Lineup Analysis (9/12/20)

American League

Angels

• Matt Thaiss (.566 OPS) has started three straight games while hitting second.
• Andrelton Simmons is batting leadoff since returning from the IL.
• Luis Rengifo (.461) and Franklin Barreto (.284 OPS) aren’t playing enough to matter.

Astros

• With Jose Altuve out, Aledmys Díaz has been playing second base. He’s hitting at the bottom of the lineup against righties but bats second against lefties.

Athletics

• Tommy La Stella has led off for six straight games.
• With Matt Chapman on the IL (and now out for the season), Vimael Machín (.205/.300/.227) has inserted himself into the lineup.

Blue Jays

• Even with Bo Bichette out, Jonathan Villar (.626 OPS, 9 SB, 0 SB with Buffalo) has been moving down the lineup.
• Rowdy Tellez was batting third or fourth before hitting the IL.
• Travis Shaw is hitting higher in the lineup against righties after going on a two-week heater (.326/.396/.535).

Indians

• In left field, Josh Naylor (vs RHP) and Jordan Luplow (vs LHP) are in a platoon.
• In right field, Tyler Naquin (vs RHP) and Oscar Mercado (vs LHP) are in a platoon.

Mariners

• Ty France (.875 OPS, 2 HR, 0 SB) is regularly batting fifth.
• Phillip Ervin (.497 OPS) is starting to steal time from José Marmolejos (.711 OPS).

Orioles

• DJ Stewart is forcing himself into the top of the Orioles lineup by crushing the ball and getting on base (.267/.488/.767, 5 HR).
• Pat Valaika (.269/.309/.471) has started six of the last seven days playing all over the field (17 SS, 10, 1B, 9 2B, 4 3B, 4 OF).
• Ryan Mountcastle (.383/.441/.633) is on fire (55% owned in CBS leagues).

Rangers

• Leody Taveras (.224/.318/.414, 2 HR, 3 SB) continues to lead off.
• Ronald Guzmán (.903 OPS) continues to be the everyday first baseman.
• In a small sample (28 PA), Anderson Tejeda has been lights out (.259/.286/.593, 2 HR, 3 SB)

Rays

• I get sick every time I try figuring out what is going on here, especially with both Lowes. There might be a versus left and right-handed pitcher lineup.
• The only guys playing every day are Austin Meadows and Willy Adames.

Red Sox

• The bottom of the lineup is in constant flux.
• Bobby Dalbec has been an all-or-nothing power hitter (67% HR/FB%, 49% K%) so far in the majors while playing first base every day.

Royals

• Adalberto Mondesi is now batting second … so he must have heated up … let see what the splits say: a .546 OPS over the last 14 days. I guess that’s better than the .490 OPS he was rocking before the “heater”.
• Edward Olivares has great since being traded to the Royals (.387/.387/.677, 31 PA).
• For some reason that is beyond stupid, Matt Reynolds (29-years-old, career .605 OPS) is back in the league and playing every day.

Tigers

• An extremely steady top half of the lineup while trying to work in Daz Cameron (.100 OPS, 10 PA) and Isaac Paredes (.478 OPS, 59 PA) in the bottom half.

Twins

• It is normally is a steady lineup, but some nagging injuries have it in flux.
• Brent Rooker is filling in for Max Kepler in right field and is hitting OK (.278/.316/.500).

White Sox

• The lineup order changes just a bit depending on the pitcher handedness but it’s the same hitters .
• Nick Madrigal continues to hit like Nick Madrigal (.380/.404/.420).

Yankees

• It’s the same second-division lineup every night.

National League

Braves

• I’m not sure why but Dansby Swanson (.875 OPS) has moved down to fifth in the lineup.
• Ozzie Albies (.548) is hitting at the lineup’s end since returning from the IL.

Brewers

• Ben Gamel (.723 OPS) is leading off when there is a righty starter.
• Luis Urías (.286/.355/.357) is playing third base on a regular basis.

Cardinals

• Matt Carpenter (vs RHP) is now in a platoon with Rangel Ravelo (vs LHP).

Cubs

• Since Kris Bryant has returned from the IL, David Bote (.743 OPS) continues to play and has started five of the last six.

Diamondbacks

• Josh Rojas (.200/.256/.200, 1 SB) is playing every day and leading off against righties.
• Catcher-qualified Daulton Varsho is playing all over the field but barely hitting (.564 OPS, 2 HR, 1 SB).

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor (.760 OPS) has started in nine of the last 10 games.
• AJ Pollock has remained healthy, started 14 of the last 15 while hitting, and is crushing the ball (.289/.327/.530, 9 HR, 2 SB).

Giants

• While the order changes depending on the starter’s handedness, it’s the same nine hitters all the time.

Marlins

• With almost everyone back (Jon Berti on IL), the lineup consists of the same players besides Matt Joyce sitting against lefties.

Mets

• Andrés Giménez (.767 OPS, 2 HR, 7 SB) has started six straight games with Amed Rosario (.583 OPS, 3 HR, 0 SB) heading to the bench.
• Brandon Nimmo sits against left-handed pitching with a varied cast of characters replacing him.
• Dominic Smith and Robinson Canó have sat against two of the last four lefties. They aren’t droppable but lack of playing time can chip away at their value.

Nationals

• The lineup changed around with Victor Robles (.277/.333/.319, 2 SB over the last two weeks) now leading off.
• Carter Kieboom has started five straight and has struggled during the promotion (.508 OPS).
• With Howie Kendrick hurt, Eric Thames 테임즈 (vs RHP) and Josh Harrison (vs LHP) are in a platoon. When he plays, Harrison has been good (.292/.357/.521, 3 HR, 1 SB).

Padres

• The lineup contains the steady cast of characters, except the DH spot rotates through several guys with Eric Hosmer hurt.

Phillies

• The lineup is consistent except for one outfield spot that is a rotation of Adam Haseley, Kyle Garlick, and Phil Gosselin.

Pirates

• A pathetic bunch.
• Two of the team’s three best hitters, Ke’Bryan Hayes (1.074 OPS, 1 HR) and Jacob Stallings, are hitting seventh and ninth.

Reds

• They continue to regularly run out Jose Garcia and his .337 OPS.
• Aristides Aquino has been playing more with a surprising slash line of .222/.417/.278. In a longer season, I’d love to see how the new plate discipline plays out, but not with just two weeks left.

Rockies

• Kevin Pillar has settled into the center field job and is batting fifth (.597 OPS with the Rockies).
• Charlie Blackmon has fallen hard after his hot start. In the first 21 games, he was hitting .446/.489/.663. In the last 21, it has been just .203/.267/.304.
• Daniel Murphy (.643 OPS) has started in only three of the last seven games.
• Garrett Hampson (.771 OPS) has started in seven of the last eight games.