Archive for Hitters

9 Stolen Base Targets

by
August 11, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Though it feels like the end of the season is actually closer (maybe it’s just me), we still have about a quarter of games left to play. If you haven’t already been doing so, now is definitely the time to start focusing entirely on the individual category standings. Forget about overall fantasy value and worry about how many points you could realistically gain and lose in each statistic. Have a surplus of home runs and limited downside, but could gain a handful of stolen base points? Let’s discuss nine targets that are a mix of projected rest of season stolen base leaders and strong PA/SB ratios that could potentially be bigger contributors with more playing time.

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Lineup Analysis (8/9/25)

by
August 9, 2025

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

American League

Angels

• Since coming off the IL, Christian Moore (87 wRC+) started in four straight games at second base.

• Bryce Teodosio (39% K%, .625 BABIP) started five straight in center field.

• There has been a different starting third baseman over the last three games (Yoán Moncada, Luis Rengifo, and Oswald Peraza). Read the rest of this entry »


Position Player Playing Time Changes: August 5, 2025

by
August 5, 2025
Joe Rondon – The Republic – USA TODAY NETWORK

After a busy (and more importantly, fun) trade deadline, it’s time for our biggest projected playing time changes update of the year, with over 100 players. For players who changed teams, the Old PT value represents the percentage of remaining playing time they were projected to receive before the trade (i.e., with their old team), with the New PT column reflecting their projected playing time with their new team.

