Lineup Analysis (8/12/22)

American League

Angels

• David Fletcher (.674 OPS, 2 HR, 0 SB) has leadoff for three straight games.

• Jo Adell has started in seven of the last eight games and is hitting .216/.310/.333 since the All-Star break.

Astros

• Since joining the team, Trey Mancini has started in only five of eight games.

• Yuli Gurriel has started in six of the eight games since the team traded for Mancini.

• Besides Kyle Tucker, there are no everyday outfielders or obvious platoons. Jake Meyers (.588 OPS), Mauricio Dubón (.553 OPS), Chas McCormick (.732 OPS), and Aledmys Díaz (.733 OPS) aren’t playing enough to be fantasy relevant.

Athletics

• What a sad-ass bunch of hitters.

• Chad Pinder (vs LHP) and Tony Kemp (vs RHP) are in a left-field platoon.

Blue Jays

• It’s in flux with George Springer on the IL and Alejandro Kirk being the DH every other day. Normally, Santiago Espinal (.691 OPS) sits when Kirk is the DH.

• Cavan Biggio (.705 OPS) has started in five of the last six games.

Guardians

• The top half of the lineup remains constant and the bottom half keeps getting mixed up.

• Oscar Gonzalez (.783 OPS) has started in eight of nine games since coming off the IL.

• Nolan Jones (.748 OPS) has started in only five of the last 13 games, all against righties.

• Will Benson (.205 OPS) has only started in three of the last seven games, all against righties.

Mariners

• Mitch Haniger has started five straight while batting third.

• Carlos Santana (.544 OPS over the past month) has only started in two of the last four games.

• Sam Haggerty (.911 OPS, 4 HR, 5 SB in 103 PA) has started in five straight games.

Orioles

• Terrin Vavra (.936 OPS) and Rougned Odor (.627 OPS) only face righties. Tyler Nevin (.578 OPS) and Ryan McKenna (.687 OPS) only face lefties.

Rangers

• Bubba Thompson (.392 OPS, 3 SB) has started seven straight games.

• Josh H. Smith (.614 OPS) and Ezequiel Duran (.659 OPS) are splitting time at third base.

Rays

• The only regulars are Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena. Good luck figuring out the rest.

Red Sox

• Eric Hosmer (.733 OPS) and Bobby Dalbec (.651 OPS) are splitting time at first base.

• Christian Arroyo (.753 OPS, 5 HR, 3 SB in 170 PA) has started in 11 of the last 12 games.

Royals

• Steady but there are two too many regulars, so a couple of guys have to sit every game.

• The regular benching limits the fantasy viability of Michael Massey (.735 OPS), Nate Eaton (.815 OPS), Michael A. Taylor (.717 OPS), and Kyle Isbel (.615 OPS).

Tigers

• Horrible lineup. Just pathetic.

• Harold Castro (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, .723 OPS) has started 11 straight while hitting in the heart of the lineup.

Twins

• Why in the hell is Tim Beckham starting?

• The outfield is a mess with Byron Buxton starting about half the time and most of those starts are at DH.

• Max Kepler (.230/.328/.368, 9 HR, 2 SB) has started four straight since coming off the IL including once against a lefty.

• Luis Arraez (vs RHP) and Gio Urshela (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Nick Gordon (.750 OPS, 5 HR, 5 SB) has started nine straight games.

White Sox

• AJ Pollock (.633 OPS) has started in only seven of the last 10 games.

• The 22-year-old Lenyn Sosa (.933 OPS, 14 HR, 0 SB in AA, .723 OPS, 2 HR, 2 SB in AAA) has started the last two games at shortstop with Tim Anderson on the IL.

Yankees

• Miguel Andújar (.547 OPS) has started two in a row.

• Andrew Benintendi (.650 OPS vs LHP) has sat against the last two lefties.

• Aaron Hicks has started in nine straight games.

National League

Braves

• Vaughn Grissom (.363/.408/.516, 3 HR, 7 SB in AA) started at second base and hit ninth in his first MLB game. A strong audition could force his way on this team even when Ozzie Albies returns.

Brewers

• Rowdy Tellez (vs RHP) and Keston Hiura (vs LHP) are in a DH platoon.

