Lineup Analysis (6/1/25)

American League
Angels
• Chris Taylor (.408 OPS) started three straight games in the outfield.
Astros
• Jake Meyers has moved up to batting fifth or sixth.
• Mauricio Dubón (.686 OPS) started in seven of the eight games.
• Cam Smith with 13 straight starts. In May, he’s hitting .324/.385/.423 with 0 HR and 1 SB.
Athletics
• Lawrence Butler (career .667 OPS vs LHP, .776 vs RHP) sat against three of the last four lefties.
• Logan Davidson (1.000 OPS) and CJ Alexander (.444 OPS) are splitting time at first base.
• Denzel Clarke (.105 OPS) started five of the last six in centerfield.
Blue Jays
• Michael Stefanic (.462 OPS) started three straight games at second base.
• After playing in every game for a couple of weeks, Nathan Lukes (.777 OPS) started in only two of the last five games.
• Ernie Clement (.706 OPS) started 12 straight games and played all four infield positions over that time frame.
Guardians
• Angel Martínez (.270/.292/.409, 3 HR, 4 SB) with nine starts in the last 10 games.
• Jhonkensy Noel (.412 OPS) and Nolan Jones (.568 OPS) split time in right field.
Mariners
• Leody Taveras (.601 OPS, 2 HR, 2 SB) continues to start (18 of last 20 games).
• Over the last ten games, Dylan Moore (.808 OPS, 8 HR, 8 SB) started in nine games at three different positions.
Orioles
• This lineup is going to have all kinds of upheaval with Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins hurt and Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg about to come off the IL. I don’t see any way to capitalize on the current turmoil.
Rangers
• Alejandro Osuna (.762 OPS) with four straight starts in left field.
• Marcus Semien (.485 OPS) now hits eighth or ninth.
• Josh Smith (.723 OPS) hit leadoff for the last two games.
Rays
• Christopher Morel (.623 OPS) with four starts in the last 10 games.
Red Sox
• Since being promoted, Marcelo Mayer (.668 OPS) has started in five straight games.
• Kristian Campbell (.669 OPS) started in just seven of the last 10 games.
Royals
• The outfield remains a hot mess with Drew Waters (.704 OPS), Mark Canha (.659 OPS), John Rave (.422 OPS), Kyle Isbel (.695 OPS), Nick Loftin (.606 OPS), and Dairon Blanco (.750 OPS) getting at least one start their over the last four games.
• John Rave started three straight games.
Tigers
• In five games since coming off the IL, Matt Vierling started in only two games.
• Wenceel Pérez started the last two games since coming off the IL.
Twins
• The lineup is new every day. The main reason is that no one starts every game with too many regulars.
• DaShawn Keirsey Jr. played centerfield but will lose his job with Byron Buxton off the IL.
White Sox
• Mike Tauchman (vs RHP) and Michael A. Taylor (vs LHP) form a right field platoon.
• Joshua Palacios (.678 OPS) playing time got cut with Andrew Benintendi off the IL.
• Josh Rojas doesn’t face lefties.
Yankees
• Still too many outfielders/DH bats with one “regular” sitting each game.
National League
Braves
• In Drake Baldwin’s last three games, he hit second.
• Alex Verdugo (vs RHP) and Eli White (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.
Brewers
• Isaac Collins (.242/.333/.326, 1 HR, 5 SB) started four straight games.
Cardinals
• No changes. Here is an article ($$$, The Athletic) on how the team has been managing the lineup.
Cubs
• No changes.
Diamondbacks
• Alek Thomas (vs RHP) and Tim Tawa (vs LHP) form a centerfield platoon.
Dodgers
• Since returning from the IL, Tommy Edman started in eight of 10 games while batting .129/.182/.161 during that time.
• With Edman moving from second to center, Michael Conforto (vs RHP) and Miguel Rojas (vs LHP) form a platoon.
• Max Muncy (vs RHP) and Enrique Hernández (vs LHP) form a third base platoon.
Giants
• LaMonte Wade Jr. (.556 OPS) and Casey Schmitt (.619 OPS) split time at first base with Jerar Encarnacion about to come off the IL and muddle the situation even more.
Marlins
• Jesús Sánchez is not getting platooned. He does move down the batting order against lefties.
• With Derek Hill and Dane Myers on the IL, Victor Mesa Jr. started two straight in center field.
• Javier Sanoja and Ronny Simon split time at second base, but Xavier Edwards is about to come off the IL.
Mets
• Brett Baty (.748 OPS) started nine straight games.
• Injuries and suckitude (.188/.270/.313 past two weeks) cut into Mark Vientos’s playing time (three starts in the last six games).
Nationals
• Robert Hassell III (.222/.222/.333, 1 SB) started seven straight in centerfield.
• Daylen Lile (.446 OPS) started six straight games in right field.
Padres
• No changes.
Phillies
• Weston Wilson (vs LHP) and Max Kepler (vs RHP) are in a left field platoon.
Pirates
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.297/.343/.381, 8 SB) with eight straight starts at shortstop.
Reds
• The outfield playing time will take a few days to figure out with Austin Hays going on the IL and Jake Fraley coming off it.
Rockies
• Tyler Freeman (vs LHP) and Mickey Moniak (vs RHP) form a right field platoon.
• In one start since joining the team, Orlando Arcia hit seventh as the DH.
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.
Dylan Moore is in a short side platoon, he started four out of five last week when the M’s faced a stretch of lefties but has sat the last five vs. RHP including all three this weekend (with his role further limited by Cole Young’s promotion).