Change in % of Remaining PT, 7/29 to 8/5
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason/Notes
Tyler Locklear ARI 1B 3% 62% 59% Will get extended look down the stretch
Dylan Carlson BAL LF,CF,RF 10% 68% 58% Tons of PT available with Laureano/O’Hearn gone
Hunter Feduccia TBR C 1% 53% 52% Platooning with Fortes after trade from Dodgers
Grant McCray SFG CF,LF 4% 55% 51% Should play plenty against righties
Edouard Julien MIN 2B 7% 56% 49% Will get extended look down the stretch
Jakob Marsee MIA CF, LF 18% 67% 49% Has taken Miami by storm in his first few games
Robert Hassell III WSN CF,RF,LF 13% 61% 48% Probably starting against most righties
C.J. Kayfus CLE RF,1B,DH 4% 50% 46% Hopefully sparks a dormant lineup
Alan Roden MIN LF,DH,RF 13% 57% 44% Will get extended look down the stretch
Troy Johnston MIA 1B 10% 50% 40% Will play a bunch against RHP
Darell Hernaiz ATH SS, 3B, 2B 4% 44% 40% Filling in for Wilson at SS
Jared Triolo PIT 3B, SS, 1B, 2B 24% 62% 38% Helping cover 3B with Hayes gone
Jordan Lawlar ARI 3B, 2B, DH, SS 13% 51% 38% Should be up soon once recovered from hammy
Ramón Laureano SDP RF,CF,LF 44% 81% 37% Padres starting LF
Austin Martin MIN LF 1% 38% 37% One of the many Twins auditioning for 2026
Coby Mayo BAL 3B,1B,DH 22% 59% 37% More PT open with O’Hearn gone
Blaze Alexander ARI 3B, DH, 2B, SS 21% 54% 33% Starting 3B at least until Lawlar is up
Liover Peguero PIT 3B, 2B, 1B, SS 26% 59% 33% More homers in one game than Hayes had all year
Jose Miranda MIN 1B, DH, 3B 11% 42% 31% Spelling Lewis sometimes but mostly 1B/DH
Joey Loperfido TOR CF, RF, LF 28% 56% 28% Keeps hitting, keeps playing
Luke Maile KCR C 3% 30% 27% Backup C with Fermin gnoe
Nacho Alvarez Jr. ATL 3B, 2B, SS 8% 35% 27% Covering for Riley at 3B
Dylan Beavers BAL RF 3% 28% 25% Very close to MLB debut
Christian Moore LAA 2B 57% 80% 23% Back from IL
Ha-Seong Kim TBR SS, 2B 67% 89% 22% Back from IL, splitting time between 2B/SS
Luke Keaschall MIN 2B,DH,LF,CF 39% 61% 22% Back from IL, finally
James Outman MIN CF,RF,LF 10% 30% 20% Getting a look at Triple-A but should be up soon
Max Muncy LAD 3B ,1B 53% 72% 19% Back from scary knee injury
Yohel Pozo STL C, DH 28% 45% 17% Closer to timeshare with Pages
Eli White ATL RF, LF, CF 25% 42% 17% Filling in for Acuña
Curtis Mead CHW 2B,3B,DH,1B 12% 29% 17% PT in Chicago is his for the taking, but in AAA for now
Jordan Westburg BAL 3B, 2B, DH 75% 92% 17% Getting fewer days off than when first back from IL
Samuel Basallo BAL C, DH 5% 21% 16% Will he actually debut this year?
Freddy Fermin SDP C 46% 61% 15% Goes from backup in KC to starter in SD
Royce Lewis MIN 3B, DH 70% 84% 14% Getting fewer days off than when first back from IL
Max Schuemann ATH RF,SS,CF,3B,LF,2B 26% 40% 14% Filling in everywhere and playing more
Anthony Seigler MIL 2B,3B,1B,DH 20% 33% 13% Pat Murphy likes working him in despite lack of production so far
Brooks Baldwin CHW CF,LF,RF,SS,2B,3B 16% 29% 13% Versatility has helped him play often-ish
Gio Urshela ATH 3B,1B,SS 30% 42% 12% Andujar trade opened up PT
Jeremiah Jackson BAL 3B,SS, RF, LF, 2B 2% 14% 12% Welcome to MLB, Jeremiah: you’re playing all over
Ceddanne Rafaela BOS CF, 2B 84% 96% 12% Few days off thanks to versatility
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. MIN CF, RF, LF 7% 19% 12% More than just a PR now after trades
Casey Schmitt SFG 2B, 3B, SS, 1B 49% 61% 12% Appears to be the starting 2B
Ryan Mountcastle BAL DH,1B 52% 63% 11% Nearing IL return
Mark Vientos NYM DH,3B,1B 71% 82% 11% Playing more often lately
Warming Bernabel COL 1B,3B 62% 73% 11% Took Toglia’s 1B job
Tyler O’Neill BAL RF, LF, DH 72% 82% 10% Finally getting going at the plate
Luis Urías ATH SS,2B,3B 46% 56% 10% Playing more regularly than before
