Lineup Analysis (9/10/21)

American League

Angels

• Luis Rengifo has started three of the last four games at shortstop. He is hitting .250/.308/.500 since being recalled.

• Jo Adell is up to batting fifth after hitting .297/.366/.568 with 3 HR and 1 SB over the last two weeks.

Astros

• In the six games since Chas McCormick (.767 OPS) has been off the IL, he’s started in two games while Jake Meyers (.816 OPS) has only started in three games.

Athletics

• Josh Harrison has leadoff for 11 straight games.

• Jed Lowrie (vs RHP) and Khris Davis (vs LHP) are in a DH platoon.

• Tony Kemp (vs RHP) and Chad Pinder (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

Blue Jays

• Corey Dickerson (vs RHP) and Randal Grichuk (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Alejandro Kirk has taken over the main catching duties and started nine of the last 12 games. He’s also been hitting anywhere from fourth to sixth in the lineup.

• Over the last five games, Kevin Smith (.382 OPS), Jake Lamb (.688 OPS), and Breyvic Valera (.652 OPS) have started at third base.

Guardians (maybe)

• Yu Change (vs LHP) and Bobby Bradley (vs RHP) are in a first base platoon.

• Andrés Giménez (.573 OPS, .729 OPS over the last month) and Owen Miller (.554 OPS) are splitting time at second base with Gimenez always sitting against a lefty.

• Harold Ramirez (.707 OPS), Bradley Zimmer (.690 OPS), Daniel Johnson (.636 OPS), and Oscar Mercado (.670 OPS) are sharing two outfield spots. The outfield is so crowded that even Myles Straw (.698 OPS) has sat twice in the last four games.

Mariners

• Jarred Kelenic has started 18 straight games while hitting (.203/.234/.324) during that time.

• José Marmolejos (.582 OPS) is starting against most righties at either DH or in the outfield.

Orioles

• Since being called up, Jahmai Jones (.167/.200/.229, 34% K%, 2% BB%) has started 13 of 16 games.

• Kelvin Gutierrez (.532 OPS) has been playing third base with Ramón Urías (leg) hurt.

Rangers

• Leody Taveras (.447 OPS) has leadoff in five of the last seven games.

• Yonny Hernandez (vs RHP) and Charlie Culberson (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• Nick Solak has started 16 of 17 games at second base since being recalled. During that time, he’s hitting .328/.379/.475 with two home runs and two stolen bases.

• DJ Peters (.209/.234/.450) is now batting cleanup.

Rays

• Against three of the last five lefties, Brandon Lowe has sat.

• Yandy Díaz has started in nine of the last ten games. He has lowered his groundball rate (56% in 1H, 48% in 2H) with his ISO going from .082 to .191. He might sit more with Ji-Man Choi off the IL.

• Nelson Cruz, Wander Franco, and Randy Arozarena are the only regulars.

Red Sox

• What a nightmare with all the players going to and returning from the COVID-IL.

• Hunter Renfroe (.267/.322/.515) is hitting in the top half of the lineup.

• Jonathan Araúz (.643 OPS) has started nine straight games, batting ninth in all of them.

Royals

• Three lineup spots are up for grabs every game with Adalberto Mondesi, Hanser Alberto, Hunter Dozier, Ryan O’Hearn, and Edward Olivares all battling for them.

Tigers

• The lineup has been mixed up because the last six games have been in an NL park.

• Akil Baddoo (vs RHP) and Willi Castro (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Eric Haase has started in 10 of the 13 games since coming off the IL with one start at each leftfield and DH.

Twins

• Luis Arraez (vs RHP) and Willians Astudillo (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• Brent Rooker (vs LHP) and Max Kepler are in an outfield platoon.

• Since coming off the IL, Byron Buxton is hitting .133/.161/.267 with no stolen base attempts.

White Sox

• Yoán Moncada has sat against three straight lefty starters with the recently promoted prospect, Romy Gonzalez, starting the last two times Moncada sat.

• Leury García (vs RHP) and Danny Mendick (vs LHP) are in a shortstop platoon.

