Lineup Analysis (4/14/23)

American League

Angels

• Gio Urshela (.756 OPS, 0 HR, 1 SB) has started in all but one game and has played six games at shortstop.

• Brandon Drury (.556 OPS) may only be starting against lefties.

Astros

• Chas McCormick (.870 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) has leadoff for five straight games.

• Mauricio Dubón (.839 OPS, 0 HR, 0 SB) has started four straight at second base.

Athletics

• Brent Rooker (1.137 OPS) has started three straight in the outfield.

• Kevin Smith (.267 OPS) has started four straight at shortstop.

Blue Jays

• Cavan Biggio has not started against a lefty.

• Kevin Kiermaier (.892 OPS) has only started in seven of 11 games.

Guardians

• Will Brennan (.655 OPS) has started four straight in the outfield with Oscar Gonzalez (.400 OPS) sitting.

Mariners

• Jarred Kelenic (vs RHP) and AJ Pollock (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Kolten Wong (vs RHP) and Sam Haggerty (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

Orioles

• The last two times the team faced a lefty, Cedric Mullins hit ninth or sat on the bench.

• All three times that Adam Frazier has sat, it has been against a lefty.

Rangers

• Josh H. Smith started at shortstop with Corey Seager on the IL.

Rays

• Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe both sit against lefties.

• Yandy Díaz, Randy Arozarena, and Wander Franco are the only full-time hitters.

Red Sox

• What a mess in the middle infield: Yu Chang has started the last two games, one at second and the other at third. Bobby Dalbec has played short.

• Rob Refsnyder (vs LHP) and Raimel Tapia (vs RHP) are in an outfield platoon.

Royals

• What a nightmare. Maybe manager Matt Quatraro was in charge of setting Tampa’s lineups.

• Kyle Isbel might be the only rosterable outfielder (.530 OPS, 0 HR, 1 SB), and he’s barely that.

• Michael Massey sits against lefties. Matt Duffy and Nicky Lopez have both played second base instead.

Tigers

• It’s a mess and not talented. (Editor note: rude!! true… but rude) I mean, Tyler Nevin was batting second on Thursday.

• Nick Maton (.182/.308/.424, 2 HR) has started five straight games and has nine games at third and three at second base to go with his outfield eligibility. He might be in a platoon with Jonathan Schoop.

Twins

• Edouard Julien has started both games since joining the team, leading off in the last one.

• Donovan Solano (.811 OPS, 0 HR, 0 SB) has started nine straight games.

• Nick Gordon (.253 OPS) has started six straight games.

White Sox

• Gavin Sheets (.680 OPS) has started five straight, all against righties.

• The second base situation is not set when Elvis Andrus slid over to short and Lenyn Sosa (proj .668 OPS) and Romy Gonzalez (proj .644 OPS) have split time there over the last two games. For fantasy purposes, Gonzalez is more interesting because he could steal a dozen bases over a full season.

Yankees

• Willie Calhoun has started in three of the last four games.

• Oswaldo Cabrera (.591 OPS) has moved to the infield with Franchy Cordero (1.014 OPS) hitting himself into more playing time.

National League

Braves

• With Michael Harris II on the IL, Sam Hilliard (vs RHP) and Kevin Pillar (vs LHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

Brewers

• The lineup for the last four games is a mess with Jesse Winker out (illness). Luke Voit (.417 OPS) has started in the last two games. Mike Brosseau (1.014 OPS) in the last three. It’s a lineup to check back on in a few days to see how it settles.

Cardinals

• Alec Burleson (vs RHP) and Juan Yepez (vs LHP) are in a platoon that might end once Lars Nootbaar returns from the IL.

Cubs

• Eric Hosmer (.685 OPS) has sat against both lefties the team has faced.

Diamondbacks

• Josh Rojas (vs RHP) and Evan Longoria (vs LHP) are still in a third base platoon.

• Nick Ahmed (LHP) and Geraldo Perdomo (vs RHP) are in a shortstop platoon.

• Alek Thomas (.596 OPS, 0 HR, 2 SB) has started nine straight games.

Dodgers

• Since Miguel Rojas returned from a leg injury, Chris Taylor (.435 OPS) has only started in two of four games.

• For one outfield spot, Trayce Thompson starts against lefties while Jason Heyward (1.008 OPS) and David Peralta (.421 OPS) start against righties.

Giants

• Blake Sabol (.555 OPS) has only started once in the last four games.

• David Villar (3 HR, 1 SB, .807 OPS) has started four straight and has five total games at second base.

• LaMonte Wade Jr. (vs RHP) and Wilmer Flores (vs LHP) are in a first-base platoon.

• Heliot Ramos (vs LHP) and Joc Pederson (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

Marlins

• Bryan de la Cruz (.696 OPS) has started five straight.

• Yuli Gurriel (.870 OPS) has started four straight at first base.

Mets

• Tommy Pham (vs LHP) and Daniel Vogelbach (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

Nationals

• Alex Call (.709 OPS) has started nine straight games and led off for six of them.

• Luis García has only started once in the last six games.

• Victor Robles (.855 OPS) and CJ Abrams (.640 OPS) continue to start every game.

Padres

• Generally, Nelson Cruz (vs LHP) and Matt Carpenter (vs RHP) are in a DH platoon.

• Rougned Odor faces right-handers while either José Azocar or Brandon Dixon faces the lefties.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh (vs RHP) and Cristian Pache (vs LHP) are in a center-field platoon.

• Kody Clemens (.282 OPS) and Edmundo Sosa (.821 OPS) are splitting time with Alec Bohm moving between first and third to facilitate them.

Pirates

• Several guys (Bae, Suwinski, Joe, Smith-Njigba, McCutchen) are not even getting a 75% playing time run.

• Rodolfo Castro (.292/.433/.458, 1 HR, 0 SB) has taken over the shortstop job.

• Mark Mathias (.000 OPS, 5 K in 10 PA) has started in three of the last four games at second base. Projections have him at 12 HR and 12 SB with a .231 AVG if given a full season of at-bats.

Reds

• Nick Senzel returned and started in center field with TJ Friedl (career 1.010 OPS vs LHP, .758 OPS vs RHP) sitting versus a left starter. Stuart Fairchild (no career split) got the start against the other four lefties. It might have just been an off day for Friedl. It’s a situation to track going forward.

• Jason Vosler has only started against righties.

• Jose Barrero (.624 OPS) has started four straight at short.

Rockies

• The lineup changes by whoever is on a two-game hot or cold streak. For example, Harold Castro was in favor to start the season, then he was out, and now back in.

• Mike Moustakas (.683 OPS) has started in four of the last five games but sat against a lefty.