Lineup Analysis (5/15/26)

by
May 15, 2026


Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

American League

Angels

• Vaughn Grissom (.264/.353/.431, 2 HR, 0 SB) started five straight games, hitting in the top half of the lineup, and playing at first, second, and third base.

Astros

• Nick Allen (vs LHP) and Braden Shewmake (vs RHP) form a shortstop platoon.

• Zach Denzenzo (.735 OPS), Zach Cole (.776 OPS), and Cam Smith (.618 OPS) are splitting time at two outfield spots.

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Athletics

• Henry Bolte (8 PA, 1 SB) has started the last two games in center field, pushing Lawrence Butler (.552 OPS) to the bench.

• Darell Hernaiz (.619 OPS, 1 HR, 2 SB) is starting at shortstop with Jacob Wilson on the IL.

Blue Jays

• Andrés Giménez doesn’t start against lefties.

• Brandon Valenzuela (.729 OPS, 4 HR) is the regular catcher.

Guardians

• Daniel Schneemann (.804 OPS, 4 HR, 3 SB) started in 10 of the last 11 games.

• Angel Martínez (.773 OPS) isn’t playing everyday, having made just five starts in the last seven games.

Mariners

• Mitch Garver (.176/.354/.255) should see more time at catcher with Cal Raleigh on the IL.

Orioles

• Blaze Alexander (.881 OPS last two weeks) has started in three of the last four games at second base. Jeremiah Jackson (.443 OPS last two weeks) headed to the bench.

• Weston Wilson (.708 OPS) and Coby Mayo (.563 OPS) split time at third base.

• Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers, Leody Taveras, and Colton Cowser split time at two outfield spots, making all four fantasy irrelevant.

Rangers

• Joc Pederson moved up to second in the order after hitting for a .963 OPS last week.

• Alejandro Osuna (.735 OPS) starts against all righties.

Rays

• Ben Williamson (vs LHP) and Richie Palacios (vs RHP) could be in a second base platoon.

Red Sox

• With Roman Anthony on the IL, Masataka Yoshida (.274/.391/.329, 0 HR, 1 SB) is starting against right-handers.

• Marcelo Mayer (vs RHP) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (vs LHP) still form a second base platoon.

Royals

• Isaac Collins (.229/.343/.347, 3 HR, 2 SB) with 14 starts in the last 15 games.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling (.200/.274/.350, 2 HR, 1 SB) with nine starts in the last 10 games.

• With Kerry Carpenter on the IL, Wenceel Pérez (.479 OPS) started four straight games.

Twins

• Austin Martin (.882 OPS, league-leading .454 OBP, 7 SB) started four straight games, including three against a righty (he had been a short-side platoon bat).

• Brooks Lee (.260/.316/.404, 5 HR, 3 SB) hit second in the last two games.

White Sox

• Jarred Kelenic (.633 OPS) with seven straight starts.

• Drew Romo (.161/.350/.581, 4 HR) with seven starts at catcher over the last 10 games.

• Derek Hill (vs LHP) and Tristan Peters (vs RHP) form a center field platoon.

Yankees

• Ryan McMahon (.686 OPS over the last two weeks) might still be on the strong side of a third base platoon, but he has moved up to batting sixth or seventh.

• Max Schuemann and Anthony Volpe have both started at shortstop with José Caballero on the IL.

National League

Braves

• Ha-Seong Kim (10 PA) started three games at shortstop since coming off the IL.

Brewers

• Garrett Mitchell (.670 OPS) started five straight games while playing in centerfield.

• Remains a tough lineup to find value from. For example, Andrew Vaughn started in only six of eight games since coming off the IL.

Cardinals

• No changes.

Cubs

• Moisés Ballesteros (.276 OPS last two weeks) started in only five of the last nine games.

Diamondbacks

• Nolan Arenado (.274 AVG, 6 HR) hit cleanup over the last two games.

• Since being promoted, Ryan Waldschmidt (.705 OPS) started every game in centerfield, batting ninth.

• Jose Fernandez (.687 OPS) started in just four of the last 10 games.

Dodgers

• Dalton Rushing has just four starts over the last 10 games.

• With Mookie Betts back and Shohei Ohtani sitting out a couple of games, it’s tough to know for sure if there have been any changes. I’d assume no changes for now.

Giants

• Bryce Eldridge (39% K%, .412 OPS) with six starts in the last 10 games.

• Seems like Harrison Bader (.432 OPS) and Drew Gilbert (.611 OPS) split time in center field.

• Since being promoted, Jesus Rodriguez (.683 OPS) has started in seven of 10 games.

Marlins

• Christopher Morel (.437 OPS), Connor Norby (.709 OPS), Leo Jiménez (.606 OPS), and Javier Sanoja (.615 OPS) split up the first and third base starts, with Liam Hicks sneaking in sometimes at first base.

• Since joining the team, Joe Mack (.583 OPS) started in eight of 10 games at catcher.

Mets

• Carson Benge (.639 OPS) hit leadoff the last three games.

• A.J. Ewing (13 PA) started all three games in centerfield since being promoted.

Nationals

• Brady House (.672 OPS, 2 HR over the last two weeks) started the last six games while batting third.

Padres

• Miguel Andujar (.289/.314/.482, 3 HR) hit cleanup in the last three games.

• Ty France (.791 OPS) started only four times over the last 10 games.

Phillies

• Justin Crawford (.751 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) with five starts over the last eight games.

Pirates

• Since coming off the IL, Jared Triolo (.604 OPS, 0 HR, 1 SB) started in just five of nine games.

Reds

• JJ Bleday (1.209 OPS) started 15 straight games, including two against a lefty.

Rockies

• For the first time since I can remember, the team has raised the talent floor. Now, they can run out the lineup they think is best each night. One issue is that Hunter Goodman (.811 OPS) and TJ Rumfield (.801 OPS) seem to be the only regulars, so the rest struggle to find fantasy relevance.





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

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SculpinMember since 2025
12 hours ago

Wow, Jarred Kelenic.

His statcast numbers say he is hitting the ball harder than he ever has, and his xwOBA suggests he could be a league average hitter. But his whiff% is right where it has always been his entire career…eye-watering. His work so far adds up to -0.1 WAR.

His problem is that if he actually starts to hit, opposing teams will look under the hood and discover that if a RH throws a slider with glove-side run at this shoetops, he will swing out of those shoes trying to hit it. Over and over and over again.

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