Lineup Analysis (5/9/25)

American League

Angels

• Yoán Moncada (.826 OPS, 2 HR) with three straight starts at third base since coming off the IL.

Astros

• Jake Meyers (.777 OPS, 2 HR, 7 SB) with eight straight starts in center field.

• Cam Smith (.667 OPS, 3 HR, 1 SB) with only six starts in the last six games. Zach Dezenzo (.737 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB) is cutting into his playing time.

Athletics

• Miguel Andujar (.320/.352/.423, 2 HR) with three straight starts at third base.

Blue Jays

• Over the last three games, Myles Straw (.712 OPS), Nathan Lukes (.727 OPS), and Jonatan Clase (.350 OPS) started in left field.

• The third base job is up for grabs with Ernie Clement (.245/.273/.309) and Addison Barger (.171/.244/.244) battling it out.

Guardians

• Angel Martínez (.313/.325/.388) and Nolan Jones (.163/.287/.302) with four straight starts in centerfield.

• Daniel Schneemann (.939 OPS, 5 HR) hasn’t started more than three games in a row all season.

Mariners

• Leody Taveras started in right field on Wednesday.

• Dylan Moore (.295/.345/.551, 6 HR, 7 SB) came off the IL and has started at second base and right field.

Orioles

• Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera split time at third base.

• The outfield is crowded with Cedric Mullins, Heston Kjerstad, Ryan O’Hearn, Dylan Carlson, and Ramón Laureano battling over three outfield spots and the DH.

Rangers

• Josh Smith hit leadoff for seven straight games.

• Since being promoted three games ago, Evan Carter has hit sixth or seventh while playing centerfield.

Rays

• Keep an eye on Chandler Simpson’s playing time. He’s moved down the order and is struggling at the plate (.584 OPS, 6 SB, -0.2 WAR). Even with all his speed, he only has 2 XBH across all levels this season.

• Curtis Mead (.424 OPS) started in five of the last six games.

• Christopher Morel (.674 OPS, 3 HR, 2 SB) with just six starts in the last 10 games.

Red Sox

• Romy Gonzalez (.785 OPS) and Abraham Toro (.222 OPS) split time at first base.

Royals

• Somehow, Michael Massey (.488 OPS) is still playing every day while hitting in the middle of the lineup.

Tigers

• Colt Keith (.215 AVG, 4 HR) is playing all over and started in eight of the last 10 games.

• Javier Báez (.835 OPS, 3 HR, .400 BABIP) started in seven of the last 10 games.

• After starting in 10 of 12 games, Jace Jung (.118/.268/.118), only started in one of the last four.

Twins

• The lineup has been changing with Royce Lewis and Willi Castro coming off the IL. Castro moved to the outfield, thereby pushing Harrison Bader to the bench. Lewis started two games at DH and one at third. I was surprised to see Brooks Lee (.695 OPS, 2 HR) starting, so he seems to be a permanent part of the lineup. It’s only been three games, so everyone will have a better idea of all the implications next week.

White Sox

• Miguel Vargas hit second in the last six games.

• Josh Rojas (.717 OPS, 1 SB) has only started against righties since coming off the IL.

• Joshua Palacios (.542 OPS) with six straight starts.

Yankees

• The outfield/DH situation is still crowded with one of Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, or Jasson Domínguez forced to sit every game.

• A Jorbit Vivas (.408 OPS) started in five of six games at second base while batting ninth.

National League

Braves

• Steady.

Brewers

• Isaac Collins (.255/.359/.382, 1 HR, 3 SB) started in nine of the last 10 games. Five of those times, he hit first or second in the lineup.

Cardinals

• Over the last 10 games, Jordan Walker (.530) has only started in six.

• Nolan Gorman started in seven of the last ten games.

Cubs

• Jon Berti (.644 OPS) and Nicky Lopez (.217 OPS) split time at third base.

Diamondbacks

• Garrett Hampson (vs LHP) and Alek Thomas (vs RHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

Dodgers

• Since Teoscar Hernández went on the IL, the lineup has been unsettled. Hyeseong Kim 김혜성 and James Outman started in centerfield with Andy Pages moving to right. Kim is the “winner” since he can play second and outfield.

Giants

• Christian Koss (.473 OPS) and Brett Wisely (.000 OPS) split time at second base with Tyler Fitzgerald on the IL.

Marlins

• Kyle Stowers (.879 OPS) is now batting second.

• Matt Mervis (career .588 OPS vs RHP, .564 OPS vs LHP) sits against all lefties.

• Javier Sanoja (.673 OPS, 2 SB) started in four of the last five games with Otto Lopez on the IL.

Mets

• Tyrone Taylor with four straight starts in center with Jeff McNeil (.711 OPS) and Luisangel Acuña (.721 OPS) splitting time at second base.

• Starling Marte sees more time at DH with Jesse Winker on the IL.

Nationals

• They’ve got this weird thing going on with James Wood being the DH in four of the last five games with Alex Call in the outfield instead. I’m not sure if Woods playing DH will continue, but there is playing time now for Call.

• One of José Tena or Luis García Jr. will sit against a lefty, and Amed Rosario will start in their place.

Padres

• Since coming off the IL, Jackson Merrill hit cleanup.

• Oscar Gonzalez (.483) and Jason Heyward (.527) split time in left field.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh (.538 OPS) and Johan Rojas (.741 OPS) split time in center field.

Pirates

• Matt Gorski (vs LHP) and Enmanuel Valdez (vs RHP) are in a first base platoon.

• Jared Triolo (.399 OPS) started in eight of the last nine games.

Reds

• Gavin Lux (career .759 OPS vs RHP, .534 vs LHP) sat against four of the last six lefties.

• With Noelvi Marte on the IL, Santiago Espinal (.316/.369/.368) started four straight at third base.

• Rece Hinds started the last two games in right field. He might be on the strong side of a platoon (career .454 OPS vs LHP, 1.463 vs RHP). In his minor league career, he hit .214/.282/.417 (35% K%) against righties and .276/.350/.492 (31% K%) against lefties.

Rockies

• Nick Martini starts at DH when Hunter Goodman catches.

• Alan Trejo (.519 OPS) started nine of the last 11 games at shortstop.

• Adael Amador (.503 OPS) with only five starts in the last 10 games.