AL Lineup Analysis (7/18/19)

Angels

• The lineup was starting to become set until Mike Trout got hurt.
• David Fletcher (.294/.358/.420) has led off for eight straight games.
• Kole Calhoun has slowly worked his way up the lineup by hitting .273/.385/.576 over the last two weeks.
• Luis Rengifo has solidified himself in the lineup by hitting .288/.373/.424 over the last month.

Astros

• The top seven spots are set with one outfield spot being a Josh Reddick (vs RHP) and Jake Marisnick (LHP) platoon.

Athletics

• Mark Canha (.944 OPS) is now batting regularly in the middle of the lineup.
• Franklin Barreto (.540 OPS) needs to start hitting or he may end up being replaced by Jurickson Profar (.680).
• Khris Davis moved down to the 6th spot in the last game with Canha and Ramon Laureano heading up.

Blue Jays

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting just .194/.242/.226 over the last two weeks.
• There are one too many bats with one regular sitting every day.

Indians

• Tyler Naquin has started 10 of the last 12 games while hitting .455/.500/.788. He’s pretty much killed any playing time for Greg Allen.
• Bobby Bradley is hitting just .178/.245/.356 in 49 plate appearances.

Mariners

• Besides a rotating cast of characters in the seventh and eighth spots, the lineup has been set for weeks. It’s not a good lineup but a consistent one.
• J.P. Crawford has cooled off over the last two weeks hitting just .111/.161/.222 but continues to bat second.

Orioles

• Most of the names are the same, but some players are moving up the lineup while others are headed down. When he starts, Chance Sisco (.948 OPS) is batting third or fourth. Also, Anthony Santander (.740 OPS) is now hitting in the top half of the lineup.
• Even though Pedro Severino has a respectable .798 OPS for a catcher, he’s only started four of the last 15 games. He’s close to dropable in most formats.

Rangers

• Willie Calhoun’s demotion and Hunter Pence IL return will change some things around. Delino DeShields was in a playing time platoon with Calhoun but it’s not clear if the platoon with continue.

Rays

• Michael Brosseau (1.071 OPS) has started 10 of the last 11 games and hit second in the last two games.
• Travis d’Arnaud (.274/.333/.526) is still hitting at the top of the versus lefty lineup and playing first base.
• Austin Meadows is sitting against lefties with Guillermo Heredia usually starting instead.
• Joey Wendle continues to struggle at the plate (.497 OPS on the season, .417 over the last two weeks) and could run out of playing time soon.

Red Sox

• The lineup continues to be consistent.

Royals

• For some unknown reason, the Royals let Lucas Duda (.500 OPS) start every third or fourth day.
• Bubba Starling is batting seventh with a .235/.316/.235 slash line since his promotion.
• Billy Hamilton has been religated to pinch-running duties.

Tigers

• Several changes. Victor Reyes (.667 OPS) is locked into the leadoff spot. Harold Castro (.742) is batting second.
• Brandon Dixon is hitting just .161/.246/.387 over the last month and has moved down the Tigers lineup.

Twins

• The C.J. Cron and Byron Buxton injuries have caused some lineup fluctuations but overall it is consistent.
• Luis Arraez (.942 OPS) has started 11 of the last 12 games. I’m a little worried Jonathan Schoop may start losing playing time (.777 OPS).

White Sox

• The top two-thirds of the lineup is set but the bottom half has gone through some changes with the addition of A.J. Reed (.833 OPS in 15 PA).

Yankees

• Luke Voit is back to hitting third
• One of the infielders/DH sits every day. I think fantasy owners expected Giovanny Urshela (.820 OPS) to sit more but he’s started six of the last eight games.
• Since joining the Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion is hitting just .177/.261/.481.
• Over the last month, Aaron Hicks has finally gotten healthy and is hitting .297/.373/.563.