Lineup Analysis (7/27/24)

Note: I know that the information here could be dated the minute it gets published because of a trade. This will be one weekend to track the news and overreact to weekend lineups.

American League

Angels

• They have too many guys at second, third, and designated hitter with one of Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury, Anthony Rendon, and Willie Calhoun sitting each game.

• Mickey Moniak has started in 15 of 16 games in centerfield.

Astros

• Trey Cabbage, Chas McCormick, Joey Loperfido, and Mauricio Dubón are sharing two outfield spots.

Athletics

• Abraham Toro and Brett Harris are splitting time at third base.

• Seth Brown (vs RHP) and Tyler Nevin (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon.

Blue Jays

• Leo Jiménez (.600 OPS) has started five straight games at shortstop.

• Davis Schneider has only started in six of the last 10 games.

Guardians

• Jhonkensy Noel (.909 OPS, 5 HR) has started four straight games with Angel Martínez moving to center field.

• Daniel Schneemann has started in only two of the last four games while posting a .400 OPS over the last two weeks.

Mariners

• This is a mess with injury (Crawford and Rodriguez), trades (Adozarena), and releases (France). For now, Dylan Moore seems like a lock at short and Josh Rojas is at third base. I haven’t a clue how the OF/1B/DH playing time will work out.

• Jorge Polanco has started 13 straight games with a .593 OPS over the last month.

Orioles

• There are too many mouths to feed at this point with half the starting lineup on a part-time role. Colton Cowser might be the exception with seven straight starts.

Rangers

• Steady except at DH where three bench bats have started over the last three games (Foscue, Jankowski, Grossman). It seemed that Justin Foscue had the role, but has hit .333 OPS with a 47% K% in the majors.

Rays

• On a normal week, I have no idea what is going on, yet alone when they are making trades Now with Randy Arozarena gone, I’m guessing another outfield platoon.

Red Sox

• Romy Gonzalez (vs LHP) and Dominic Smith (vs RHP) are in a first base platoon.

• Jamie Westbrook (.679 IPS over the last two weeks) has six straight starts at second base.

• David Hamilton (.556 OPS and 4 for 7 in SB over the last month) has only started in two of the last five games with no reported injury.

Royals

• Adam Frazier (.561 OPS, .278 OBP) has hit leadoff in 10 of the last 12 games.

• Michael Massey has not started in more than three straight games since coming off the IL.

• Dairon Blanco and Drew Waters are sharing one outfield spot.

Tigers

• A few too many regulars with no one getting full-time at-bats.

• Justyn-Henry Malloy and Wenceel Pérez are hitting in the top third of the lineup.

• Bligh Madris has only started in two of five games since being promoted.

Twins

• No outfielder is getting regular at-bats.

• With Royce Lewis coming off the IL, infield playing time will be harder to come by.

• Edouard Julien is only facing righties.

White Sox

• Brooks Baldwin (.269 OPS) has started seven straight at second base.

• Paul DeJong and Nick Senzel are splitting time at third base.

• Nicky Lopez with six straight starts (all vs RHP) at shortstop.

Yankees

• Consistent disaster with no changes — they appear to have added Jazz Chisholm Jr. just as this is going live. It’s so fresh that RosterResource doesn’t even have him listed in their lineup just yet so stay tuned for info on that!

• Ben Rice is leading off against righties and sitting against lefties.

• Austin Wells has hit cleanup in four of the last five games.

National League

Braves

• Nacho Alvarez Jr. (46% K%) has started three games at second base.

Brewers

• Brice Turang (vs RHP) and Andruw Monasterio (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

• The outfield might settle down (Chourio, Mitchell, Perkins) with Christian Yelich on the IL.

Cardinals

• Paul Goldschmidt is now hitting seventh.

• Michael Siani has only started in four of the last eight games.

• Pedro Pagés has started five times in the last nine games.

Cubs

• Mike Tauchman has started five straight games.

Diamondbacks

• Corbin Carroll has sat against two of the last four lefties.

• Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy are splitting center field duties.

Dodgers

• With Miguel Rojas on the IL, Nick Ahmed has started the last two games at shortstop.

Giants

• Thairo Estrada has only started in two of the last five games with Brett Wisely (started in seven of the last 10) and Tyler Fitzgerald (six straight starts) becoming regulars.

• Mike Yastrzemski has started 12 straight games including two against lefties.

Marlins

• Otto Lopez has started seven straight games since coming off the IL.

• Ali Sánchez (.463 OPS) has started three straight games at catcher.

Mets

• Steady.

• Harrison Bader has only started in five of the last nine games.

Nationals

• No changes.

Padres

• Xander Bogaerts is now batting third with Jake Cronenworth batting fifth.

Phillies

• The addition of Austin Hays means someone in the outfield will lose playing time. I’m guessing that Hays will be on the short side of a platoon with Brandon Marsh.

Pirates

• No changes

Reds

• With TJ Friedl coming off the IL, Rece Hinds was demoted. Besides Friedl, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild, Austin Slater, and Jake Fraley are fighting over the three outfield spots.

Rockies

• Since coming off the IL, Kris Bryant is batting fifth.

• Sam Hilliard (vs RHP) and Jake Cave (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.