Lineup Analysis (6/8/18)

Big Five Value Movers

1. Danny Valencia looks to be hitting fulltime in Baltimore.
2. Greg Bird is batting 3rd for the Yankees.
3. Cleveland’s and Houston’s outfields are in flux with players returning from the DL.
4. Heyward and Almora are playing fulltime with the Cubs.
5. Joe Panik is leading off for the Giants.

Angels

• I can’t believe the lack of talent surrounding Mike Trout. In their last game, the Angels figured Martin Maldonado was their fifth best hitter.
• For the few fantasy-relevant hitters on this team, they are set at the lineup’s top except Albert Pujols who has been dealing with an ankle injury the past few years days.

Astros

• Josh Reddick’s return has caused a ripple effect with Tony Kemp, Jake Marisnick, and Marwin Gonzalez each seeing their playing time cut. For now, I would stay away from them all.
• Evan Gattis is back to being the permanent DH. After struggling out of the gate, he has hit .286/.350/.714 over the past month with nine home runs.

Athletics

• Besides the third to the sixth slots (Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis, Matt Olson, and Matt Chapman), it’s complete randomness with no one else getting consistent playing time.

Braves

• Ender Inciarte is headed back down the lineup after hitting .220/.304/.363 with only two stolen bases in six attempts over the last 28 days.
• Charlie Culberson (vs. lefties) and Preston Tucker (vs. righties) are sharing time in left field.

Brewers

• Ryan Braun and Domingo Santana are taking turns starting. It doesn’t seem to be a strict platoon. The swapping continued while playing at American League parks while Ji-Man Choi with his career .181/.271/.381 DH’ed each day.

Cardinals

• The ascension of Yairo Munoz has pushed both Jedd Gyorko and Kolten Wong into half-time roles and killed their fantasy values.

Cubs

• Albert Almora Jr. has taken over as the full-time center fielder.
• Jason Heyward is batting second because of his .321/.350/.482 slash line over the past month.

Diamondbacks

• J.R. Murphy has been hitting cleanup when starting.
• The team is going with a couple platoons with Jake Lamb and Deven Marrero at third and Jarrod Dyson (hits versus rightes) and several others against lefties.

Dodgers

• Max Muncy is playing full-time as the first baseman or some third base while Turner deals with an injury.
• Chris Taylor is back to leading off after struggling to hit out of the gate. He has a .295/.417/.538 triple slash line over the last 28 days.

Giants

• Since Mac Williamson and Joe Panik came off the DL and Brandon Belt went on it, the bottom six spots have been a mess.
• Joe Panik is leading off for now.

Indians

• The lineup has been steady until the last couple days with Lonnie Chisenhall off the DL with Melky Cabrera headed to the bench. Greg Allen and Rajai Davis are fighting over outfield playing time.

Mariners

• Nothing

Marlins

• While the lineup positions have changed quite a bit, the team is running out the same players.
• Over the last few games, Derek Dietrich has hit third.

Mets

• All through there seems to be some madness to their decisions, I’m not sure what it is. Though it doesn’t seem possible but Michael Conforto joins Asdrubal Cabrera and Brandon Nimmo as the only lineup regulars.

Nationals

• Matt Adams and Mark Reynolds are in a first base platoon.

Orioles

• After using Jace Peterson at third base for a few days, Danny Valencia has played third for the last five games.

Padres

• Hunter Renfroe, Travis Jankowski, Manuel Margot, and Franmil Reyes are splitting time in the outfield.

Phillies

• Nick Williams is getting is playing fulltime with Rhys Hoskins out with a broken jaw.
• J.P. Crawford is back from the DL. His playing time is not set with Maikel Franco playing third while Crawford was out. Both have struggled to hit so I’d not be surprised to se them split time at third.

Pirates

• None

Rangers

• They have one too many bats right now surrounding the outfield, designated hitter, first base, and third base. Someone every six days sits with Shin-Soo Choo, Nomar Mazara, Adrian Beltre, Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ronald Guzman, and Delino DeShields all in the mix. It’s not a value killer but it will take away from each player’s overall production.

Rays

• The heart of the lineup has become stable but the leadoff spot and the back few spots are not.
• Jake Bauers has joined the team and has hit sixth.

Red Sox

• Nothing

Reds

• Tucker Barnhart is hitting second and could be a great source of counting stats, for a catcher. Owners should take a look and see if Barnhart might be a better option than their current option.
• The corner outfield spots are a rotation of Jesse Winker, Adam Duvall, and Scott Schebler.

Rockies

• A steady lineup since DJ LeMahieu returned from the DL.

Tigers

• Since Miguel Cabrera’s return, the leadoff spot and the bottom half has changed nearly every day besides Jose Iglesias batting 8th.
• They have some interesting bottom end power-speed threats, JaCoby Jones, Leonys Martin, and Niko Goodrum, but none are regulars. All three are not playable except in 20-team leagues are deeper right now.
• John Hicks stayed on the team as the backup catcher.

Toronto

• Nothing

Twins

• Ehire Adrianza has cemented himself as the full-time shortstop until Jorge Polanco returns.

White Sox

• This may be the least powerful outfield in the league with Daniel Palka as the power bat which also included Adam Engel, Charlie Tilson, and Trayce Thompson. Their  outfield .348 SLG is the worst since the .342 value posted by the 2011 Mariners.

Yankees

• The lineup has been fairly steady near the top since Greg Bird returned (batting 3rd). The bottom half changes daily but with mainly the same players moving around.