Lineup Analysis (4/22/22)

American League

Angels

• Since returning from the IL, Taylor Ward (.985, 1 HR, 1 SB) has hit either second, third, or fourth.

• Jared Walsh (vs RHP) and Matt Duffy (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon.

• For now, Tyler Wade (.760 OPS, 2 SB) and Andrew Velazquez (.429 OPS) are getting full-time with David Fletcher on the IL.

Astros

• Steady besides some injuries.

• I’m not sure it’s a strict platoon, but Chas McCormick and Jose Siri are splitting time in center field.

Athletics

• As always, there are a ton of moving parts. Hopefully, some situations will clear up in a week.

• Sheldon Neuse (.902 OPS) has started 11 straight games and has hit second in the last three games.

• Christian Bethancourt 베탄코트 (.490 OPS) has started six straight at catcher and first base.

Blue Jays

• Raimel Tapia, Cavan Biggio, and Bradley Zimmer are splitting time in one outfield spot.

• Zack Collins (1.027 OPS) has started five of the last six games at either catcher or DH.

Guardians

• Since coming off the IL, Josh Naylor is starting every other game at first base with Bobby Bradley.

• Andrés Giménez (career .490 OPS vs LHP, .719 vs RHP) is sitting against lefties.

• Steven Kwan (.712 OPS vs LHP, 1.183 OPS vs RHP) has sat against the last two lefties.

Mariners

• Steady.

• There might be a platoon or two but the team has only faced two lefties and the Mitch Haniger bout with COVID (Abraham Toro is the replacement) confuses the situation.

Orioles

• Same players but mixed around.

• Ramón Urías (.472 OPS), Rougned Odor (.429 OPS), and Kelvin Gutierrez (.410 OPS) are splitting up the second and third base duties while hitting like crap.

Rangers

• One of several teams going with the Rays random lineup approach.

• Nick Solak (vs LHP) and Willie Calhoun (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

• Kole Calhoun (vs RHP) and Eli White (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Brad Miller sits against lefties.

Rays

• Holy sh… The Rays have used the same lineup for the third time over the first 13 games. Only one lineup reached that total in all of 2021.

• Yandy Diaz (vs RHP) and Taylor Walls (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• Ji-Man Choi (vs RHP) and Harold Ramirez (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon.

• Francisco Mejia (.986 OPS) and Mike Zunino (.154 OPS) are splitting time at catcher.

Red Sox

• They are starting the same players every game with Christian Arroyo being the super sub.

Royals

• Steady.

• Nicky Lopez (.773 OPS) is now leading off with Bobby Witt Jr. (.454 OPS) batting seventh.

Tigers

• Willi Castro (.661 OPS) is starting at short in place of an injured Javier Báez.

• Austin Meadows (vs RHP) and Eric Haase (vs LHP) are in a left-field platoon.

Twins

• Figuring out the outfield playing time is a nightmare. There was hope that Byron Buxton’s return would clear it up but he DH’ed in his first game back.

• Gio Urshela (.693 OPS) locked down the third base role (started 11 of 13 games).

• The team has found a way to get Luis Arraez (.819 OPS) in the lineup against every righty starter.

White Sox

• Several recent injuries (Harrison and Robert) are going to have this lineup all mixed up.

Yankees

• The season started with one too many regulars and it looks like Gleyber Torres (.531 OPS, 1 HR, 0 SB) and Joey Gallo (.391 OPS, 0 HR) are starting to get the short end of the playing time. Both have started only twice in the last four games.

• Aaron Hicks (.729 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB) has led off for five straight games.

National League

Braves

• Eddie Rosario has sat against the last three lefties with Guillermo Heredia starting instead in right field.

Brewers

• I was wrong last week. Lorenzo Cain and Tyrone Taylor are not in a platoon, they are just splitting time in center field.

• Jace Peterson (vs RHP) and Mike Brosseau (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

Cardinals

• Steady.

• Albert Pujols and Corey Dickerson are splitting time at DH.

Cubs

• Jason Heyward (vs RHP) and Michael Hermosillo (vs LHP) are in a center field platoon.

• There is a second and third base platoon going on. Nick Madrigal and Patrick Wisdom start against lefties. Against righties, Jonathan Villar swaps between second and third and third base.

• Nico Hoerner (.644 OPS, 1 HR, 2 SB) has started 12 of 13 games at short while batting ninth.

Diamondbacks

• David Peralta (vs RHP) and Cooper Hummel (vs LHP) are in a left-field platoon.

• Seth Beer (1.033 OPS) has started three straight and one was against a lefty. So far this season, he has only one start at first base.

• Daulton Varsho (.755 OP, 3 HR, 1 SB) has sat against the last two lefties with Jake McCarthy (.503 OPS) starting instead.

Dodgers

• It’s the same nine guys every night with Edwin Ríos starting sometimes for small injuries or the occasional day off.

• With four days off so far this season, Will Smith has not been the DH once.

Giants

• The centerfield platoon (Steven Duggar vs RHP and Austin Slater vs LHP) is still in place, but with Heliot Ramos in the minors, I’m not sure if Mike Yastrzemski is still in one.

• Thairio Estrada (.670 OPS, 2 HR, 2 SB) has started every game.

Marlins

• The lineups have some Rays vibes going on with some part-time players with everyone moving up and down the lineup.

• Jorge Soler (.152/.250/.261) has moved off the leadoff spot in two of the last three games.

• Garrett Cooper (.682 OPS) has started and hit second in six of the last seven games.

Mets

• Luis Guillorme (.491 OPS) has started four of the last five games with Robinson Canó (.538 OPS) on the bench.

• Jeff McNeil (.757 OPS) has sat against two of the three lefty starters with J.D. Davis (.581 OPS) starting instead.

Nationals

• Lane Thomas (vs LHP) and Yadiel Hernandez (vs RHP) remain in a left-field platoon.

• Victor Robles (.327 OPS) has started six straight in centerfield.

Padres

• Trent Grisham (.525 OPS) sat against the last two lefties in place of José Azocar (1.100 OPS, 1 for 3 in SB).

• Jurickson Profar (1.003 OPS, 4 HR, 1 SB) has moved up to batting fifth.

• Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 (vs LHP) and C.J. Abrams (vs RHP) are sort of in a shortstop platoon.

Phillies

• Kyle Schwarber (.264 OBP) has been moved from batting leadoff to the 6th spot. Jean Segura has led off the last two games.

• Alec Bohm (1.197 OPS) has started three straight at third base.

• Matt Vierling (.449 OPS) and Símon Muzziotti (.393 OPS) have been splitting center field duties. Odúbel Herrera is due off the IL and could take over center field duties.

Pirates

• Daniel Vogelbach (.974 OPS) has started eight straight and is hitting in the top half of the lineup.

• The second base (Diego Castillo, Josh VanMeter, Michael Chavis), shortstop (Kevin Newman, Hoy Park), and right field (Cole Tucker, Diego Castillo, Chan Ho Park 박찬호) are just a revolving door with no one getting enough playing time to have any fantasy value.

• Ben Gamel (.700 OPS) has started eight of the last nine games.

Reds

• What a mess with all the injuries.

• Aristides Aquino (.244 OPS) has started eight straight games.

• Colin Moran is starting in place of a hurt Mike Moustakas.

• Kyle Farmer is hitting first or second with Tyler Naquin and Jonathan India hurt.

Rockies

• While there is some mixing of spots and the occasional day off, eight of the players start every day. The only exception, for now, is José Iglesias (.712 OPS) and Alan Trejo (1.083 OPS) splitting time at short.