• Kolten Wong (vs RHP) and Mike Brosseau (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Cardinals

• Lars Nootbaar (.763 OPS, 5 HR, 2 SB) has started 14 straight.

• Nolan Gorman (vs RHP) and Albert Pujols (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Over the last 10 games, Tommy Edman (.686 OPS, 7 HR, 23 SB) has only started six times.

Cubs

• At the moment, a nightmare to figure out.

• Christopher Morel (.646 OPS over the last month) is starting only two-thirds of the time and only against righties.

• Nick Madrigal (.581 OPS, 0 HR) has started in six of the last eight games and leads off against lefties.

• P.J. Higgins (.280/.357/.510, 5 HR) has started two straight at first base. If he’s starting at first, he could be a nice catcher upgrade.

Diamondbacks

• Emmanuel Rivera (.368/.429/.842 and 2 HR with Arizona) has started two straight at third base.

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor and Joey Gallo are sharing time in left field.

Giants

• The players NOT in a timeshare/platoon are Mike Yastrzemski (.715 OPS), Thairo Estrada (.735 OPS), and possibly Luis González (.720 OPS).

Marlins

• Even though Nick Fortes (.745 OPS) is hitting better than Jacob Stallings (.539 OPS), Fortes has only started in four of the last 10 games and one of those was at DH.

• I can’t find a pattern yet, but Jesús Aguilar (.675 OPS), Lewin Díaz (.420 OPS), and Garrett Cooper (.773 OPS) are splitting time at first base and DH.

• JJ Bleday (.744 OPS, 2 HR, 1 SB in 68 PA) has started in 16 of the last 17 and is batting in the heart of the order.

• Charles Leblanc (.302/.381/.503, 14 HR, 6 SB in AAA, 1.015 OPS in the majors) has started 11 straight games at third base and has moved up to batting sixth.

Mets

• There is this bizarre platoon thing going on. With Jeff McNeil being able to play in the infield and outfield, at least one of Mark Canha and Tyler Naquin will face a righty. Sometimes both. Eduardo Escobar is now only facing lefties. The big winner in this situation is Luis Guillorme (.714 OPS, 2 HR, 1 SB) who moves between second and third and has started in nine of the last 10 games.

• Darin Ruf 러프 (vs LHP) and Daniel Vogelbach (vs RHP) are still in a DH patoon.

Nationals

• Victor Robles (.603 OPS) has been moved off the leadoff spot and only started in two of the last four games.

• Lane Thomas (.686 OPS, 10 HR, 3 SB) has started eight straight.

• Yadiel Hernandez (.714 OPS, 8 HR, 2 SB) has started in 12 of the last 13 games.

• Joey Meneses (.286/.341/.489, 20 HR in AAA, 4 HR in 25 MLB PA) has started the last two games in the middle of the lineup.

Padres

• Juan Soto is batting second, Josh Bell fourth, and Brandon Drury fifth.

• Wil Myers (vs LHP) and Trent Grisham (vs RHP) are in a center field platoon.

Phillies

• Bryson Stott (vs RHP) and Edmundo Sosa (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Brandon Marsh (.638 OPS) and Matt Vierling (.624 OPS) are in a centerfield timeshare.

• Darick Hall only faces righties.

Pirates

• It’s tough to find any value with this lineup. Several preplacement-level players are in timeshares.

• Ben Gamel (.703 OPS, 4 HR) has started in 22 of the last 23 games.

• Keep an eye on Michael Chavis who has started four of the last five games and has a .750 OPS since the All-Star break.

Reds

• Nick Senzel (.612 OPS, 3 HR, 6 SB) has hit second in seven of the last nine games.

• Kyle Farmer (.695 OPS, 6 HR, 4 SB) is playing third base (5 games) and batting third.

• Donovan Solano (.304/.360/.437, 3 HR, 150 PA) has started 11 straight games and is now batting fifth.

• Jose Barrero (.655 OPS, 2 HR) has started eight straight at shortstop.

• Albert Almora Jr., Jake Fraley, and Aristides Aquino are splitting two outfield spots.

Rockies

• Elehuris Montero (.279/.300/.412, 1 HR) has started nine games.

• José Iglesias (.320/.360/.421, 3 HR, 2 SB) has started every day.