AL Lineup Analysis (7/26/19)

Angels

• Overall, the lineup has been consistent. Shohei Ohtani has been sitting with no DH available in NL parks.
• David Fletcher has led off 13 of the last 14 games while hitting .250/.294/.354 during that time frame.

Astros

• With Carlos Correa coming off the IL, all the pieces are back and the early season lineup will likely be used. Correa will hit fifth which would move Yordan Alvarez down a spot.

Athletics

• The lineup is set with the Robbie Grossman (vs RHP) and Chad Pinder (vs LHP) platoon and Jurickson Profar (.179/.273/.513, .111`BABIP over the last 28 days) back at second base.

Blue Jays

• The lineup gets jumbled depending on if the team is facing a righty or a lefty, but it seems like the same hitters.
• Teoscar Hernandez is hitting .281/.361/.688 since the All-Star break while starting eight of the last nine games.
• Brandon Drury is only playing three times a week and hitting .174/.167/.304 since the break.

Indians

• The lineup is extremely consistent with the only recent change being Tyler Naquin sitting with a hamstring injury and several players filling in.
• Jose Ramirez has finally heated up with a 1.028 OPS in July.

Orioles

• Overall, the team has just a few rosterable non-catchers (Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco). Besides Jonathan Villar, Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander (he’s been decent and plays), and Renato Nunez ignore any other position player. The rest are untalented and aren’t playing every day.
• Dwight Smith Jr. (vs RHP) and Steve Wilkerson (vs LHP) are in a left-field platoon.

Rangers

• The lineup is up in the air with Joey Gallo on the IL, Ronald Guzman in the minors, and Willie Calhoun back up from the minors. The big value gainers are Logan Forsythe playing first (three straight games, .781 OPS) and Asdrubal Cabrera at third (four straight games, .718 OPS).
• Danny Santana (.930 OPS) is now a regular and batting second.
• Shin-Soo Choo has started 23 straight games as the leadoff hitter.

Rays

• They continue to use what seems like a new lineup each night. The recent changes are because Kevin Kiermaier and Yandy Diaz going on the IL. Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows are the only two non-catcher regulars.  Avisail Garcia has joined them since the Kiermaier injury but it won’t stay. Besides these three and Travis d’Arnaud, none are rosterable in any 15-team or shallower league. Nathaniel Lowe is in a platoon with d’Arnaud. Joey Wendle is taking playing time from Willy Adames. Playing time is the issue, not talent.

Red Sox

• The lineup continues to be the same. The only change being Mitch Moreland is back at first base with Michael Chavis on the IL. It’ll be interesting to see how the playing time works out between those two and Brock Holt once Chavis is healthy.

Royals

• Bubba Starling is now batting sixth while hitting .308/.357/.436 since his callup.
• Since returning from the IL, Hunter Dozier is hitting .241/.331/.464 with five homers.

Tigers

• Since Harold Castro has moved to second in the lineup, he’s hitting .267/.261/.400. Yep, an OBP lower than his AVG.
• In late June, Jeimer Candelario was promoted back to the majors and has hit .277/.368/.530.
• Brandon Dixon has only started six of the last 10 games, all against a righty.
• Niko Goodrum (.725 OPS, 11 SB) and JaCoby Jones (.746 OPS, 7 SB) have been decent stolen base sources this season.

Twins

• With C.J. Cron on the IL, one of the other regulars doesn’t need to sit every day. Miguel Sano has transitioned over to the first.
• Luis Arraez (.933 OPS) has started nine straight games and is playing all over the field.
• Mitch Garver continues to leadoff against lefties.

White Sox

• A new lineup has been used in the past four games has helped increase the value of some players. Jon Jay (.709 OPS) is batting second. Ryan Goins (1.105) is playing shortstop and batting in the middle of the lineup. Adam Engel (.708 OPS) is batting ninth with two stolen base attempts.
• Since joining the White Sox, A.J. Reed is hitting .194/.257/.290.

Yankees

• Mike Tauchman (.853 OPS) has started five straight games in left field for the injured Brett Gardner.
• The infield has one extra player rotating in. Here are the five hitters.