Lineup Analysis (4/20/24)

Note: Real life hit me in the middle of this article on Friday. That and then needing to get the Waiver Wire and FAAB article done, I did go back and update any of the blurbs I wrote on Friday. Here is when I examined the lineups:

Angels to Twins – Friday
White Sox to Nationals – Saturday
Padres to Rockies – Friday

American League

Angels

• It’s hard to find a regular on this team who isn’t named Anthony Rendon, Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, Logan O’Hoppe, or Zach Neto. Everyone else is, at best, playing three-quarters of the time. Brandon Drury (.200/.279/.291) was getting regular playing time but is dealing with a hamstring issue.

Astros

• Mauricio Dubón (.730 OPS) has started in eight of the last 10 games. Jake Meyers (.740 OPS) is the guy playing fewer games and has started only four times during those ten games.

Athletics

• Abraham Toro (.662 OPS) has started 10 straight games, leading off for nine of them.

• Darell Hernaiz (.260 OPS) has started in seven of the last eight games [Demoted].

• Tyler Nevin (.712 OPS) has started in seven of the last nine games.

Blue Jays

• All but one of the “utility” players have been productive and the lineup merry-go-round is costing each playing time.

Name: OPS, Starts in last 10 games.
Cavan Biggio: .787, 8
Daulton Varsho: .768, 7
Davis Schneider: .725, 6
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: .707, 8
Ernie Clement: .711, 4
Kevin Kiermaier: .488, 7

I think Biggio and Varsho are the players to roster.

Guardians

• Tyler Freeman (.624 OPS), Ramón Laureano (.591 OPS), Will Brennan (.569 OPS), and Estevan Florial (.698 OPS) are splitting two outfield spots and sometimes the DH.

Mariners

• Rookie Jonatan Clase has started three straight games since being promoted.

• Luke Raley (vs RHP) and Dylan Moore (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Orioles

• Austin Hays seems to be a short-side platoon bat with Cedric Mullins (career .648 OPS vs LHP).

Rangers

• Ezequiel Duran (.567 OPS) has started five straight. Nathaniel Lowe is returning from the IL soon, so Duran’s playing time will end soon.

Rays

• Amed Rosario (vs RHP) and Richie Palacios (vs LHP) are in a right-field platoon.

Red Sox

• David Hamilton (.553 OPS, 2 SB) has started in nine of 11 games.

• Ceddanne Rafaela (.464 OPS) has dropped to the lineup’s ninth spot.

• Pablo Reyes (vs LHP) and Emmanuel Valdez (vs RHP) are in a second-base platoon.

Royals

• Vinnie Pasquantino (career .762 OPS vs LHP) has sat against the last two lefties.

• Kyle Isbel (vs RHP) and Garrett Hampson (vs LHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

Tigers

• Parker Meadows (.439 OPS) and Matt Vierling (.675 OPS) are splitting time in centerfield.

Twins

• Ryan Jeffers has hit second in five straight games.

• The first base job has Alex Kirilloff, Jose Miranda, and Carlos Santana fighting over it.

White Sox

• Does it really matter?

• Dominic Fletcher (.571 OPS)has started six straight games in centerfield.

• Paul DeJong (.262/.295/.571, 3 HR) is one of the few players hitting but he’s only started in seven of the last 10 games.

Yankees

• Steady.

• Anthony Volpe (.324/.407/.465, 2 HR, 6 SB) has leadoff for eight straight games.

National League

Braves

• David Fletcher and Luis Guillorme have split time at second base with Ozzie Albies on the IL. They might be in a platoon with Fletcher facing lefties and Guillorme facing righties.

Brewers

• It’s tough to know what is going on right now.

• Sal Frelick (.303/.387/.333, 0 HR, 3 SB) is now hitting leadoff.

• Blake Perkins (.341/.400/.537, 2 HR, 2 SB) has started in eight of the last nine games.

Cardinals

• Since coming off the IL, Lars Nootbaar (.823 OPS) is batting third with Nolan Gorman (.583 OPS) moving down to the sixth spot.

• A Michael Siani (.376 OPS) has started in center field in three of the last five games instead of Victor Scott II (.274 OPS).

Cubs

• With Seiya Suzuki on the IL, there has been a bit of movement. Nico Hoerner has hit leadoff twice. In four games, three different guys have filled in for the right field spot (Mike Tauchman, Patrick Wisdom, and Alexander Canario).

Diamondbacks

• Blaze Alexander (1.000 OPS) has only started in four of the last seven games.

• Randal Grichuk (vs LHP) and Jake McCarthy (vs RHP) are in a right-field platoon.

Dodgers

• Andy Pages has started three straight games since being promoted.

• Max Muncy (.642 OPS vs LHP in ’23) might be in a third base platoon. Miguel Rojas (career .722 OPS vs LHP) has gotten the starts instead.

Giants

• No changes.

Marlins

• With Jake Burger going on the IL, the top of the lineup has adjusted. The biggest beneficiary has been Bryan De La Cruz hitting second or third.

• Jesús Sánchez (vs RHP) and Avisaíl García (vs LHP) are still in a right field platoon.

• Nick Gordon (.736 OPS, 3 HR) has started three straight games in left field.

Mets

• Harrison Bader (.333/.367/.421, 1 HR, 4 SB) has started in eight of nine games including three against lefties.

Nationals

• Luis García Jr. (.296/.333/.481, 1 HR, 4 SB) is now up to batting fourth or fifth.

• Nick Senzel is off the IL and batting sixth or seventh.

Padres

• Steady but some recent mixing with Jake Cronenworth hurt.

• Eguy Rosario (vs LHP) and Tyler Wade (vs RHP) are in a third-base platoon.

Phillies

• Johan Rojas continues to bat ninth and is hitting .267/.333/.333 (3 SB) over the past two weeks.

Pirates

• Alika Williams (.318/.375/.455) is playing more and more. Jared Triolo (.234/.315/.297) is the player who normally loses playing time.

• Connor Joe, Rowdy Tellez, Andrew McCutchen, and Edward Olivares split time between three positions (1B, DH, RF). One of the four sits every day.

Reds

• Jeimer Candelario (.190/.250/.379) has been moved down from batting cleanup to seventh. Santiago Espinal (.133/.222/.133) has been playing instead.

• Will Benson and Jake Fraley still don’t start against lefties.

Rockies

• Elehuris Montero (.216/.263/.235) has started seven straight games at first base.

• Brenton Doyle (.286/.324/.486, 3 HR, 1 SB) has been moving up the lineup. He’s hit ninth most of the season.