Lineup Analysis (7/27/25)

Note: With the trade deadline coming up and some teams in buy or sell mode, I’m not going too deep into changes. I’m going to look for obvious moves that will likely stick.

American League

Angels

• Yoán Moncada (vs RHP) and Kevin Newman (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jorge Soler split time in right field.

Astros

• With so many injuries, this is a nightmare to untangle. One person who should get time, at some position, is Mauricio Dubón.

Athletics

• Luis Urías (91 OPS+) started four straight at second base.

• Since coming off the IL, Miguel Andujar started in eight of 11 games.

• Lawrence Butler doesn’t face lefties (.626 OPS vs LHP, .756 OPS vs RHP).

Blue Jays

• Nathan Lukes (vs RHP) and Myles Straw (vs LHP) form a centerfield platoon.

• Joey Loperfido and Davis Schneider split time in left field.

Guardians

• Angel Martínez now bats second.

• Nolan Jones with 11 straight starts.

• Daniel Schneemann (vs RHP) and Will Wilson (vs LHP) form a second base platoon.

Mariners

• With Jorge Polanco getting regular at-bats at DH and second base, Cole Young has only started in three of the last five games.

Orioles

• The outfield is crowded with Cedric Mullins (most starts), Tyler O’Neill, and Dylan Carlson splitting one spot.

Rangers

• Michael Helman (vs LHP) and Evan Carter (vs RHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

Rays

• Chandler Simpson is now leading off.

• The middle infield remains unsettled with Brandon Lowe and Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 dealing with injuries.

Red Sox

• No changes … yet.

Royals

• John Rave (.200/.281/.353, 3 HR, 5 SB in 98 PA) with eight starts in the last nine games.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling (53 OPS+) is stealing some starts from a struggling Parker Meadows (51 OPS+).

Twins

• Brooks Lee with just three starts in the last seven games.

White Sox

• They are healthy for one regular sitting every game.

• Since returning from the IL, Brooks Baldwin has started three straight games.

• Colson Montgomery with six starts at third base.

Yankees

• Paul Goldschmidt is slowly being fazed out with just three starts in the last six games.

• Trent Grisham hit leadoff in the last three games. Started in five of six.

National League

Braves

• Marcell Ozuna has been relegated to the bench with Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin sharing catcher duties.

Brewers

• With Sal Frelick hurt, Brice Turang hits leadoff.

• For some unknown reason, Anthony Seigler (31 OPS+) has been getting starts over Caleb Durbin (105 OPS+).

• Since being recalled from the minors, Blake Perkins has started in four of five games while playing centerfield. He struggled with strikeouts in AAA (38% K%) and the majors (47% K%).

Cardinals

• Iván Herrera is batting second since coming off the IL with no games at catcher.

• Since coming off the IL, Jordan Walker started seven straight while batting .333/.379/.481 (.474 BABIP) during that time.

Cubs

• Carson Kelly bats fourth or fifth with nine starts in the last 10 games (one game at DH).

Diamondbacks

• Lots of changes will be coming with the team trading away several players.

• Blaze Alexander (.250/.333/.350, 0 HR, 2 SB in 46 PA) with seven straight starts.

Dodgers

• Hyeseong Kim 김혜성 (vs RHP) and Miguel Rojas (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Tommy Edman has nine starts at third base.

Giants

• Casey Schmitt with 11 starts in 12 games at second base.

Marlins

• Catcher-qualified Liam Hicks (.276/.367/.403, 4 HR) with six starts in nine games.

• Eric Wagaman is NO longer starting every game with just three starts over the last seven games.

Mets

• No changes.

Nationals

• No changes, but I expect the DH role to open up once Josh Bell gets traded.

Padres

• No changes.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh starts every game with Max Kepler (vs RHP) and Johan Rojas (vs LHP) in an outfield platoon.

Pirates

• After a stretch of 11 starts in a row, Tommy Pham has only started in five of the last eight games.

Reds

• Will Benson started in only one of the last seven games with Jake Fraley taking his spot.

Rockies

• Tough to figure out with Ryan McMahon headed to the Yankees and Thairo Estrada coming off the IL.