232/.302/.321) has been starting at first base over Ryan McBroom (.279/.326/.558)

Tigers

• It’s been a mess over the last few days with players joining the team from the alternate site or the IL.

• Jeimer Candelario (.282/.325/.487) has moved up the lineup and has even led off a couple of games.

Twins

• What a nightmare to figure out with all the injuries (Buxton, Garver, Donaldson). It’s impossible to find out who is moving up and down right now.

• Jake Cave is starting in center field.

White Sox

• Nomar Mazara has started eight of the last nine games in right field, but still isn’t hitting (.200/.308/.267).

Yankees

• It seems like Brett Gardner (vs RHP) and Miguel Andújar (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Clint Frazier (.333/.400/.667) has started eight straight games.

• Tyler Wade (vs RHP) and Thairo Estrada (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

National League

Braves

• Over the last 14 days, Travis d’Arnaud has started all but two games and is hitting .333/.364/.619 in the lineup’s top half.

• With Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. out, Adam Duvall (.273/.319/.500) and Johan Camargo (.205/.253/.397) have been playing every day. I’d not be surprised if Duvall becomes a regular.

Brewers

• Orlando Arcia has not been his normal horrible self with a .709 OPS.

• Luis Urías (.333/.394/.400) has started six of the last seven games.

Cardinals

• Since returning from the COVID vacation, Brad Miller has been batting fifth while hitting .348/.467/.696.

• Dylan Carlson is struggling at the plate (.125/.176/.156).

Cubs

• Ian Happ (.299/.419/.636, 4 HR) has led off for four straight games.

• Jason Heyward has been moving up the lineup while hitting .375/.500/.667 over the last 14 days.

Diamondbacks

• Tim Locastro and Kevin Cron are facing lefties while Jake Lamb and Kole Calhoun start against righties.

• Against those righties, Calhoun leads off while hitting .253/.349/.587 against them (.176/.222/.235 vs LHP)

Dodgers

• AJ Pollock (.840 OPS) has started 10 of the last 11 games.

• Austin Barnes is starting (seven of 10) and hitting (.288/.333/.365).

Giants

• The team keeps trying to play the old guard (Longoria, Belt, Pence, Sandoval, and Crawford) but the unknowns and discards have taken over the top four lineup spots (Slater, Solano, Yastrzemski, and Flores)

Marlins

• It’s a jumbled mess with injuries and callups.

• Jon Berti (.235/.328/.275) hasn’t started in three straight games.

• Francisco Cervelli seems locked into the catcher role (.250/.361/.462) even with Jorge Alfaro off the IL.

Mets

• Andrés Giménez (.629 OPS, 6 SB) had not started in three straight games with Amed Rosario (.550 OPS, 0 SB) back from the IL.

Nationals

• Luis Garcia (.794 OPS) is slowly moving up the lineup (5th spot).

League laggards in stolen bases.

Cards: 4
Cubs: 5
Nats: 5
Twins: 6
Red Sox: 6
Brewers: 6

— Jeff Zimmerman (@jeffwzimmerman) August 22, 2020

Padres

• Jake Cronenworth (.328/.400/.597) has started eight straight games and is no longer in a platoon with Jurickson Profar.

• Profar (.656 OPS) has taken over for injured Tommy Pham in the outfield.

Phillies

• Besides the first four spots, the lineup is in complete disarray.

• Since Alec Bohm (.779 OPS) has joined the team, barely hitting Scott Kingery has moved to centerfield (.298 OPS).

Pirates

• The lineup has been consistently horrible. Somehow the answer is batting Eric Gonzalez (.281 OBP) lead off. Adam Frazier used to be leading off but he has just a .220 OBP.

Reds

• Besides Nick Senzel, all the regulars are back.

• Shogo Akiyama (.587 OPS) has started four straight while batting 6th.

• Josh VanMeter (.334 OPS) has started five of the last six.

Rockies

• Raimel Tapia (.407 OBP) has led off the last two games.

• The bottom half of the lineup is a mess with not regulars.