Archive for Hitters

10 Hitters Now in Starting Lineups

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July 22, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

It could be difficult to keep up with the constant changes within starting lineups and easy to miss that a hitter was recently recalled from the minors and is now starting regularly or suddenly enjoying more playing time than he had been. This is especially true now as teams have been calling up their prospects and we’ll see a lot more of it as we approach the trade deadline. So let’s discuss 10 names that are seeing regular playing time now, or close to it, that you may not have even realized.

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Poll 2025: Which Group of Hitters Performs Better?

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July 15, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Yesterday, I asked you to vote on which group of starting pitchers you expect to post a better ERA over the rest of the season. One group was composed of the 10 largest SIERA overperformers, while the other comprised the underperformers. Let’s now shift over to hitters by comparing wOBA to xwOBA and pitting the xwOBA overperformers against the underperformers during the pre-all-star break period.

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Lineup Analysis (7/12/25)

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July 12, 2025

American League

Angels

• Since coming off the IL, Yoán Moncada has hit sixth and started every game.

• Jorge Soler started in seven of nine games since coming off the IL while batting in the lower half of the lineup. Read the rest of this entry »


Position Player Playing Time Changes: July 9, 2025

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July 9, 2025
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Below are the latest significant rest-of-season projected playing time changes for hitters, headlined by the MLB debut of Colson Montgomery and the quick return of Corbin Carroll. So quick, in fact, that I didn’t even have to change the article photo from last week!

Remaining PT% Changes, 7/1 to 7/8
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason
John Rave KCR RF, LF, CF 17% 51% 34% Path to playing time is clear with Waters in AAA
Colson Montgomery CHW SS 52% 76% 24% Welcome to MLB!
Corbin Carroll ARI RF, CF 69% 92% 23% Quicker-than-expected return from chip fracture
Yanquiel Fernández COL RF, DH 26% 47% 21% Welcome to MLB!
Zack Gelof ATH 2B 62% 80% 18% Finally back from the IL (hamate, ribs)
Joey Loperfido TOR RF, LF, DH, CF 1% 18% 17% Called up, should start against most/all righties
Austin Nola COL C 8% 24% 16% New backup C over Fulford
Paul DeJong WSN 3B, SS 26% 41% 15% Back from IL, starting against LHP
Andrew Vaughn MIL 1B, DH 6% 20% 14% Recalled to replace Hoskins
Luis Matos SFG LF, RF, CF 7% 21% 14% Back from AAA, playing often
Casey Schmitt SFG 2B, 3B, 1B, SS 42% 56% 14% Back from IL to be starting 2B
Miguel Rojas LAD 3B, 2B, SS, 1B 19% 33% 14% Will get a lot of 3B time with Muncy out
Ezequiel Duran TEX 3B, SS, 2B, LF, 1B, RF 22% 35% 13% Playing fairly often with Jung down
Matt Chapman SFG 3B 84% 96% 12% Quickly back from IL
Jake Burger TEX 1B, 3B, DH 67% 79% 12% Back from IL, maybe some 3B time too?
Jesse Winker NYM DH, LF 32% 43% 11% Nearing IL return
Anthony Seigler MIL 3B, 2B, C 15% 26% 11% Brought up as bench depth
Masataka Yoshida BOS DH, LF 40% 51% 11% Nearing IL return
Noelvi Marte CIN 3B 60% 70% 10% Back from IL, getting most 3B time
Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 TBR SS 72% 82% 10% Back from the IL, could get some maintenance days but is starting SS
Ty France MIN 1B, DH 82% 72% -10% Losing PT vsR to Clemens
Andrés Chaparro WSN DH,1B 17% 7% -10% Sent to AAA
Justin Foscue TEX 1B,DH 11% 1% -10% Sent to AAA
Pavin Smith ARI DH, 1B, LF, RF 59% 48% -11% Oblique strain
Jake McCarthy ARI RF, LF, CF 43% 32% -11% Carroll’s return cuts into playing time
Gary Sánchez BAL C, DH 41% 29% -12% Knee sprain
Luis Urías ATH 2B, 3B, SS 42% 30% -12% Hamstring strain
Lane Thomas CLE CF, RF 70% 58% -12% Plantar fasciitis
Ryan Noda CHW 1B, DH 46% 34% -12% Quad strain
Curtis Mead TBR 3B, 2B, 1B, DH 26% 13% -13% Optioned down for Kim
Rhys Hoskins MIL 1B, DH 82% 68% -14% Sprained thumb
Kerry Carpenter DET RF, LF, DH 69% 55% -14% Strained hammy
Jonatan Clase TOR LF, CF, RF 36% 22% -14% Sent to AAA
Christian Moore LAA 2B 78% 64% -14% Sprained thumb
Daniel Johnson SFG CF, LF, RF 28% 12% -16% Sent to AAA
Gabriel Arias CLE SS, 2B, 3B, 1B 65% 49% -16% Sprained ankle
Yordan Alvarez HOU DH, LF 64% 46% -18% Continued setbacks with hand
Tyler Fitzgerald SFG 2B, SS 54% 35% -19% Sent to AAA
Josh Jung TEX 3B 85% 64% -21% Optioned to AAA
Braxton Fulford COL C 32% 11% -21% Replaced by Nola as backup C
Max Muncy LAD 3B, 1B 78% 40% -38% Knee bone bruise
Drew Waters KCR CF, RF, LF 63% 19% -44% Sent to AAA

Position Player Playing Time Changes: July 1, 2025

by
July 1, 2025
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Happy July! Below are the latest significant projected playing time changes for position players, unfortunately headlined by Corbin Carroll’s wrist fracture, which threw a massive wrench in his All-Star-caliber season.

