AL Lineup Analysis

Angels

• Justin Upton is back and has slotted in the cleanup spot. Normally, the cleanup spot has been reserved for Albert Pujols so some kinks need to still be worked out.
• Tommy La Stella’s spirit has returned to reclaim his body from Babe Ruth and has hit .200/.238/.425 over the past two weeks.
• Luis Rengifo (.649) will likely head to the minors once Andrelton Simmons returns from the IL. He’ll probably not be missed.
• I didn’t expect Shohei Ohtani to steal much to protect his elbow but he does have three steals in his last eight games.

Astros

• The lineup is in flux with Jose Altuve returning from the IL and the last three games being in an NL park with the pitcher batting.
• Altuve hit third in the lineup in his first game back.
• Tyler White has heated up ( .310/.474/.586) over the last two weeks. When Carlos Correa returns, it’ll be interesting to see if White (.695 OPS) or Yuli Gurriel (.593 OPS) will take over the first base duties.

Athletics

• The lineup is set with the only exception being Mark Canha and Robbie Grossman in a left-field platoon.

Blue Jays

• What a nightmare trying to figure who’s playing. Simply, there is one extra regular, so someone starts each game on the bench.
• Cavan Biggio (.212/.358/.470) is the player getting moved around with starts at first, second, the two outfield corner spots, and DH.

Indians

• A constant lineup besides the Jordan Luplow and Tyler Naquin platoon.
• Jose Ramirez is hitting .259/.300/.481 in 30 PA over the past week.

Mariners

• Since the trade of Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees, the lineup has stabilized with J.P. Crawford (.347 OBP) batting second, Kyle Seager batting sixth, Dee Gordon seventh or eighth.
• Dee Gordon is only hitting .219/.235/.375 with one stolen base since returning from the IL.

Orioles

• On any night, the lineup is likely to be a new order. Only once this season has the team used the same lineup.
• Keon Broxton, Steve Wilkerson, and Anthony Santander are sharing two outfield spots.
• Both catchers are hitting third or fourth when starting. Usually, Chance Sisco faces righties and Pedro Severino faces lefties.

Rangers

• Since returning from the IL, Willie Calhoun is batting fifth.
• Logan Forsythe has started only three of the last ten games.
• Danny Santana has started only four of the last eight games.
• Playing time is going to get tighter once Joey Gallo and Hunter Pence come off the IL.

Rays

• The lineup remains a mess with Tommy Pham hitting second as the only consistent piece.
• Travis d’Arnaud has led off the last two games against a lefty starter. I’m not sure why since he just has a .583 OPS against them this season.
• Willy Adames has hit fifth the last two games but has only hit .190/.261/.214 over the last two weeks.
• Since coming off the IL, Joey Wendle is hitting just .059/.111/.059 while starting five of the last six games.

Red Sox

• The lineup stays constant with Brock Holt facing lefties and Eduardo Nunez facing righties.

Royals

• Cheslor Cuthbert has been playing every day but has cooled off this past week hitting just .240/.240/.280. He might lose his roster spot once Hunter Dozier returns from the IL.
• By moving Whit Merrifield to first base, they allowed Jorge Bonifacio to play right field and hit .350/.381/.500 in 21 PA.

Tigers

• JaCoby Jones went of a hot streak to begin the month and is now sometimes batting leadoff. He has really cooled off hitting .053/.053/.105 this past week.

Twins

• The lineup is generally set. The order does changes more than most because the catchers bat near the top of the lineup. When one sits, the other one gets inserted into his spot.

White Sox

• Ryan Cordell has started seven straight games in right field. Over that time frame, he has hit .158/.158/.158.

Yankees

• Lots of the fill-ins during the Yankees Injury Festival are heading to the bench. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will force Cameron Maybin and Brett Gardner to ride the pine for nine. Giovanny Urshela has already headed to the bench and has only started three of the last seven games.
• Didi Gregorius is hitting .294/.314/.412 since coming off the IL.
• Aaron Hicks is hitting .132/.250/.289 over the last two weeks.

We hoped you liked reading AL Lineup Analysis by Jeff Zimmerman!

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