Brandon Lowe TBR 2B,DH 62% 72% 10% Back from IL
Brayan Rocchio CLE 2B, SS 61% 71% 10% Has started regularly at 2B since Arias came back
Marcell Ozuna ATL DH 74% 64% -10% Losing time to Baldwin/Murphy
Yoán Moncada LAA 3B, DH 67% 57% -10% Losing time to Moore/Rengifo
Johnathan Rodríguez CLE RF,DH,LF 16% 6% -10% Sent to AAA
Enrique Hernández LAD 1B,2B,LF,CF,3B,RF 19% 8% -11% Return from IL is unclear
Connor Joe CIN RF,1B,LF 15% 3% -12% Sent to AAA
Angel Martínez CLE CF, 2B, RF, SS, 3B 67% 55% -12% Playing less lately
Cam Smith HOU RF, DH 84% 72% -12% Will lose some time to Sánchez + slump
Jesse Winker NYM LF, DH, RF 27% 14% -13% Return from IL is unclear
Austin Slater NYY LF, RF 40% 27% -13% Hamstring strain + less PT after trade anyway
Tommy Edman LAD 3B, SS, 2B, CF 84% 71% -13% Back on IL (ankle)
Gavin Lux CIN 2B,LF,DH,3B 74% 61% -13% Almost entirely shielded from LHP now
George Springer TOR RF, LF, DH, CF 97% 83% -14% Concussion
Ryan O’Hearn SDP RF,DH,LF,1B 81% 67% -14% Should never face a lefty in SD
Jose Siri NYM CF 20% 6% -14% Return from IL is unclear
John Rave KCR LF,CF,RF,DH 63% 49% -14% Hard platoon with Grichuk
Luisangel Acuña NYM SS,CF,2B 17% 3% -14% Sent to AAA
Evan Carter TEX LF,CF,RF 71% 57% -14% Back on IL (back)
Donovan Solano SEA DH,3B,1B 29% 15% -14% Playing time scarce after trades
Luke Raley SEA DH,RF,1B,LF 43% 28% -15% Back injury
Jacob Young WSN CF 73% 58% -15% Sharing time with Hassell
Otto Kemp PHI 3B,LF,1B,2B 40% 25% -15% Less PT with Bader in the fold
Hyeseong Kim 김혜성 LAD CF,SS,2B 55% 40% -15% Shoulder bursitis
Byron Buxton MIN CF,DH 78% 62% -16% Ribcage inflammation
Alex Call LAD RF,LF,CF 52% 36% -16% Less PT with LAD than WSN
Brett Wisely SFG 3B,2B,SS 20% 4% -16% Sent to AAA
Shay Whitcomb HOU 3B,2B,DH 18% 1% -17% Sent to AAA
Willi Castro CHC 3B,DH,LF,RF,SS,2B,CF 79% 61% -18% Will still play a lot but not as often as with Twins
Jackson Chourio MIL CF, RF, LF, DH 97% 79% -18% Hamstring strain
Marcelo Mayer BOS 3B,SS,2B 47% 29% -18% Timeline (wrist injury) unclear
Matt Shaw CHC 3B 70% 52% -18% Castro eating into PT
Nolan Jones CLE RF,LF,CF 57% 38% -19% Playing less lately
José Caballero NYY 3B,CF,SS,2B,RF 39% 20% -19% Narrower role with NYY than TBR
Tyrone Taylor NYM CF,LF 52% 32% -20% Mullins eats into PT
Santiago Espinal CIN RF,LF,2B,SS,3B 42% 22% -20% Andujar eats into PT
Eric Wagaman MIA DH,3B,1B,LF 64% 44% -20% Johnston eats into PT
Brett Baty NYM 3B, 2B 62% 42% -20% Vientos eating into PT
Ronald Acuña Jr. ATL RF, DH 97% 76% -21% Calf strain
Miguel Andujar CIN DH, RF, LF, 3B 57% 35% -22% More narrow role with CIN than ATH
Noelvi Marte CIN RF, 3B 73% 50% -23% Andujar eats into PT
Jon Berti CHC 3B, 2B, LF, CF, SS, 1B 28% 4% -24% Basically PR-only with Castro around
Miguel Vargas CHW 3B, 1B, DH 87% 63% -24% Oblique strain
Will Benson CIN LF, CF, RF 54% 30% -24% Less PT with Marte getting more OF time
MJ Melendez KCR LF, RF 29% 5% -24% Sent back to AAA
Jacob Melton HOU LF,CF,RF 31% 5% -26% Sent to AAA
Nolan Arenado STL 3B, DH 92% 64% -28% Shoulder strain
Gavin Sheets SDP DH, LF, 1B 78% 46% -32% Fewer PA with O’Hearn filling his role
Isaac Paredes HOU 3B 40% 8% -32% Trying to rehab severe hamstring injury
Ty France TOR DH,1B 67% 34% -33% Won’t play a ton with TOR
Johan Rojas PHI CF 41% 5% -36% Sent to AAA
Tristin English ARI 1B, LF 40% 4% -36% Sent to AAA
Michael Toglia COL 1B 60% 22% -38% Sent to AAA
Will Wagner SDP 3B, 2B, 1B, DH 42% 3% -39% Sent to AAA by new team
Brice Matthews HOU 3B,2B,SS 45% 1% -44% Sent to AAA
Austin Riley ATL 3B 95% 50% -45% Abdominal strain
Ben Williamson SEA 3B 53% 8% -45% Sent to AAA
Jonathan Aranda TBR 1B, DH 80% 30% -50% Wrist fracture
Jacob Wilson ATH SS 90% 39% -51% Forearm fracture
Matt Thaiss TBR C 54% 1% -53% DFA’d

