Lineup Analysis (7/20/23)

by
July 20, 2023

American League

Angels

• Zach Neto has led off for six straight games.

• Mike Moustakas has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• Trey Cabbage has started in three of the last four games, all against a righty.

• Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Stefanic (.349/.445/.441, 2 HR, 6 SB) has started the last two games at second base.

Astros

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• Chas McCormick has started nine straight and has moved up to hitting fifth or sixth.

• Corey Julks has started in eight of the last 10 games.

Athletics

• A mess and I’m not sure if anyone is worth targeting.

• Since coming out of the break, Brent Rooker has sat against three of four righties even though he doesn’t have a career platoon split.

• Tyler Soderstrom has started five games, only one at catcher.

• Nick Allen has started six straight at short.

Blue Jays

• Brandon Belt is batting third against lefties.

Guardians

• Will Brennan (vs RHP) and David Fry (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Mariners

• José Caballero and Kolten Wong are splitting time at second base.

• Mike Ford only starts against righties.

Orioles

• Even with Cedric Mullins missing the last few games, there are just too many decent bats. Since the break, the only regulars seem to be Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, and Adley Rutschman. Everyone else is in some form of a platoon or timeshare. It is going to be tough rostering any of these guys going forward.

Rangers

• Travis Jankowski (vs RHP) and Robbie Grossman (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Rays

• Even God is confused about what is going on here.

• Luke Raley has started eight straight while hitting in the top half of the lineup.

Red Sox

• Rob Refsnyder (vs LHP) and Jarren Duran (vs RHP) are in a platoon. When either one starts, they lead off.

• Yu Chang has started at shortstop in seven of nine games while batting ninth.

• Triston Casas sits against lefties (career .785 OPS vs RHP, .685 vs LHP).

Royals

• Rays 2.0 with just a few guys having full-time roles. There are some nice stolen base threats (e.g. Kyle Isbel, Samad Taylor, and Dairon Blanco) but none are playing enough to be relevant.

• Drew Waters has started in nine of the last ten games.

Tigers

• Kerry Carpenter has started 10 straight games, three against a lefty.

• Zach McKinstry only starts against righties and will lead off.

• Akil Baddoo has only started in five of eight games since coming off the IL.

Twins

• Edouard Julien (1.053 OPS vs RHP, .400 vs LHP) continues to sit against lefties.

• With Buxton on the IL, Matt Wallner has started at DH.

White Sox

• Zach Remillard and Elvis Andrus are splitting time at second base.

• Since being promoted from AAA, Oscar Colás has started in nine of 11 games while having a .452 OPS during that time.

Yankees

• Oswald Peraza has hit leadoff for three straight games.

• Kyle Higashioka has become the primary catcher.

National League

Braves

• Steady.

Brewers

• William Contreras is batting second.

• Owen Miller has started in 10 straight games while hitting in the middle of the lineup.

• Andruw Monasterio (.292/.378/.389,1 HR, 3 SB) has started five straight at third base.

• Brice Turang is only starting against lefties.

Cardinals

• With Tyler O’Neill and Tommy Edman about to come off the IL along with the team saying they will be trade deadline sellers, this lineup will be completely different in a week or two.

• Lars Nootbaar has started in 18 straight games.

Cubs

• Mike Tauchman doesn’t start against righties.

• Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom are splitting time at third base.

Diamondbacks

• Jake McCarthy has only started in seven of the last 10 games.

Dodgers

• Steady.

Giants

• The only regulars are Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis. Casey Schmitt might be with Brandon Crawford on the IL.

Marlins

• Dane Myers (.364/.378/.477, 1 HR) has started 11 straight in centerfield.

• Yuli Gurriel and Garrett Cooper at splitting time at first base.

• Jean Segura has started in 14 of 15 games at third base.

Mets

• Steady

Nationals

• CJ Abrams has led off for nine straight games.

• Alex Call has started 11 straight games.

Padres

• Steady

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh (vs RHP) and Johan Rojas (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Pirates

• Jack Suwinski (vs RHP) and Connor Joe (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Jared Triolo (311/.368/.344, 0 HR, 0 SB) has started in 17 of 18 games at third base.

Reds

• Elly De La Cruz has led off for three straight.

• One too many decent batters so one regular will need to sit every day.

Rockies

• Nolan Jones has started in only four of the last seven.





 

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.

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Dan JareckiMember since 2025
2 years ago

Brewer comment should be that Turang sits against lefties.

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