Lineup Analysis (7/15/22)

American League

Angels

• Jonathan Villar is no longer leading off but hitting in the bottom half of the lineup.

• Michael Stefanic (.320/.410/.399, 1 HR, 3 SB in 210 AAA PA, 32 MLB PA) has started in eight of 10 games since being recalled. In his last two games, he has hit leadoff.

• Luis Rengifo (.253/.296/.387, 5 HR, 3 SB) has started 26 straight games.

• Since being recalled from AAA, Jo Adell (.258/.289/.409, 3 HR, 2 SB) is batting fifth.

Astros

• Jeremy Peña (.885 OPS vs LHP, .721 OPS vs RHP) is batting at the bottom of the lineup against righties.

• Jose Siri (.551 OPS), Chas McCormick (.710 OPS), J.J. Matijevic (.584 OPS), and Mauricio Dubón (.559 OPS) are splitting time at one spot.

• Aledmys Díaz (.237/.294/.376) has started in eight of the last nine games.

Athletics

• Vimael Machín (.258/.294/.355, 1 HR, 0 SB, 34 PA) has leadoff in five of the last six games. He sat against a lefty.

• Skye Bolt (.419 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB) has started in 12 of the last 13 games.

• Since Christian Bethancourt 베탄코트 was traded to the Rays, Seth Brown (.218/.273/.406, 10 HR, 7 SB) has started seven straight batting third or fourth.

Blue Jays

• Steady.

• Cavan Biggio has started in two of the last seven games.

Guardians

• Steady.

• Nolan Jones (.333/.481/.571) has started in seven of eight games, all in the outfield while batting sixth or seventh.

• Owen Miller (.669 OPS, 4 HR, 1 SB) has snuck his way into eight of the last 11 lineups.

Mariners

• After playing nine straight, Dylan Moore (.192/.342/.377, 5 HR, 11 SB) has sat in two of the last four games.

Orioles

• Consistent since Ramón Urías came off the IL.

Rangers

• Josh H. Smith (vs RHP) and Charlie Culberson (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Leody Taveras (.338/.359/.500, 2 HR, 4 SB) has moved up to the sixth or seventh spot.

Rays

• Taylor Walls (.172/.251/.283, 4 HR, 6 SB) has started five straight at shortstop.

• Jonathan Aranda (vs RHP) and Yu Chang (vs LHP) are in a second-base platoon.

Red Sox

• Steady when healthy.

• Jarren Duran (vs RHP) and Rob Refsnyder (vs LHP) are in a center field platoon.

Royals

• There is no good way to approach this lineup with 10 players on the restricted list, the All-Star break coming up, and several players likely to be traded.

Tigers

• What a mess to untangle.

• Akil Baddoo (.425 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB, 66 PA) has started three straight in left field, one against a lefty.

• Jonathan Schoop (.358/.393/.396 in July) is now hitting in the middle of the lineup.

Twins

• Another mess.

• The confusion is that four players, Luis Arraez (.861 OPS), Jose Miranda (.757 OPS), Gio Urshela (.713 OPS), Alex Kirilloff (.719 OPS), are vying for time from two and a half spots, first, third, and DH (Buxton starts here half the time). To make it even worse, Miguel Sanó is expected off the IL soon.

White Sox

• Josh Harrison has started eight of nine games while hitting .278/.366/.472 with 1 HR in July.

• Seby Zavala (.303/.349/.474, 2 HR, 0 SB) has started seven of the last ten at short.

Yankees

• The nine-man hitter rotation has now moved to more of an 11-man rotation. Marwin Gonzalez (.697 OPS) is playing some outfield but mainly shortstop with Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.647 OPS) struggling. Also, Matt Carpenter (.338/.451/.868, 11 HR) is playing some outfield and DH with Joey Gallow and Aaron Hicks sitting when Carpenter plays.

National League

Braves

• Steady.

• Orlando Arcia (vs LHP) and Robinson Canó (vs RHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Eddie Rosario (.434 OPS) and Adam Duvall (.652 OPS) are splitting time in left field.

Brewers

• Lots of movement based on pitcher handedness, but generally the same players.

• Mike Brosseau (vs LHP) and Jace Peterson (vs RHP) are still in a platoon.

Cardinals

• Historically, it has been a steady lineup, but it just got back Tyler O’Neill and Brendan Donovan. I’d come back in a couple of days to see how it shakes out.

• Andrew Knizner (.205/.297/.260, 1 HR) has started seven of the last 10 games at catcher.

Cubs

• Christopher Morel is now batting ninth or on the bench against righties. I’m not sure why since he has .622 OPS vs LHP and a .895 OPS vs RHP. Rafael Ortega (.719 OPS vs RHP, .551 vs LHP) leads off against righties.

• Alfonso Rivas (.236/.315/.325, 3 HR, 3 SB) is starting against all righties.

• Nico Hoerner (.771 OPS, 5 HR, 8 SB) is locked into batting fifth or sixth.

Diamondbacks

• Josh Rojas (.758 OPS, 5 HR, 7 SB) has hit first or second over the last six games.

• Daulton Varsho (.715 OPS, 12 HR, 5 SB, 4 CS) has started in eight of the last 10 games and hasn’t caught since June 9th.

Dodgers

• Steady with the only change being Jake Lamb and Trayce Thompson splitting time in left field.

Giants

• A ton of platoons and timeshares.

• The only full-timer (11 straight starts) is David Villar (.229/.349/.400, 1 HR).

• Catcher Austin Wynns (.577 OPS, 1 HR) has started in five of the last 10 games.

Marlins

• Catcher Nick Fortes (.273/.360/.485, 3 HR, 3 SB) has started in five of the last eight games.

• Bryan De La Cruz (.209/.244/.442, 2 HR over the past month) has started seven straight.

Mets

• Steady. A couple of outfield injuries (McNeil and Marte) opened up spots for a few days but both are back now.

Nationals

• Luis García (.305/.314/.429, 2 HR, 1 SB, 4 CS) has led off in three of the last four games.

• Yadiel Hernandez (.288/.324/.470 with 2 HR over the last month) has started in 10 of the last 11 games.

• Lane Thomas (.666 OPS) and Victor Robles (.600 OPS) are splitting time in the outfield.

• Maikel Franco (.623 OPS) and Ehire Adrianza (.479 OPS) are splitting time at third base.

Padres

• Esteury Ruiz (.935 OPS, 60 SB in the minors) has started three straight since being promoted.

• Nomar Mazara (.315/.368/.426, 2 SB) has started four straight, two against lefties who he normally sits against.

Phillies

• Matt Vierling (.230/.306/.341, 3 HR, 3 SB) has started five straight in center.

• Darick Hall (.250/.276/.536, 4 HR) has started 10 straight games as the DH and batting cleanup.

Pirates

• This lineup is in major flux with several guys coming off the IL, going on the IL, and being demoted. To me, it looks like the team is trying to showcase several veterans (Gamel, Newman, VanMeter, Marisnick) for trades.

• Jason Delay (.220/.286/.305 in AAA, .296/.321/.407 in the majors) has caught seven of the last 10 games.

Reds

• Tyler Naquin (.244/.306/.435, 6 HR, 3 SB) only faces lefties.

• Nick Senzel (.262/.318/.332, 3 HR, 5 SB) has just started in seven of the last 10 games.

Rockies

• José Iglesias (.302/.342/.407, 3 HR, 2 SB) has hit second for three straight days.

• Yonathan Daza (.296/.348/.343, 0 HR, 0 SB) has only started in six of the last 10 games.