• Andrew Vaughn is hitting .147/.238/.227 over the last month and has sat twice in the last seven games.

Yankees

• It’s been all over the place with hitters struggling and injuries.

• Brett Gardner (.233/.343/.333 over the last two weeks) has leadoff for the last two games.

• Gleyber Torres (.665 OPS) and Andrew Velazquez (.621 OPS) are splitting time at shortstop.

National League

Braves

• Adam Duvall has moved up to hitting fifth with Dansby Swanson headed down.

• Joc Pederson (.720 OPS) and Eddie Rosario (.705 OPS) are splitting time with one outfield spot.

Brewers

• Lorenzo Cain has been productive over the last two weeks (.310/.444/.586 with 2 HR and 2 SB) but only plays for two to three games before getting a day off.

• Luis Urías (.249/.339/.442 with 19 HR and 5 SB) has started seven straight games with Willy Adames on the IL.

Cardinals

• The lineup was steady for months but has changed over the last couple of days. Lars Nootbaar has started two straight in right field and Paul DeJong is back to playing some shortstop even though Edmundo Sosa is hitting .359/.434/.547 over the last month.

Cubs

• Rafael Ortega was just starting against righties but with Michael Hermosillo out for the season, Ortega started against a lefty (Friday).

• Jason Heyward (vs RHP) and Alfonso Rivas (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

Diamondbacks

• Pavin Smith (vs RHP) and Christian Walker (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon. A few times Walker has started against a righty.

• David Peralta doesn’t start against lefties with some random Joe starting when Peralta doesn’t.

• Josh VanMeter (vs RHP) and Drew Ellis (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

Dodgers

• Cody Bellinger (.057/.083/.057 over the past two weeks) is back to playing every day with AJ Pollock on the IL.

Giants

• With everyone healthy, the lineups are starting to mimic the Rays with it tough to figure out what is going one

• All the outfielders are in platoons. LaMonte Wade Jr., Mike Yastrzemski, and Steven Duggar face the righties. Austin Slater, Darin Ruf 러프, and Mauricio Dubón against lefties.

Marlins

• Bryan De La Cruz is hitting in the heart of the lineup after batting .331/.379/.463 on the season.

• Isan Díaz (.192/.290/.286) has started seven of eight at third base.

• Jesús Sánchez has started 20 of 21 since coming off the IL while hitting (.186/.288/.400) during that time.

• The once hot Lewis Brinson has hit .164/.233/.239 over the past month.

Mets

• The team has two extra players who should be regulars, but there are not enough lineup spots for everyone. For this reason, everyone but Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto sit at least once a week.

• Kevin Pillar is playing centerfield with Brandon Nimmo on the IL.

Nationals

• Yadiel Hernandez is forcing himself into the lineup by hitting .275/.336/.436 with 8 HR and 3 SB. On Tuesday, he even started against a lefty.

• Luis Garcia has started 38 straight games while hitting .238/.277/.415 on the season.

Padres

• Trent Grisham (vs RHP) and Tommy Pham (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Eric Hosmer (vs RHP) and Jurickson Profar (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon.

• Adam Frazier (.776 OPS) and Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 (.603 OPS) are splitting time at second base.

Phillies

• What a mess. Jean Segura, Bryce Harper, and Andrew McCutchen are the only regulars.

• Odúbel Herrera is sitting against lefties.

• Didi Gregorius and Ronald Torreyes are losing time to Freddy Galvis.

Pirates

• Another mess with just a couple of full-time players.

• Kevin Newman (.566 OPS), Cole Tucker (.458 OPS), Hoy Park (.522 OPS), and Wilmer Difo (.717 OPS) are splitting time at second base and shortstop.

• Ben Gamel (.735 OPS), Yoshi Tsutsugo (.898 OPS), and Anthony Alford (.652 OPS) are sharing two outfield spots.

Reds

• Tyler Naquin (vs RHP) and Delino DeShields (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

• With Jesse Winker on the IL, Max Schrock (vs RHP) and Aristides Aquino (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Rockies

• There probably are some platoons, but it’s tough to tell with 14 games between facing left-handed starters.