Another 7 Hitters Now in Starting Lineups! Aug 5, 2025 Edition

by
August 5, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

Yesterday, I discussed 10 hitters that have recently joined starting lineups as every day or near every day hitters. However, there were so many of them that I only got through half the teams. So let’s get through the rest to see if we can uncover some potential gems over the final two months of the season.

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10 Hitters Now in Starting Lineups! Aug 4, 2025 Edition

by
August 4, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

The trade deadline is now officially in the rearview mirror, which means we’re now seeing lots of new faces in starting lineups. It could be very difficult to keep up with all the playing time changes. So let’s once again dive into 10 names who are now starting regularly, whether due to trading of the incumbent opening up a spot, injury atop the depth chart, or hot hitting.

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Position Player Playing Time Changes: July 30, 2025

by
July 30, 2025
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Welcome to the final position player playing time update prior to Thursday’s trade deadline! There’ll surely be even more to go over next week, but even so far there’s been plenty of trade-related fallout after the trades of Josh Naylor, Randal Grichuk, and Danny Jansen.

Remaining PT% Changes, 7/22 to 7/29
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason
Tristin English ARI LF,1B 2% 40% 38% Naylor/Grichuk trades open up playing time
Adrian Del Castillo ARI DH,C 27% 57% 30% Naylor/Grichuk trades open up playing time
Orlando Arcia COL 3B, SS, 2B, 1B 38% 66% 28% McMahon trade opens playing time
Gabriel Arias CLE SS, 2B, 3B 49% 74% 25% Back from IL
Carlos Cortes ATH RF, LF 5% 28% 23% Has been getting decent PT since recall
Thairo Estrada COL 2B 64% 84% 20% McMahon trade means more 3B time for Arcia
Kerry Carpenter DET LF,RF,DH 55% 71% 16% Back from IL
Angel Martínez CLE CF, 2B, SS, 3B 51% 67% 16% Has played pretty regularly in CF and at 2B
Alex Freeland LAD 2B,3B 5% 21% 16% Call-up incoming
Joc Pederson TEX DH 49% 64% 15% Back from IL but will need to prove self
Taylor Walls TBR SS, 2B, 3B 32% 47% 15% Kim injury makes him starting SS for now
Brayan Rocchio CLE SS, 2B 46% 61% 15% Still playing despite Arias’ return
Jonny DeLuca TBR CF,LF,RF 30% 45% 15% Back from IL, platoon with Simpson
Sal Frelick MIL RF, CF, LF 69% 84% 15% Back from IL
Brice Matthews HOU 2B, 3B, SS 30% 45% 15% Has made an impact since recall
Liam Hicks MIA C,1B,DH 48% 62% 14% Fortes trade opens up playing time
Jake McCarthy ARI LF,CF,RF 27% 40% 13% Naylor/Grichuk trades open up playing time
Jacob Melton HOU CF,RF,LF 18% 31% 13% Back from IL
Trent Grisham NYY CF 54% 65% 11% Judge injury makes him full-time CF
Pavin Smith ARI 1B, RF, LF, DH 48% 59% 11% Will be starting 1B when back from IL
Bryce Johnson SDP LF, RF, CF 17% 28% 11% Has played regularly in LF with Sheets out
Nick Fortes TBR C 34% 45% 11% Will play more with Rays than he did with Marlins
José Tena WSN 3B,2B 6% 17% 11% Called up to replace Rosario
Jorge Barrosa ARI LF,CF 2% 13% 11% Naylor/Grichuk trades open up playing time
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ARI LF,DH 79% 89% 10% Fewer days off with Naylor/Grichuk gone
Mickey Moniak COL RF, LF, CF 49% 59% 10% He won’t stop hitting
Gustavo Campero LAA RF, LF 3% 13% 10% Taylor/Soler injuries make him starting RF for a bit
John Rave KCR RF,DH,LF,CF 53% 63% 10% Cags injury
Brady House WSN 3B 65% 75% 10% Rosario trade opens up PT
Masataka Yoshida BOS LF, DH 57% 67% 10% Cora has managed to find him decent PT
Brandon Lowe TBR 2B, DH, 1B 72% 62% -10% Ankle/foot tendinitis
Josh Rojas CHW 3B, 2B, SS 61% 51% -10% Has barely played of late
Nick Loftin KCR LF, DH, 3B, 2B 34% 23% -11% Concussion
Michael Massey KCR 2B, DH 34% 22% -12% Unclear what PT will be available when healthy
Nolan Jones CLE RF, CF, LF 70% 57% -13% Playing less often against LHP
Michael Toglia COL 1B 75% 60% -15% Losing time to Bernabel
JJ Bleday ATH LF,CF 41% 26% -15% Passed over for call-up, though hitting well in AAA
Ha-seong Kim TBR SS, 2B 82% 67% -15% Back strain
Max Muncy ATH 3B, 2B, SS 53% 37% -16% Fractured hand
Dairon Blanco KCR CF,LF,RF 26% 9% -17% Grichuk acquisition makes recall harder to envision
J.C. Escarra NYY C, 3B 29% 12% -17% Losing time to Rice
Dylan Moore SEA LF,3B,RF,2B,1B,SS 50% 32% -18% Naylor trade = less platooning
Jac Caglianone KCR RF, DH, 1B 73% 54% -19% Hamstring strain
Eric Haase MIL C 21% 1% -20% DFA’d
Parker Meadows DET CF 70% 50% -20% Quad strain
Trey Sweeney DET SS 33% 13% -20% Sent to AAA
Donovan Solano SEA 1B, DH, 3B 51% 29% -22% Naylor trade = less platooning
Aaron Judge NYY RF, DH 97% 74% -23% Flexor strain
Danny Jansen MIL C 54% 31% -23% Will play less with Brewers than he did with Rays
Jorbit Vivas NYY 3B, 2B 26% 1% -25% Sent to AAA
Marcelo Mayer BOS 2B, 3B, SS 74% 47% -27% Wrist sprain
Luke Raley SEA DH, 1B, RF, LF 73% 43% -30% Naylor trade + Canzone hitting well
Isaac Paredes HOU 3B 74% 40% -34% Bad news on hamstring strain, no timetable
Oswald Peraza NYY 3B, 2B, SS 69% 9% -60% Survives roster crunch for now but he won’t play much