Remaining PT% Changes, 6/24 to 7/1
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason
Will Wagner TOR 3B, 1B, 2B, DH 7% 31% 24% Called back up, replacing Roden
Yanquiel Fernández COL RF 3% 26% 23% Getting his first call to the majors, Tuesday
Isaac Collins MIL LF, RF, CF 24% 44% 20% Has played well + Mitchell surgery will keep him playing
Tommy Pham PIT LF,DH 40% 60% 20% Finally heating up, 143 wRC+ in last 15 games
Colby Thomas ATH LF,RF 3% 21% 18% Called up, but will have to earn playing time
Austin Hays CIN LF, DH, RF, CF 56% 72% 16% Back from the IL
Jake McCarthy ARI LF,CF,RF 27% 43% 16% Called up to replace Carroll
Zach McKinstry DET RF, 3B, 2B, SS, LF, 1B 58% 73% 15% Will continue to play almost daily with Sweeney sent down
Jake Fraley CIN RF, DH 61% 45% -16% Shoulder sprain
Willie MacIver ATH C 19% 3% -16% Sent down with Langeliers back
Jeremy Peña HOU SS 97% 80% -17% Fractured rib, timetable unclear
JJ Bleday ATH CF, LF 56% 36% -20% Sent back down
Trey Sweeney DET SS 55% 30% -25% Sent to AAA
Corbin Carroll ARI RF, CF 95% 69% -26% Fractured wrist
Garrett Mitchell MIL CF 37% 7% -30% Shoulder surgery, may or may not return this year

Top Hitting Prospects Review — Jul 1, 2025

by
July 1, 2025
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

With just over half the season in the books, let’s review the performances and fantasy contributions of the preseason top hitting prospects that have made it to the Majors so far this season. Depending on your league size, format, and competitors, top prospects are often hot commodities on draft day, sometimes going for inflated prices that are difficult to break even on. So let’s see how this year’s crop has done. Note that many of these hitters remain in small sample size territory, so I won’t constantly repeat that caveat in each blurb.

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Hitter xwOBA Underperformers & Overperformers – Jun 30, 2025

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June 30, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

It’s been nearly two months since I last reviewed the hitter xwOBA underperformers and overperformers. So let’s check back in as we head into the second half of the season. These lists are good starting points for buy low and sell high names, so let’s dive in and determine whether each does indeed fit into those buckets.

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Lineup Analysis (6/29/25)

by
June 29, 2025

American League

Angels

• Over the last week, Christian Moore hit .182/.240/.591 with 3 HR. On Wednesday, he moved up to bat second.

• LaMonte Wade Jr. (54 OPS+) started in five of the last six games. Read the rest of this entry »


Position Player Playing Time Changes: June 24, 2025

by
June 25, 2025
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Below are the latest playing time changes for position players in the past week. Welcome back, Chandler Simpson!

Remaining PT% Changes, 6/17 to 6/24
Name Team Positions Old PT New PT PT Change Reason
Chandler Simpson TBR CF, LF 20% 53% 33% Called back up
James McCann ARI C 2% 23% 21% Fill-in for Moreno, sharing with Herrera
Noelvi Marte CIN 3B 40% 60% 20% Clear path to playing time (when healthy) with Jeimer DFA
Ben Williamson SEA 3B 36% 55% 19% Quietly hitting better of late
Dominic Canzone SEA RF, LF, CF 32% 50% 18% Has raked since call-up, Raley playing 1B
Casey Schmitt SFG 2B, 3B, 1B, SS 39% 54% 15% On a hot streak, should be starting 2B when Chapman is back
Adley Rutschman BAL C,DH 90% 74% -16% Strained oblique
Kristian Campbell BOS 2B, 1B, DH, CF, LF 76% 60% -16% Time in AAA might not be very short, working on 1B
Francisco Alvarez NYM C, DH 55% 38% -17% Sent to AAA, needs to start hitting for the power we know he has
Gabriel Moreno ARI C, DH 81% 63% -18% Fractured finger
Jake Burger TEX 1B, DH, 3B 82% 62% -20% Oblique strain, albeit minor
Tyler Fitzgerald SFG 2B, SS 69% 43% -26% Sent to AAA
Kameron Misner TBR CF, LF, RF 60% 13% -47% Sent to AAA amidst brutal slump

Hitter June 2025 Avg Bat Speed Gainers & Decliners

by
June 24, 2025
Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Similar to yesterday’s exercise where I compared starting pitcher Stuff+ grades in June to earlier in the season, let’s flip over to hitters and review average bat speed. I have no idea how stable it is during the season, so I was curious if I would even find meaningful bat speed gains and declines this month versus in the period ending in May. Sure enough, I did! So let’s review the most dramatic average bat speed gainers and decliners in June compared to the previous months of the season.

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