Lineup Analysis (6/24/23)

American League

Angels

• Hunter Renfroe (.736 OPS) no longer has a permanent spot in the lineup with just three starts in the last six games. He’s now in a rotation with Mickey Moniak (.941 OPS) and Taylor Ward (.693 OPS).

• Andrew Velazquez (.250/.429/.313, 0 HR, 4 SB) has started six straight games at shortstop.

Astros

• Yainer Diaz (.812 OPS, 7 HR, 0 SB) has started in nine of the last ten games while hitting third or fourth.

• No one is gaining an advantage in the Corey Julks, Chas McCormick, and Jake Meyers outfield timeshare.

Athletics

• Jace Peterson has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• JJ Bleday has only started in four of the last ten games.

• Tony Kemp (1.139 OPS over the past two weeks) has started in six of the last seven games.

Blue Jays

• Whit Merrifield (.298/.355/.383, 2 HR, 18 SB) has hit second in five of the last six games.

Guardians

• No changes.

Mariners

• José Caballero (.715 OPS, 10 SB) has started in nine of the last ten games.

• Mike Ford (vs RHP) and Dylan Moore (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Orioles

• Adam Frazier is no longer leading off but is batting seventh. Gunnar Henderson (vs RHP) and Austin Hays (vs LHP) are now leading off.

• Aaron Hicks (.996 OPS, 3 HR, and 2 SB with the Orioles) has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• Ramón Urías (.727 OPS) has started nine straight games at either first or third base.

Rangers

• Steady.

• Mitch Garver (.254/.323/.475, 3 HR) has seven games at catcher, but has only started in five of the last 10 games (two at catcher).

Rays

• Taylor Walls (.697 OPS, 7 HR, 16 SB, .459 OPS over the last month) has made 11 straight starts.

Red Sox

• Jarren Duran has led off in four of the last five games.

• Enrique Hernández (.631 OPS) has only started in six of the last ten games with Christian Arroyo starting eight times during that time frame, all at second base.

• David Hamilton was just recalled and was hitting .255/.339/.486 with 11 HR and 27 SB in AAA.

Royals

• Samad Taylor (.476 OPS, 0 HR, 1 SB) has started in five of the last six games.

• Dairon Blanco (.259/.333/.481, 1 SB, 47 SB in AAA) has started in eight of 10 games since being promoted.

• Drew Waters (.554 OPS) has started in eight of the last 10 games, all in center field.

Tigers

• A mess. Only Spencer Torkelson and Javier Báez are in full-time roles.

• Keep an eye on Matt Vierling over the weekend, he might be healthy and back to starting every day.

Twins

• Donovan Solano (vs LHP) and Max Kepler (vs RHP) are in a platoon with Alex Kirilloff moving from the infield to the outfield.

• Willi Castro (.694 OPS) has only started six times in the last 10 games.

White Sox

• Andrew Benintendi (.695 OPS) has led off in five straight games.

• Over the last three games, Andrew Vaughn (.761 OPS) has hit second.

• The 29-year-old Zach Remillard (.236/.344/.354, 5 HR, 13 SB in AAA) has started four straight games, all at second base.

Yankees

• In seven of the last eight games, Jake Bauers has hit leadoff.

• Billy McKinney (.318/.348/.636, 3 HR) has made 13 straight starts.

National League

Braves

• Ozzie Albies has hit second for six straight days.

Brewers

• Owen Miller (.449 OPS over the last two weeks) started three times in the last five days.

• Luis Urías (.146/.300/.268, 1 HR) started in eight of the last 10 games.

• Since coming off the IL, Jesse Winker started in four of five games, all at DH.

Cardinals

• With Lars Nootbaar off the IL, there are now two extra “regular” hitters and the playing time rotation isn’t obvious just yet.

• Nolan Gorman went from hitting third in the lineup to somewhere in the bottom half.

Cubs

• Cody Bellinger (vs RHP) and Trey Mancini (vs LHP) are in a first-base platoon.

Diamondbacks

• Geraldo Perdomo is now leading off.

• Alek Thomas has started four straight in center field.

Dodgers

• With Max Muncy on the IL, Michael Busch has started four straight.

• The outfield is a complete disaster with no one stepping up to grab a full-time role.

Name: OPS
Jason Heyward: .781
James Outman: .747
David Peralta: .710
Jonny Deluca: .465

Giants

• Injuries have this being more than the usual mess.

• Luis Matos (.690 OPS, 2 SB) has started seven straight in center.

Marlins

• Garrett Cooper has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• In five of the last seven games, Jon Berti has started at third base.

• Jonathan Davis (.744 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB) started in center in eight of the last 10 games.

Mets

• Tommy Pham kept his left field job when Peter Alonso returned from the IL and started in 12 straight games.

• Mark Canha (vs LHP) and Daniel Vogelbach (vs RHP) are in a DH platoon.

• Brett Baty (vs RHP) and Eduardo Escobar (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Nationals

• Joey Meneses started in six of seven games since coming off the IL.

• Derek Hill started twice in centerfield with Victor Robles on the IL.

Padres

• Steady.

Phillies

• Kody Clemens (vs RHP) and Edmundo Sosa (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Pirates

• Connor Joe made six straight starts.

• Henry Davis made four starts since being called up, two in the outfield.

Reds

• With the team recently facing just one lefty, it seems like TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, and Will Benson are facing righties with Nick Senzel, Kevin Newman, and Stuart Fairchild (demoted) facing lefites. Watch to see what the lineup looks like on Saturday when the team faces another lefty.

• Joey Votto is batting sixth.

Rockies

• Nolan Jones moved up and hit second over the last two games.

• Jorge Alfaro (.514 OPS) has been the DH for the last three games. Why?

• Coco Montes (.472 OPS) started three straight at second base but just seven of 11 since being promoted.