Lineup Analysis (5/22/26)

by
May 22, 2026


Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

American League

Angels

• Oswald Peraza’s (.775 OPS) playing time dried up with just two starts in the last five games.

Astros

• Jeremy Peña is off the IL and leading off.

• Jake Meyers is off the IL, started both games in centerfield, and hit fifth and seventh.

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• Zach Dezenzo (.670 OPS, 1 HR) started in eight of the last nine games.

Athletics

• The outfield is crowded with the promotion of Henry Bolte (seven starts in nine games). Lawrence Butler is losing playing time (four starts in the last nine games). Additionally, Tyler Soderstrom (.726 OPS vs RHP, .426 OPS vs LHP) sat against the last two lefties.

Blue Jays

• Yohendrick Piñango (vs RHP) and Davis Schneider (vs LHP) form a left field platoon.

Guardians

• Rhys Hoskins (.704 OPS) and Kyle Manzardo (.658 OPS) split time at first base.

• Steven Kwan (.590 OPS) is now batting seventh.

• Since joining the team, Patrick Bailey (.491 OPS with Cleveland) started in seven of 13 games.

Mariners

• Colt Emerson (.649 OPS) was promoted and started at third base for a couple of games. J.P. Crawford (.722 OPS) got hurt, so Emerson slid over to shortstop, and Patrick Wisdom started at third base.

Orioles

• Jackson Holliday’s debut happened at second base while batting seventh. The next game against a lefty, Holliday sat with Jeremiah Jackson starting instead.

• Tyler O’Neill (.525 OPS) started in eight of the last nine games.

Rangers

• Justin Foscue (.940 OPS) started six straight games at second base.

Rays

• Jonny DeLuca (.711 OPS, 2 HR, 6 SB) started five straight games, including four against righties. Usually, he splits time with Jake Fraley (.690 OPS).

Red Sox

• Catcher qualified Mickey Gasper (.770 OPS) started in seven of the last 10 games.

• Andruw Monasterio (.682 OPS) started in six of the last seven games with Trevor Story on the IL.

Royals

• Nick Loftin (vs LHP) and Michael Massey (vs RHP) form a second base platoon.

• Vinnie Pasquantino (.326 OPS vs LHP, .721 OPS vs RHP) dropped down to seventh in the order and sat in the last two games against a lefty.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling (.643 OPS, 4 HR) with nine straight starts.

• Hao-Yu Lee (.567 OPS) started three straight games at second base, including a righty. Zach McKinstry (.514 OPS) usually starts against righties.

Twins

• Since Royce Lewis was demoted, Tristan Gray (.675 OPS, 3 HR) started every game at third base.

• James Outman (.524 OPS) started seven straight games

White Sox

• Andrew Benintendi (.724 OPS in May) with nine straight starts.

Yankees

• The Friday lineup is going to be huge with Jose Caballero (.720 OPS, 4 HR, 13 SB) coming off the IL. The plan was for him to return to shortstop, so Anthony Volpe (.704 OPS) could head to the bench. Or third baseman Ryan McMahon could sit (.576 OPS). Or Caballero could play in the outfield. There are going to be changes, I’m just not sure where. Spencer Jones (.426 OPS) has already been demoted to make room for Caballero.

National League

Braves

• Ronald Acuña Jr. is off the IL and batting leadoff.

• Ha-Seong Kim (.349 OPS) only started in three of the last five games.

Brewers

• With most of the hitters healthy, Andrew Vaughn (.928 OPS) started in only one of the last four games. Vaughn, Jake Bauers (.860 OPS), and Christian Yelich (.798 OPS) split up the first base and DH roles.

• David Hamilton (.628 OPS), Luis Rengifo (.519 OPS), and Joey Ortiz (.527 OPS) share playing time at third base and shortstop.

Cardinals

• José Fermín (.629 OPS) started in left field in place of the injured Nathan Church.

Cubs

• Michael Conforto (1.041 OPS) and Moisés Ballesteros (.751 OPS) split time at DH.

Diamondbacks

• Adrian Del Castillo (.562 OPS) played his 10th game at catcher, thereby making him catcher-qualified in most formats.

Dodgers

• No changes.

Giants

• Bryce Eldridge (.510 OPS) started in five of the last 10 games.

• Since coming off the IL, Daniel Susac (.965 OPS) started in four of six games.

Marlins

• Kyle Stowers (career .665 OPS vs LHP) was playing against lefties, but sat the last two times he faced a lefty with Heriberto Hernández (career .718 OPS vs LHP) starting instead. The same happened with Jakob Marsee (career .850 OPS vs LHP) sitting and Esteury Ruiz starting (career .704 OPS vs LHP) against lefties. I’m not 100% sure why the second one is happening.

Mets

• A.J. Ewing and MJ Melendez form the strong-side of two outfield platoons, while Nick Morabito and Tyrone Taylor form the weak-side of them.

Nationals

• Andrés Chaparro is now on the short side of the first base platoon with Luis García Jr.

• Since being promoted, Dylan Crews (12 PA) started three straight games while batting fifth or sixth.

• With the demotion of Brady House, monitor Curtis Mead (.774 OPS) and Jorbit Vivas (.631 OPS) to see if either becomes a regular at third base.

Padres

• Fernando Tatis Jr. leads off, Miguel Andujar bats second, and Gavin Sheets bats third. Jackson Merrill (.595 OPS) is now batting sixth.

• Nick Castellanos (.560 OPS) and Ramón Laureano (.659 OPS) started just seven times in the last ten games. They are right on the edge of being useful.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford sit against some lefties.

Pirates

• Jared Triolo (.600 OPS) started in seven of the last eight games, with two being in the outfield.

• Jhostynxon Garcia (vs LHP) and Jake Mangum (vs RHP) appear to be in a right field platoon.

• Konnor Griffin bats second against lefties.

Reds

• TJ Friedl (.518 OPS) with just four starts in the last 10 games. Drop in all formats.

Rockies

• It’s tough to find a full-time bat with everyone moving around. For example, over the last five games, Willi Castro started in four of them, playing a different infield spot in each one.





 

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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