Josh Naylor & Ryan McMahon Trades Fallout – ARI & COL Impact

by
July 29, 2025

Yesterday, I dove into the park factors to help speculate how Josh Naylor and Ryan McMahon’s new homes might impact their results. Of course, the trades have a domino effect, both on the players whose positions they are filling on their new teams, and the players who will now replace them in their former lineups. Let’s now review the fallout on the teams they were traded from.

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Josh Naylor & Ryan McMahon – Trade Deadline Movers

by
July 28, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

We finally got some trade deadline action! Last Thursday, the Mariners acquired Josh Naylor from the Diamondback and then on Friday, the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon from the Rockies. Let’s dive into the park factors to find out how the trades might affect their offensive results.

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Lineup Analysis (7/27/25)

by
July 25, 2025

Note: With the trade deadline coming up and some teams in buy or sell mode, I’m not going too deep into changes. I’m going to look for obvious moves that will likely stick.

American League

Angels

• Yoán Moncada (vs RHP) and Kevin Newman (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jorge Soler split time in right field. Read the rest of this entry »


Position Player Playing Time Changes: July 23, 2025

by
July 23, 2025
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Hello! I hope everyone had a great All-Star week, enjoying the first ever tie-breaking Swing Off! But now we’re back to Baseball That Matters, so I’m back to giving you the latest and greatest in playing time changes for position players. Without further ado:

Remaining PT% Changes, 7/15 to 7/22
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason
Graham Pauley MIA 3B, 1B, 2B, DH 30% 64% 34 Called up to replace Norby
Adrian Del Castillo ARI C,DH 4% 27% 23 Added to MLB roster
JJ Bleday ATH LF,CF 21% 41% 20 Called up to replace Clarke
Chas McCormick HOU CF,LF,RF 23% 41% 18 Activated from IL
Josh Jung TEX 3B 60% 77% 17 Brought back up after quick AAA reset
Liover Peguero PIT 2B, SS 3% 17% 14 Replaced Frazier on roster
Francisco Alvarez NYM C,DH 39% 52% 13 Back up after mashing in AAA
Caleb Durbin MIL 3B, 2B, SS 70% 83% 13 Continues hot hitting as clear starting 3B
Jose Herrera ARI C 13% 25% 12 Moreno setback
Blake Perkins MIL CF 25% 37% 12 Replaced Frelick on roster
Max Muncy LAD 3B, 1B 40% 50% 10 At least slightly ahead of schedule
Edmundo Sosa PHI 3B, 2B, SS 31% 41% 10 Starting 3B with Bohm out
Jordan Walker STL RF 50% 60% 10 Back from IL
Marcell Ozuna ATL DH 84% 74% -10 Losing playing time at DH to Baldwin/Murphy
Nolan Gorman STL DH, 2B, 3B 70% 60% -10 Back discomfort
Jake Bauers MIL 1B,LF,RF 40% 29% -11 Shoulder impingement
Kenedy Corona HOU CF,LF 12% 1% -11 Demoted with McCormick back
Gabriel Moreno ARI C 56% 44% -12 Hand isn’t healing as quickly as hoped
Chase DeLauter CLE RF 30% 18% -12 Visiting wrist specialist
Isaac Paredes HOU 3B 88% 74% -14 Hamstring strain
Alejandro Osuna TEX LF, DH, RF, CF 22% 8% -14 Sent down to AAA
Sal Frelick MIL RF, LF, CF 83% 69% -14 Hamstring strain
Thairo Estrada COL 2B 81% 64% -17 Sprained thumb
Ezequiel Duran TEX SS,LF,3B,1B,2B 35% 18% -17 Playing time harder to come by with Jung back
Jake Burger TEX 3B, DH, 1B 76% 57% -19 Strained quad
Alec Bohm PHI 3B, 1B 92% 59% -33 Fractured rib
Denzel Clarke ATH CF 77% 40% -37 Adductor strain
Connor Norby MIA 3B 74% 34% -40 Hamate surgery

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