Lineup Analysis (5/5/23)

American League

Angels

• Zach Neto has leadoff for five straight games.

• Brandon Drury has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• Gio Urshela has started in eight of the last nine games.

Astros

• Steady.

• When Yordan Alvarez plays in the field, Corey Julks (.697 OPS) goes to the bench and David Hensley (.398 OPS) is the DH.

Athletics

• Still a mess with replacement-level talent in various platoons.

• JJ Bleday (.316/.429/.643, 7 HR) has started two straight and hit fifth since being called up.

Blue Jays

• Steady.

Guardians

• Josh Naylor (career .541 OPS vs LHP, ..773 OPS vs RHP) has started in four of the last eight games against lefties.

• Will Brennan (vs RHP) and Oscar Gonzalez (vs LHP) are entrenched in their outfield platoon.

Mariners

• Jarred Kelenic has hit third in the last four games.

• Taylor Trammell (vs RHP) might be in a platoon with AJ Pollock (vs LHP).

• Jose Caballero (.612 OPS, 2 SB) is starting about half the time at second base instead of Kolten Wong (.477 OPS).

Orioles

• Gunnar Henderson (.708 OPS) has started in just six of the last 10 games.

• Cedric Mullins (career .663 OPS vs LHP, .807 vs RHP) gets bench or buried in the lineup against lefties.

Rangers

• Bubba Thompson (.584 OPS), Leody Taveras (.721), Robbie Grossman (.735), and Travis Jankowski (.782) are splitting up two outfield spots.

• Ezequiel Duran (.858 OPS) has started five straight games at shortstop.

Rays

• Besides Yandy Díaz, Randy Arozarena, and Wander Franco, all hitters are, at best, getting a two-thirds share of playing time.

Red Sox

• Triston Casas doesn’t start against lefties.

• Enmanuel Valdez (.833 OPS,1 HR, 2SB) has started in seven of the last eight games.

Royals

• Maikel Garcia (.242/.348/.347, 1 HR, 4 SB in AAA) has started three straight at third base since being promoted.

• Nick Pratto (.578 OPS in AAA, .761 in the majors) has started in six straight games, three in the outfield, three at first base.

Tigers

• Zach McKinstry (vs RHP) and Jonathan Schoop (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Andy Ibáñez (.235/.235/.294) has started five straight games since being promoted.

• For some reason, Nick Maton (career .777 OPS vs LHP, .685 OPS vs RHP) does not start against lefties.

• Matt Vierling (.725 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) has started in six straight games.

Twins

• Lots of movement, but generally the same guys.

• In two of the last four games, Nick Gordon (.513 OPS, 1.188 OPS over the last two weeks) has started in center instead of Michael A. Taylor (.681 OPS).

White Sox

• Hanser Alberto (.538 OPS) might get a week run at third base with Burger and Moncada on the IL.

• Since Oscar Colás was demoted, Gavin Sheets has started three straight but none were against a lefty. The Sox do face six righties next week (4/2).

Yankees

• With all the injuries, the lineup has been a mess, but the team just got back Harrison Bader and Jake Bauers (both started on Wednesday). Fantasy managers will need to watch his situation closely over the weekend. The team is scheduled to face four lefties (out of seven matchups) next week, so anyone in a platoon is useless.

National League

Braves

• Since Michael Harris II has returned from the IL, Sam Hilliard has started one of five games.

• Eddie Rosario, Marcell Ozuna, and Kevin Pillar are splitting one outfield spot and the DH. Ozuna has been on a hot streak the past two weeks (.292/.370/.667, 3 HR) and started three straight at DH.

Brewers

• Jesse Winker (vs RHP) and Luke Voit (vs LHP) are in a platoon at DH.

• Tyrone Taylor has started three straight since coming off the IL thereby moving Brian Anderson (vs RHP) into a third base platoon with Mike Brosseau.

Cardinals

• Brendan Donovan (vs RHP) and Paul DeJong (vs LHP) are in a middle infield platoon.

• Nolan Gorman only faces righties (career .781 OPS vs RHP, .516 vs LHP).

• Tyler O’Neill (.620 OPS) and Alec Burleson (.687 OPS) are splitting time in left field.

Cubs

• Nelson Velázquez (.280/.357/.720, 3 HR) is now only starting against lefties. Who sits when he’s in has rotated between several guys.

• Matt Mervis hasn’t started yet, so who sits is up in the air (likely Hosmer).

Diamondbacks

• Josh Rojas (vs RHP) is back in a strict platoon. The platoon’s other side is a little confusing with the recent addition of Emmanuel Rivera (.935 OPS, started five of six) invading on Evan Longoria’s(.630, started in seven of last nine) normal role.

• Dominic Fletcher (.323/.417/.559, 3 HR, 1 SB in AAA) has started two straight games since being promoted from AAA.

• Alek Thomas (.555 OPS, 2 HR, 3 SB) has started 16 straight games in centerfield.

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor (.303/.361/.546 over the past two weeks) has started in seven of the last nine games.

• Jason Heyward (career .787 OPS vs RHP, .640 OPS vs LHP) only starts against righties.

Giants

• Mitch Haniger has started in only six of nine games since coming off the IL.

• Over the last 10 games, the only regulars were Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, and LaMonte Wade Jr.

Marlins

• Yuli Gurriel (.290/.333/.435, 0 HR, 1 SB) might be worth a one week stream with Cooper (ear infection) on the IL.

• Jon Berti (.324/.439/.471 over the past two weeks) has started four straight games at shortstop.

• The corner outfield spots are a mess with no regular. Bryan De La Cruz (.599 OPS over the past two weeks) is probably the closest to being a regular.

• From some of the moves listed above, the team seems to be making decisions based on the previous two weeks.

Mets

• Francisco Álvarez (.200/.217/.289) has started in seven of the last 10 games.

• Brett Baty (.311/.367/.489) as started against two of the last four lefties.

Nationals

• They are running out the same eight guys every day. The only exception is that Stone Garrett starts against some lefties.

• Luis García (.612 OPS, 2 HR, 1 SB) has hit second for six straight games.

Padres

• The regular seven guys with the DH (Cruz vs LHP, Carpenter vs RHP) platoon.

Phillies

• Bryce Harper is batting third, Kyle Schwarber is leading off, Bryson Stott is down to batting fifth.

Pirates

• Great … Miguel Andujar (vs LHP) and Jack Suwinski (vs RHP) are now in a platoon.

• The middle infield is a mess with Tucupita Marcano (6 starts in last ten games), Ji Hwan Bae (7), Rodolfo Castro (8), and Mark Mathias (3) all getting starts.

Reds

• Henry Ramos라모스 (.310/.412/.379, 0 HR, 0 SB) has started in eight of the nine games since being recalled.

• Nick Senzel (.288/.356/.455, 3 HR, 2 SB) has started in nine straight games. Also, he now has 11 games at third base.

• TJ Friedl doesn’t start against lefties but I’m not sure why since he has a .907 OPS against them so far in his career.

Rockies

• Just this past week, Alan Trejo (vs LHP) and Harold Castro (vs RHP) have been in a second base platoon.