Lineup Analysis (4/4/25)

American League

Angels

• Nolan Schanuel moved up to bat third.

Astros

• Second base and centerfield are both a mess, with three different starters at each position. The one player I might add is Brendan Rodgers, who has five starts and is hitting .313/.389/.375.

Athletics

• Third base (Urshela and Urias) and left field (Andujar and Brown) positions are unsettled. It’s a small sample, but keep an eye on Luis Urías (1.089 OPS) gaining playing time since he’s out-hitting Gio Urshela (.222 OPS).

Blue Jays

• Will Wagner started in six straight games.

• Alan Roden (.743 OPS) started in five of the seven games. One worry is that he sat against a lefty starter on Opening Day and has been pinch-hit for against a lefty reliever.

Guardians

• Nolan Jones (vs RHP) and Jhonkensy Noel (vs LHP) are in a right field platoon.

• Gabriel Arias (.860 OPS) started in six of seven games. He needs six more games to qualify at second base.

• Against the two lefty starters, Kyle Manzardo sat against one.

Mariners

• Rowdy Tellez (vs RHP) and Donovan Solano (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Jorge Polanco (1.000 OPS) started three straight at third base.

• Ryan Bliss (.349 OPS) started at second base in six of the first seven games.

Orioles

• This lineup is a mess with shortstop, leftfield, and first base being a carousel of players coming and going. Gunnar Henderson is about to return from the IL, so shortstop will be locked up, but now Jackson Holliday (.812 OPS), Jordan Westburg (1.194 OPS), and Ramón Urías (.976 OPS) must share the second and third base.

• Heston Kjerstad has only started once in left field in the three games since Colton Cowser went on the IL.

Rangers

• Seems like Leody Taveras (vs RHP) and Kevin Pillar (vs LHP) share a center field platoon.

• Josh Smith started when Joc Pederson sat against the first lefty starter.

Rays

• The only three regulars are Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe, and Junior Caminero. Everyone else seems to be in a time-share. One exception might be Jake Mangum who started three straight while hitting (.533/.563/.667, .615 BABIP, 3 SB).

Red Sox

• Nothing of note.

Royals

• The outfield (besides India) is a colossal disaster. It’s the pillow fight of all pillow fights.

Name: OPS
Hunter Renfroe: .405
Kyle Isbel: .333
MJ Melendez: .277

Ignore all three.

• Maikel Garcia (1.245 OPS) started in just four of six games.

Tigers

• Zach McKinstry (.638 OPS) started in six straight games and hit leadoff in three of the last four.

• Ryan Kreidler (.450 OPS) started five of six games in center field.

Twins

• Jose Miranda (.316 OPS) sat out the last two games with Willi Castro moving to third base and Edouard Julien at second base.

White Sox

• Matt Thaiss (.771 OPS) started at catcher in four of the six games.

• Jacob Amaya started at shortstop in five of the first six games.

Yankees

• Oswaldo Cabrera (.450 OPS) started five of six games at third base.

National League

Braves

• Since Jurickson Profar’s suspension, Bryan De La Cruz started three straight in left field.

• Nick Allen (.818 OPS) started the last two games at shortstop over Orlando Arcia (.308 OPS).

Brewers

• Vinny Capra (vs LHP) and Oliver Dunn (vs RHP) form a third base platoon.

• Since Christian Yelich moved off DH to the outfield, Garrett Mitchell moved to the bench.

Cardinals

• Alec Burleson (vs RHP) and Luken Baker (vs LHP) form a DH platoon.

Cubs

• Justin Turner (vs LHP) and Michael Busch (vs RHP) form a first base platoon.

Diamondbacks

• In seven games, Alek Thomas (.938 OPS) started four games in centerfield, and Jake McCarthy (.118 OPS) started in three. In one game, both played in the outfield with Thomas in center, so the team might consider him the better fielder.

Dodgers

• Michael Conforto sat twice, both times against a lefty starter.

• Andy Pages (.427 OPS) started every game; only once was it not in center field.

Giants

• Wilmer Flores (1.064 OPS) started every game.

• The platoons are almost gone or at least not as extreme. Luis Matos may be the only hitter in one since he only started against lefties.

Marlins

• This lineup is a mess and only a few hitters are fantasy-relevant.

• Kyle Stowers sat against two of the three lefties even though he’s hit lefties (.683 OPS) better than righties (.607 OPS) over his career.

• Matt Mervis sat against the three lefty starters.

Mets

• Two positions have not been settled. Luisangel Acuña (.523 OPS) and Brett Baty (.214 OPS) split time at second base. Jose Siri (.422 OPS) and Tyrone Taylor (.286) split time in center field.

Nationals

• Amed Rosario (vs LHP) and Luis García Jr. (vs RHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Alex Call started the last two games in right field.

Padres

• Gavin Sheets (vs RHP) and Yuli Gurriel (vs LHP) are in a DH platoon.

• Jason Heyward (vs RHP) and Brandon Lockridge (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.

Phillies

• Nothing of note.

Pirates

• Jack Suwinski (.449 OPS) started five straight games.

• Catcher-eligible Endy Rodriguez has started in five of the seven games.

Reds

• Jake Fraley sat against lefty starters.

Rockies

• Jacob Stallings started only two of six games at catcher.

• Nick Martini (vs RHP) and Sean Bouchard (vs LHP) might be in a right field platoon.

• Kyle Farmer and Tyler Freeman split time at second base.