AL Lineup Analysis (9/12/19)

Angels

• Brian Goodwin’s hot second half (.267/.323/.568) has bumped him up to the leadoff spot with Brian Fletcher batting second.

Astros

• Aledmys Díaz has started five straight games at first base as Yuli Gurriel deals with a hamstring injury.
• Abraham Toro has started nine of the last 11 at third base while hitting .250/.344/.464 in the majors.
• Kyle Tucker has only started in three of the last seven games and sat in three straight.
  

Athletics

• Jurickson Profar (.867 2H OPS) and Sheldon Neuse (.374 OPS) are sharing time at second base.
• Besides Mark Canha in centerfield, the outfield is a rotation of Chad Pinder, Seth Brown, Robbie Grossman, and Ramón Laureano.
• Khris Davis continues to struggle at the plate hitting .653 in September.
• If in need of catching help, Sean Murphy is hitting .333/.368/1.000 since being called up.

Blue Jays

• Rowdy Tellez has started seven straight games while hitting .259/.310/.741 with four homers so far in September. During those seven games, he’s hit in the prime RBI spots,  third to fifth.
• Justin Smoak is playing, at best, every other day.

Indians

• Yu Chang has started four straight games at third base while hitting .224/.333/.347 on the season.
• Jordan Luplow (.888 OPS) is healthy and starting against lefties. Greg Allen and Jake Bauers are splitting time against righties.

Mariners

• What a nightmare to figure out. There are no regulars besides Daniel Vogelbach, Kyle Seager, and Austin Nola. Everyone else may be playing at two-thirds time … at best.
• Kyle Lewis just got called up and has started two straight games in left. He may be worth an add.

Orioles

• Again, the same crappy hitters.

Rangers

• It’s tough to justify starting anyone besides Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus, Willie Calhoun, Nick Solak, and maybe Rougned Odor. Danny Santana and Ronald Guzmán have started in just four of the last six. Additionally, Nomar Mazara has returned and will make the playing time situation even more jumbled.
• Solak has started eight straight games while hitting .347/.460/.556 on the season.

Rays

• They are still going with a versus lefty and a righty lineup with most of the lineup getting replaced.
• Joey Wendle has led off the last three games (all vs RHP) because he’s hitting .364/.400/.485 in September.
• Avisaíl García has started seven of eight games against lefties and righties while hitting a .783 OPS on the season.

Red Sox

• They’ve been rolling out the same lineup all year, why stop now.

Royals

• Besides the top four hitters, the Royals are going with random player usage at the bottom of the lineup.
• It seems like the Royals are giving their young outfielders a chance and Alex Gordon has started four of the last six games.
• Though Ryan O’Hearn has heated up in September (1.148 OPS), he’s not starting against lefties (career .435 OPS).

Tigers

• Since coming off the IL, Christin Stewart has started six straight games while hitting .304/.320/.739 with 3 HR.
• Travis Demeritte is getting buried in the Tigers lineup with his .636 OPS.
• Victor Reyes continues to leadoff while hitting .309/.343/.422.

Twins

• With Max Kepler hurt, Luis Arraez has led off the last two games.
• C.J. Cron has sat the last three games with no reason given, but he has dealt with previous injuries this season. He’s been horrible so far in September hitting just .120/.214/.160, so he could be getting a mental or physical break.
• Miguel Sano is nursing a sore back so Ehire Adrianza has been starting at third.
• LaMonte Wade Jr has started three straight games in centerfield. Wade is all eye, no power with a .393 OBP in AAA but only a .356 SLG.

White Sox

• With everyone healthy, the lineup has stabilized.
• Zack Collins seems overmatched at the MLB level hitting just .093/.264/.209 on the season.

Yankees

• With the regulars getting healthy, the lineup is stabilizing. The only position up for grabs is the left-field spot with Mike Tauchman out for the season.
• There are one too many decent infielders at the moment and one of Gleybar Torres, Luke Voit, Didi Gregorius, Gio Urshela, and DJ LeMahieu must sit every day. Mike Ford is also working himself into this mix.