Lineup Analysis (8/4/23)

by
August 4, 2023

American League

Angels

• C.J. Cron started four straight at 1B while hitting third (all against righties).

• Randal Grichuk also started four straight since the trade while batting from 5th to 7th.

Astros

• Corey Julks is losing playing time having started in just five of the last eight games.

• Yainer Diaz started in six of the last 10 games.

Athletics

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• I hate trying to figure out what is going on here.

• Jordan Diaz started three straight at third base.

• Tyler Soderstrom has five games at catcher.

Blue Jays

• Whit Merrifield is now leading off.

• Paul DeJong started two straight at second base since being traded to the team.

Guardians

• David Fry started two in a row with Josh Naylor hurt.

• Brayan Rocchio has been called up and played third base.

• Since being recalled, Oscar Gonzalez started in four of six games.

Mariners

• Dominic Canzone started each game since being traded from Arizona.

• Cade Marlowe started in eight of the last 10 games.

Orioles

• Adam Frazier (vs RHP) and Jordan Westburg (vs LHP) are in a second-base platoon.

• Ryan O’Hearn doesn’t start against lefties.

Rangers

• Mitch Garver started eight straight games.

Rays

• Brandon Lowe started against the last lefty.

• Isaac Paredes started 11 straight games at third base.

Red Sox

• Steady with the infield waiting for Trevor Story’s return.

Royals

• Michael Massey starts against all righties.

• Besides MJ Melendez, the outfield is a mess making all of them unrosterable.

Tigers

• Steady.

• Andy Ibáñez starts only against lefties.

Twins

• Willi Castro seems to be on a short-side platoon with Max Kepler.

• Matt Wallner with 14 straight starts.

White Sox

• Since coming off the IL, Yoán Moncada started in seven of eight games. In the last three, he hit second.

• Oscar Colás has started in 10 straight games.

• Seby Zavala started at catcher in eight of the last 10 games.

Yankees

• Jake Bauers started four straight games.

National League

Braves

• Steady.

Brewers

• Sal Frelick sits against lefties.

• Mark Canha started three straight since being traded, two games as the designated hitter.

• More changes could be coming with Brian Anderson about to come off the IL.

Cardinals

• A mess with several AAAA talents in timeshares.

• Alec Burleson started in three of four games at first and DH.

Cubs

• Jeimer Candelario started every game since being traded with two being at first base.

• Nick Madrigal (vs RHP) and Patrick Wisdom (vs LHP) are platooning.

Diamondbacks

• Playing time will be interesting with Tommy Pham in the mix and just one lineup so far. Also, Jace Peterson could steal third base at-bats.

Dodgers

• Miguel Rojas continues to start (eight straight) even with the new additions.

• Enrique Hernández and Chris Taylor started three straight, all against a lefty and with J.D. Martinez hurt.

Giants

• No changes.

Marlins

• Josh Bell bats third.

• Jake Burger bats in the fifth or sixth spot so far.

• Avisaíl García came off the IL and hit fifth in two of three games.

Mets

• Rafael Ortega started three straight after the team traded away their outfield.

• Also, Mark Vientos started three straight at first base or DH.

Nationals

• Jake Alu started two games at third base since Candelario was traded away.

• Blake Rutherford (vs RHP) and Stone Garrett (vs LHP) might be in a left-field platoon.

Padres

• No changes yet.

Phillies

• Johan Rojas has started in four of the last five games.

Pirates

• Connor Joe (vs LHP) and Alfonso Rivas (vs RHP) might be in a first-base platoon.

• Alika Williams started three straight at shortstop.

• Liover Peguero (vs RHP) and Nick Gonzales (vs LHP) might be in a platoon.

Reds

• Nick Senzel and Stuart Fairchild start only against lefties while Jake Fraley sits.

Rockies

• Brendan Rodgers has hit fourth and fifth since coming off the IL.

• Elehuris Montero and Michael Toglia started three straight games since the team traded away C.J. Cron.





 

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.

2 Comments
Oldest
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JimMember since 2016
3 years ago

DeJong plays SS.

0
dannyrockMember since 2017
3 years ago

Jake Bauers has been leading off for the Yankees. This seems noteworthy.

0