Lineup Analysis (4/26/24)

American League

Angels

• With Anthony Rendon back at his home on the IL, Mike Trout is leading off and Nolan Schanuel is hitting second.

• Luis Rengifo (.692) has started in eight of the last nine games.

Astros

• Jeremy Peña (.780 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) has moved up to hitting sixth.

• Two outfield spots are being shared by Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick, and Mauricio Dubón.

Here are the games started over the last ten games and their current OPS.
McCormick: 8, .600
Dubon: 6, .692
Meyers: 4, .737

I wonder how long the team will allow McCormick to hit .235/.321/.279 with 0 HR.

Athletics

• Tyler Nevin (.730 OPS, 1 HR, 0 SB) has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• Esteury Ruiz (career .746 OPS vs LHP, .617 OPS vs RHP) is only starting against lefties but is at least leading off in those games.

Blue Jays

• Here is an update on the infield timeshare:

Name: OPS, Starts in the last 10 games
Davis Schneider: .742, 7
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: .697, 7
Cavan Biggio: .704, 6
Ernie Clement: .779, 4

• Addison Barger (1.021 OPS in AAA) was promoted but sat against a lefty starter. Track to see if he’s in a platoon.

Guardians

• The outfield is getting a little crowded. Here is who has been hitting and playing as they fight over two outfield spots.

Name: OPS, Starts in the last 10 games
Tyler Freeman: .705, 8
Will Brennan: .763, 7 (only vs RHP)
Estevan Florial: .833, 5
Ramón Laureano: .572, 4

Mariners

• Injuries have created mixing over the last few days.

• Since being promoted, Jonatan Clase (.490 OPS, 2 SB) has started in six of nine games.

• Dylan Moore has started the last two games at shortstop with J.P. Crawford on the IL.

Orioles

• Jordan Westburg has been sneaking into the middle of the lineup.

• Jackson Holliday (vs RHP) and Jorge Mateo (vs LHP) are in a second-base platoon. — Holliday has been sent back to AAA.

• How Heston Kjerstad will be utilized is not clear at this point.

Rangers

• Since coming off the IL, Nathaniel Lowe has hit third or fifth.

• Josh Smith (.810 OPS) has started at third base in 12 of the last 13 games.

Rays

• Amed Rosario (.843 OPS, 2 HR, 3 SB) has started in 11 straight games.

• Ben Rortvedt (.821 OPS) has started at catcher in four of the last six games.

Red Sox

• Wilyer Abreu (.905 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) has hit cleanup in the last four games.

• Ceddanne Rafaela (.483 OPS) has started 13 games in a row, mainly at shortstop.

• Bobby Dalbec (.245 OPS) has started six straight games.

Royals

• Michael Massey is off the IL and hitting seventh or eighth in the lineup.

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

• For some unknown reason, Adam Frazier (.570 OPS) has started in three of the last four games.

Tigers

• A Wenceel Pérez (.806 OPS, 2 SB) has started in four of the last six games while hitting second or third.

• Matt Vierling (.688 OPS) has started five straight games at third.

• Buddy Kennedy (1.114 OPS) and Colt Keith (.401 OPS) have split the last four games at second base.

Twins

• They have so many moving parts, it’s tough to find regulars worth rostering.

• Trevor Larnach (1.137 OPS) is only starting against righties.

• Willi Castro (.614 OPS) has started in 12 of the last 13 games at shortstop.

White Sox

• Danny Mendick has started four straight games. In three of them, he hit first or second.

• Nicky Lopez (.504 OPS, 0 SB, 4 CS) has hit leadoff in five of the last six games.

Yankees

• Steady, no changes.

National League

Braves

• Steady.

• The second base timeshare ends with Ozzie Albies coming off the IL.

Brewers

• It’s nearly impossible to figure out what is going on here.

• Blake Perkins (.911 OPS) has started 12 straight games and is hitting in the fifth to seventh spot.

• Jackson Chourio (.639 OPS) is now mainly hitting eighth or ninth.

Cardinals

• Michael Siani (.525 OPS) has started five straight games in center field.

• Willson Contreras (.951 OPS) has hit second in the last four games.

Cubs

• Nico Hoerner (.785 OPS, 1 SB, 2 CS) is back hitting leadoff.

• Michael Busch (.865 OPS) is now hitting cleanup.

• Mike Tauchman (.928 OPS) has started in six straight games.

• Alexander Canario (.768 OPS) has started in five of the last six games.

Diamondbacks

• The lineup’s bottom half is a mess.

• Kevin Newman (.495 OPS) has started in five of the last six games.

• Corbin Carroll (.208/.321/.260, 1 HR, 8 SB) hit seventh in the last game.

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor (vs LHP) and Gavin Lux (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

• Andy Pages (.851 OPS, 2 HR) has started eight straight games since being promoted.

Giants

• Jung Hoo Lee 이정후 (.719 OPS vs RHP, .646 OPS vs LHP) has sat against two of the last three lefties.

• Patrick Bailey (.855 OPS) is now hitting fifth.

Marlins

• Bryan De La Cruz (.725 OPS, 5 HR) is now hitting second.

• With several guys changing positions, Otto Lopez (vs LHP) and Nick Gordon (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

• Emmanuel Rivera (.576 OPS) started seven straight games playing first and third base.

Mets

• DJ Stewart (.816 OPS) has started five of six games at DH, all against righties (career .612 OPS vs LHP, .793 OPS vs RHP).

• Harrison Bader (.654 OPS, 5 SB) has started in nine of the last 10 games while playing center field.

• Omar Narváez (.485 OPS) and Tomás Nido (.452 OPS) are splitting time at catcher with Francisco Alvarez on the IL

Nationals

• Jacob Young (.647 OPS, 6 SB) has started in six of the last 10 games.

• Nick Senzel (.699 OPS) has started in seven of nine games since coming off the IL.

Padres

• Eguy Rosario (.564 OPS, 2 HR) has started the last two games at third base. Tyler Wade (.605 OPS) and Graham Pauley (.333 OPS) have also played third this year.

Phillies

• Steady.

• Johan Rojas (.324/.375/.405, 6 SB over the past two weeks) has started seven straight games in centerfield including two lefties.

Pirates

• Joey Bart (1.168 OPS) has started at catcher in four of the last six games.

• Oneil Cruz (.663 OPS, 3 HR, 2 SB, 36% K%) is now hitting seventh or eighth.

Reds

• Will Benson (vs RHP) and Stuart Fairchild (vs LHP) are still in a platoon and are now leading off.

• Elly De La Cruz (1.051 OPS, 7 HR, 15 SB) has hit second in the last two games.

• Santiago Espinal (.577 OPS, 1 HR, 4 SB) has started nine straight games at second or third base.

• Nick Martini (.633 OP, 3 HR) has started five straight games including two against lefties.

Rockies

• Over the last 14 games, Charlie Blackmon (.658 OPS) has started in only nine of them.

• Nolan Jones (.496 OPS) has only started in four of the last eight games.