Lineup Analysis (9/16/22)

Note: All the lineups were based on games through Thursday. No Friday starts were considered. 

American League

Angels

• Catcher-qualified Matt Thaiss (.308/.444/.752 and 2 HR in 39 PA) has started in five of the last seven games.

• Matt Duffy (.589 OPS) has started in 11 of the last 13 games.

Astros

• Chas McCormick (.723 OPS) starts two games in center and then Mauricio Dubón (.584 OPS) starts one.

Athletics

• The only rosterable players are Ramón Laureano, Sean Murphy, and Seth Brown (when he’s facing a bunch of righties).

Blue Jays

• Santiago Espinal, Cavan Biggio, and Whit Merrifield are splitting time at second base.

Guardians

• Nothing actionable.

Mariners

• Another lineup without any changes.

• Sam Haggerty (.807 OPS, 5 HR, 12 SB, 157 PA) had a run of four straight starts but it coincides with Mitch Haniger getting hurt.

Orioles

• Cedric Mullins (.812 OPS vs RHP, .554 OPS vs LHP) is still sitting against lefties. Jesús Aguilar starts instead by moving guys around the DH position.

• Gunnar Henderson (.890 OPS, 1 HR, 1 SB) has started in 13 of the last 14 games.

Rangers

• Josh Smith (.563 OPS) has been promoted and has started in five of the last seven games, four in left field.

Rays

• Wander Franco has started in seven of eight games since coming off the IL while hitting .276/.276/.345 during that time.

Red Sox

• Triston Casas (.579 OPS) and Christian Arroyo (.737 OPS) are splitting time at first base.

• Connor Wong (.250/.321/.458, 1 HR in 29 PA) has started in five of the last 10 games at catcher.

Royals

• The bottom four spots are just several guys cycling through with no one getting enough time to fantasy relevant.

Tigers

• Such a mess. It is tough to find full-time hitters in this lineup. Harold Castro, Riley Greene, and Javier Báez are the only regulars.

Twins

• Luis Arraez does not start against lefties (.686 OPS vs LHP, .846 OPS vs RHP).

• Nick Gordon has started in 18 straight games and is hitting .271/.314/.396 in September.

• Gio Urshela (.273/.322/.425, 12 HR, 1 SB) has started 24 straight games.

White Sox

• AJ Pollock, Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, and Luis Robert are sharing four outfield spots.

Yankees

• Oswaldo Cabrera (.523 OPS) has started nine of 10 games and has hit fifth for four straight games.

• Marwin Gonzalez (.596 OPS) has started eight of nine games at first base with Anthony Rizzo on the IL.

National League

Braves

• With second baseman Ozzie Albies off the IL, Vaughn Grissom will need a position, especially with Ronald Acuña Jr. as the primary DH.

• Eddie Rosario (.575 OPS) and Marcell Ozuna (.664 OPS) are splitting time in left field.

Brewers

• Garrett Mitchell (.518 OPS) and Tyrone Taylor (.717 OPS) are splitting time in center field.

• Kolten Wong (vs RHP) and Luis Urías (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Jace Peterson (vs RHP) and Mike Brosseau (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

Cardinals

• Lars Nootbaar (.778 OPS, 12 HR, 4 SB) has dropped down the lineup and only started in five of the last seven games.

• Albert Pujols (.854 OPS, 18 HR) has started five straight games, all against righties.

• Brendan Donovan (.771 OPS, 4 HR, 2 SB) has leadoff for six of the last seven games.

Cubs

• An absolute mess trying to find full-time batters.

Diamondbacks

• Stone Garrett (1.030 OPS) is still only facing lefties while Corbin Carroll is just facing righties.

• Josh Rojas (vs RHP) and Emmanuel Rivera (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

Dodgers

• Steady.

Giants

• David Villar is no longer getting full-time at-bats with the promotion of Willie Calhoun. Calhoun is only facing righties.

Marlins

• Jordan Groshans (.266/.364/.334, 3 HR, 3 SB in 412 AAA PA) has started three straight at third base.

• Bryan De La Cruz (.214/.261/.359 with 9 HR and 3 SB in 283 PA) has started four straight in the outfield.

Mets

• Top prospect, Mark Vientos (.877 OPS with 24 HR in AAA) is only starting against lefties.

• Luis Guillorme is back and might start cutting into Eduardo Escobar’s production.

Nationals

• Alex Call (.236/.288/.455 with 3 HR and 1 SB in 59 PA) has started in seven of the last eight games.

• CJ Abrams (.311/.311/.400 with 0 HR and 1 SB in September) has started in 11 of the last 12 games.

Padres

• Brandon Drury is off the IL, so Wil Myers will likely get moved to the bench.

Phillies

• Nick Maton (1.079 OPS and 5 HR in 63 PA) has started in four of the last five games. He might just be on the strong side of a platoon.

Pirates

• The two outfield slots and the DH are being filled by five players (Ben Gamel, Cal Mitchell, Jack Suwinski, Greg Allen, and Diego Castillo)

Reds

• Aristides Aquino has started 11 straight games while hitting .311/.367/.756 with 5 HR in September.

• There are too many infield regulars with two of Jonathan India, Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano, Spencer Steer, Jose Barrero, and Matt Reynolds needing to sit each game.

Rockies

• Michael Toglia (.220/.278/.460, 2 HR) is the latest Rockie to get a nice run of starts (14 straight) but I’m sure that will end for no reason in the next week.

• Alan Trejo (.265/.306/.456 and 3 HR) has started eight of the last nine games at shortstop.