Lineup Analysis (5/12/23)

I have a short amount of time to get this done today (son’s final track meet) so I’ll give each team a quick look and move on. I’m not going to include any stats. I might look into lineups a little more at the meet on Twitter.

American League

Angels

• Taylor Ward has led off for four straight games with Zach Neto batting ninth.

• Gio Urshela has started five straight.

Astros

• It’s possible Jake Meyers (vs RHP) and Chas McCormick (vs LHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

• David Hensley is filling in for Mauricio Dubón at second base.

Athletics

• JJ Bleday sat against both lefties on the schedule with Brent Rooker moving from DH to the outfield.

• Kevin Smith and Jace Peterson are in a third-base platoon.

• Ryan Noda has started at first base in six of the last seven games.

Blue Jays

• Steady. Some movement since Springer is sick.

Guardians

• Josh Naylor has sat against the last two lefties with David Fry playing first base instead.

• Will Brennan (vs RHP) and Gabriel Arias (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Mariners

• J.P. Crawford led off on Wednesday with Julio Rodríguez moving down in the lineup.

• The speedster, Jose Caballero, has started in five of the last nine games.

Orioles

• Adam Frazier has started five straight at second base.

Rangers

• Steady but with Corey Seager about to come off the IL, it will get a mix-up in the next few days.

Rays

• The three regulars and everyone else is in a two-thirds role.

Red Sox

• Steady.

• In the 13 games since Enmanuel Valdez got recalled, he’s only sat twice, both times against a lefty (did start against two lefties).

Royals

• The lineup looks like someone from the Rays are in charge … oh wait.

• Maikel Garcia has started in nine of ten games since being recalled.

• Nick Pratto has started in 11 of 13 games since being recalled.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling is now leading off against lefties.

• Since being recalled, Andy Ibáñez has started in 10 of 11 games.

Twins

• Since being recalled from AAA, Alex Kirilloff has started four straight while hitting fourth or fifth.

• Kyle Farmer has started two straight at third base with the demotion of Jose Miranda.

• Michael A. Taylor and Nick Gordon are splitting time in center field.

White Sox

• Lenyn Sosa and Elvis Andrus are splitting time at second base.

• Seby Zavala has started at catcher in five of the last eight games.

Yankees

• Harrison Bader has started in eight of the last nine games.

• Two spots (OF/DH) are a revolving door of quad-A talent.

National League

Braves

• With Michael Harris II struggling at the plate, the other outfielders are getting a two-thirds role.

• Travis d’Arnaud is back so Marcell Ozuna will lose time at DH.

Brewers

• Tyrone Taylor has started in eight of nine games since coming off the IL.

• Owen Miller (vs LHP) and Brice Turang (vs RHP) are in a second base platoon.

Cardinals

• Dylan Carlson has started 12 straight in center field.

• Paul DeJong, Tommy Edman, and Nolan Gorman are splitting time at the two middle infield spots.

• And as everyone has heard by now, Willson Conteras has played six straight games at DH.

Cubs

• Matt Mervis (vs RHP) and Trey Mancini (vs LHP) are in a first-base platoon.

• Christopher Morel’s role and usage aren’t clear at this point.

Diamondbacks

• Since being promoted, Dominic Fletcher has started in eight of the nine games.

• Pavin Smith, Alek Thomas, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are splitting time with one outfield spot and the DH.

• Emmanuel Rivera (.906 OPS) only starts against lefties.

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor is acting like a super sub and has started in seven of the last 10 games.

• Trayce Thompson (vs LHP) and Jason Heyward (vs RHP) are in a platoon.

Giants

• Michael Conforto is one of the few full-time bats and has started in 17 of the last 18 games.

• Four different guys (Johnson, Slater, Wisely, and Stevenson) have started in center field over the last four games.

• Joey Bart has started at catcher in seven of the last 10 games. Blake Sabol with only five starts (two in left field) during those same ten games.

Marlins

• Joey Wendle has started three straight at shortstop since coming off the IL.

• Jean Segura sat in the last two games.

• Yuli Gurriel has started in eight of the last 10 games.

Mets

• Tommy Pham and Daniel Vogelbach are still in a platoon.

Nationals

• Lane Thomas has led off for five straight games.

• Stone Garrett has started in five of the last seven games.

• Ildemaro Vargas (vs LHP) and CJ Abrams (vs RHP) may be in a shortstop platoon.

Padres

• Steady

• Keep an eye on the playing time for Rougned Odor and Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 because Odor has started two straight at second base.

Phillies

• Steady. The exact same lineup for three straight days.

Pirates

• The two middle infield spots are shared by several people (Owings, Marcano, Bae, and Castro).

• One outfield spot is being shared by three guys (Andujar, Joe, and Palacios).

Reds

• Steady.

• Wil Myers took over the right field job from Henry Ramos라모스.

Rockies

• Charlie Blackmon has sat against the last two lefty starters.

• Ezequiel Tovar hit second for the first time (.273/.304/.546 over the last two weeks).