Lineup Analysis (8/31/24)
American League
Angels
• Niko Kavadas (DH) only starts against righties.
• Mickey Moniak mainly starts in center field with Kevin Pillar starting about a third of the time.
Astros
• Ben Gamel started in seven of eight games, all against righties.
• Zach Dezenzo started in just three of the last 10 games.
• Shay Whitcomb started in one of the last six games.
Athletics
• With Andujar on the IL, Daz Cameron started in four straight.
• Jacob Wilson started two of three games at shortstop since coming off the IL with Max Schuemann moving to third base.
Blue Jays
• Addison Barger started in 12 of 13 games with the last four at third base.
• Joey Loperfido started in 12 of the last 13 games.
Guardians
• With Fry playing more (four of the last five), the outfield is crowded with Jhonkensy Noel, Will Brennan, Lane Thomas (toting just a 31 wRC+ w/CLE) mainly fighting over two spots. Daniel Schneemann and Tyler Freeman sneak in a few outfield starts. Also, the pair fights for shortstop starts with Brayan Rocchio.
Mariners
• Since returning from the IL, J.P. Crawford leads off.
• Dylan Moore and Josh Rojas split time at third base.
• Justin Turner, Mitch Haniger, and Luke Raley split time at first base and DH.
Orioles
• Steady with the only movement being Ryan O’Hearn (vs RHP) and Emmanuel Rivera (vs LHP) in a first base platoon with Mountcastle on the IL.
Rangers
• Josh Smith (vs RHP) and Ezequiel Duran (vs LHP) are in a platoon.
• Leody Taveras sat against the last eight lefties starters.
Rays
• Junior Caminero now hits third.
• Dylan Carlson started in only five of the last 10 games.
Red Sox
• Because of injuries (Hamilton and Devers), Mickey Gasper, Romy Gonzalez, and Nick Sogard have seen time in the infield.
Royals
• A consistent mess with changes coming because of the Vinnie Pasquantino injury. I guess that Paul DeJong will move up to a premium lineup spot and play every game.
• MJ Melendez might be out of his platoon after two straight starts against lefties.
Tigers
• Trey Sweeney has only started against righties so he’s likely in a shortstop platoon with Ryan Kreidler facing lefties.
Twins
• Matt Wallner started in seven straight games including the last two lefties (.792 OPS).
• Jose Miranda started in only six of the last 10 games.
White Sox
• Dominic Fletcher (.559 OPS, 0 HR, 0 SB) started in 14 straight games.
• Miguel Vargas started in only seven of ten games.
Yankees
• Steady with first base (DJ LeMahieu and Ben Rice) being the only timeshare.
National League
Braves
• Whit Merrifield leads off and Jorge Soler bats second.
• Luke Williams started the last two games at third base.
Brewers
• Garrett Mitchell started only twice in the last six games with Blake Perkins starting in all six.
Cardinals
• Luken Baker started three straight games at DH.
• Alec Burleson is no longer in a platoon.
Cubs
• No changes.
Diamondbacks
• Adrian Del Castillo doesn’t start against lefties.
• Kevin Newman (vs LHP) and Luis Guillorme (vs RHP) are in a second base platoon.
Dodgers
• Either Gavin Lux and Max Muncy sit against lefties with Chris Taylor starting instead.
• Kevin Kiermaier (vs RHP) and Miguel Rojas (vs LHP) form a platoon with Tommy Edman moving between second base and the outfield.
Giants
• Grant McCray started 13 straight games in the outfield.
Marlins
• Connor Norby hit leadoff for six straight games.
• Griffin Conine started three straight in right field.
• Vidal Bruján with five starts in six games at shortstop.
Mets
• Since returning from the IL, Starling Marte started in eight of 11 games (no more than three in a row). Marte is splitting one of two outfield spots with Jesse Winker, Harrison Bader, and Tyrone Taylor.
• Jeff McNeil and Jose Iglesias split time at second base.
Nationals
• Joey Gallo (vs RHP) and Juan Yepez (vs LHP) are in a platoon.
• In his first three starts, Dylan Crews hit at the top of the lineup against the lefties and seventh against the righty.
• Andrés Chaparro started in 14 of 15 games so far.
Padres
• Mason McCoy (.697 OPS) started in seven of eight games at shortstop with Kim on the IL.
Phillies
• Austin Hays started in six of seven games.
Pirates
• Too many healthy, below-average bats on the MLB roster. Just a few guys get full-time at-bats.
Reds
• Santiago Espinal (.702 OPS) with 11 straight starts.
• Dominic Smith only starts against righties. Amed Rosario and Ty France split time against righties but start against lefties.
Rockies
• Over the last two games (both vs RHP), Sam Hilliard, Jordan Beck, Nolan Jones, and Jake Cave have each started in a corner outfield spot. Jones might be the only regular out of the group because he slots into the DH quite a bit.
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.
Rojas and Edman play mainly SS, not 2B. That’s Lux.