Lineup Analysis (8/24/24)

by
August 24, 2024

American League

Angels

• Taylor Ward hit leadoff for seven straight games.

• Niko Kavadas (.443 OPS, 47% K%) only starts against righties.

Astros

• Jon Singleton started in only three of the last 10 games.

• Chas McCormick with just seven starts in the last 10 games.

• Shay Whitcomb starts at third base with Alex Bregman banged up.

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• Mauricio Dubón started nine straight games at four positions (RF, LF, 2B, SS).

Athletics

• Daz Cameron only starts against lefties.

Blue Jays

• The bottom third has no one rosterable with each one splitting time at second base and the outfield.

Guardians

• Jhonkensy Noel started in eight of the last nine games.

• The team used three shortstops (Rocchio, Freeman, Schneemann) over the last four games.

• Lane Thomas started in only five of the last 10 games.

Mariners

• Leo Rivas (.673 OPS, 0 HR, 2 SB) started at shortstop in five of the last six games.

• Dylan Moore started in only five of the last 10 games.

Orioles

• Generally, Ryan O’Hearn and Eloy Jiménez are splitting time.

Rangers

• Josh Smith (.542 OPS in 2H) started in only three of the last five games.

Rays

• I don’t see anyone new starting enough to roster.

Red Sox

• Masataka Yoshida did not start against the last two lefties.

• Since coming off the IL, Triston Casas started every game at first. He hits third against righties and seventh against lefties.

• David Hamilton (vs RHP) and Romy Gonzalez (vs LHP) form a second base platoon.

Royals

• Maikel Garcia started in just four of the last seven games with three coming against a lefty.

• MJ Melendez (vs RHP) and Dairon Blanco (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.

• Kyle Isbel (vs RHP) and Garrett Hampson (vs LHP) are in a center field platoon.

• Adam Frazier (vs RHP) and Hunter Renfroe (vs LHP) are in a right field platoon.

• Freddy Fermin has started in eight of the last 10 games.

Tigers

• Parker Meadows doesn’t start versus lefties.

• Spencer Torkelson started five straight games at first base while batting between fourth and sixth.

• Since being promoted, Trey Sweeney started in three of six games.

• Jace Jung (35% K%, .000 ISO) with six straight starts since his promotion. The issues with fastballs from his scouting report has been very apparent even in his small MLB sample.

Twins

• The “issue” with the Twins is that everyone is healthy right now so there aren’t enough spots for everyone to start every game.

White Sox

• Lenyn Sosa leads off against lefties.

• Korey Lee (.607 OPS) caught eight of the last 10 games.

• Dominic Fletcher with seven straight starts.

• Miguel Vargas only started in six of the last nine games.

Yankees

• Gleyber Torres hit leadoff for six straight games. Alex Verdugo now hits between fifth and seventh.

• Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza split time at third base.

• Ben Rice and DJ LeMahieu split time at first base.

National League

Braves

• Whit Merrifield hit second over the last two games.

• Ramón Laureano started 10 straight games.

• With Riley on the IL, Gio Urshela started three straight at third base while batting eighth or ninth.

Brewers

• Tyler Black starts half the time as the DH.

Cardinals

• With some recent demotions (Gorman and Walker), Tommy Pham and Alec Burleson might return to full-time roles with Brendan Donovan moving to second base.

Cubs

• Steady. No changes.

Diamondbacks

• Over the 14 games since being promoted, Adrian Del Castillo started in nine at catcher with no DH starts.

• With Marte on the IL, Kevin Newman and Luis Guillorme are splitting time at second base.

Dodgers

• Max Muncy returned from the IL to play third base while hitting seventh.

• Tommy Edman started three games (two at SS, one at CF) all against righties.

• Kevin Kiermaier started the last two games in center.

Giants

• Thairo Estrada started three straight games while batting sixth or seventh since returning from the IL. Both Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely lost playing time with Estrada back.

• Grant McCray (.709 OPS, .445 BABIP, 50% K%, 4% BB%) started eight in a row in center.

Marlins

• Connor Norby plays third base and hits fourth to sixth since being promoted.

• Derek Hill (.709 OPS, 4 HR, 5 SB) started 14 straight and bats fourth or fifth.

• Cristian Pache occupies a platoon’s short side with Jesús Sánchez.

• David Hensley (vs LHP) and Kyle Stowers (vs RHP) could be in a platoon.

Mets

• Mark Vientos bats second.

• Since returning from the IL, Starling Marte started in three of five games.

• Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader split time in center field.

Nationals

• Joey Gallo came off the IL and played first base while batting eighth. Andrés Chaparro’s playing time might have dried up.

• José Tena (.781 OPS) started in six of the last seven games at third base.

Padres

• Since Kim went on the IL, Tyler Wade started in three of four games at shortstop.

• Kyle Higashioka started at catcher in six of the last 10 games.

Phillies

• Brandon Marsh (vs RHP) and Weston Wilson (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.

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

Pirates

• With Hayes on the IL, Jared Triolo started six straight at third base.

• Michael A. Taylor (vs LHP) and Ji Hwan Bae (vs RHP) form a centerfield platoon.

Reds

• Santiago Espinal started in five straight games at three positions (DH, 2B, 3B).

• Amed Rosario has joined the right field rotation with Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild.

Rockies

• Jordan Beck started in eight straight games.

• Nolan Jones hit sixth or seventh since coming off the IL.





 

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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