Lineup Analysis (9/20/24)

Note: With just one week left, I’m going to be more focused on guys to use or not use for next week. Matchups will matter more.

American League

Angels

• Jordyn Adams with eight straight outfield starts.

• Eric Wagaman with eight straight third base starts.

• Gustavo Campero started four straight in right field.

Astros

• Mauricio Dubón with eight straight starts all over the field.

Athletics

• No actionable changes.

Blue Jays

• Ernie Clement still sees regular playing time.

• The team is scheduled to face all righties next week so strong-side platoon bats Spencer Horwitz and Nathan Lukes are options.

Guardians

• The team only has five games next week so managers might look elsewhere for volume.

• Angel Martínez started six straight while hitting leadoff.

• Brayan Rocchio with eight straight starts at shortstop.

• Kyle Manzardo’s playing time is all over the place with only three starts in the last six games.

Mariners

• No changes.

Orioles

• With five righties scheduled for next week, strong-side platoon bats like Ryan O’Hearn and Heston Kjerstad are deeper league options.

• Jackson Holliday has started only twice in the last five games (4.08 OPS in August).

Rangers

• Nothing actionable. They have four righties and two lefties on the schedule so Leody Taveras (strong-side platoon bat) is not startable.

Rays

• Probably the best option when dealing with the Rays is to ignore them. It seems like once a player gets established, they head to the bench. For example, Jonny DeLuca started nine straight games but right after that, it was a four in eight stretch.

Red Sox

• Ceddanne Rafaela (.441 OPS in last 28 days) is back to playing more with eight starts in the previous 10 games.

Royals

• The team has four lefties on the schedule for next week so there is a chance for some Robbie Grossman and Maikel Garcia.

Tigers

• Trey Sweeney started in 10 straight games.

• Jace Jung started just twice in the last six games.

• Yuli Gurriel (.916 OPS, .445 BABIP) with four straight starts at first base.

Twins

• I’m not sure who to roster here with just about everyone getting moved around the order and/or to the bench. This includes Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa.

• Willi Castro must be on someone’s good side with eight straight starts.

White Sox

• The team faces three righties and three lefties next week so none of the platoon bats are rosterable.

• Lenyn Sosa started in 13 of the last 14 games.

Yankees

• Jasson Domínguez (.628 OPS) started five straight games.

• Only one of Alex Verdugo and Giancarlo Stanton starts each game.

National League

Braves

• Two items to watch here over the weekend. First, how does having Ozzie Albies off the IL change the playing time of Whit Merrifield and Gio Urshela? Also, Ramón Laureano started four straight games including one against a lefty. He might be getting a full-time run.

Brewers

• Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, and Garrett Mitchell share two outfield spots. Good luck guessing who plays when.

• Jake Bauers (vs RHP) and Gary Sánchez (vs LHP) form a DH platoon. I’m not sure either is worth rostering with four righties and two lefties on the schedule.

Cardinals

• No changes with Thomas Saggese (.407 OPS) only starting in one of the last four games.

Cubs

• No changes.

Diamondbacks

• Pavin Smith continues to get regular at-bats.

Dodgers

• With Miguel Rojas banged up, Andy Pages plays with Tommy Edman moving from center field to shortstop.

Giants

• The team still uses platoons and has five righties and one lefty on the schedule next week. Besides Tyler Fitzgerald, Grant McCray, and Heliot Ramos, there isn’t anyone worth rostering.

• One exception might be Donovan Walton who started in five of six games versus righties and lefties.

Marlins

• Griffin Conine (vs RHP) and Javier Sanoja (vs LHP) form an outfield platoon. The Marlins are scheduled to only face righties next week so Conine might be worth an add. In the leagues where he’s available, Jesús Sánchez is a nice option with all the righties.

Mets

• Jose Iglesias hit leadoff for four straight games.

• Luisangel Acuña with three straight starts while batting ninth.

• Tyrone Taylor with six starts in seven games. Jesse Winker and Harrison Bader split the other outfield spot.

Nationals

• A decent lineup with lowly rostered regulars. Even Juan Yepez saw four straight starts and started in five of six.

Padres

• No changes.

• Donovan Solano isn’t playing enough to be added.

Phillies

• Cal Stevenson and Johan Rojas split time in center field making both unrosterable.

Pirates

• Nick Yorke, normally a shortstop, with four straight starts including games at third base and left field.

• Don’t count on Bryan De La Cruz for at-bats. He played about half the time before Oneil Cruz got hurt.

Reds

• The team only has five games next week so managers might look elsewhere for volume.

• Noelvi Marte has started in seven straight games and is hitting .290/.371/.355 (0 HR, 3 SB) over the last two weeks.

Rockies

• All of Colorado’s games are at home next week, so any regular is in play. The only two guys who have seen a recent playing time boost are Jordan Beck (started in eight of the last 10) and Hunter Goodman (started in eight of the last ten and i catcher qualified).

• I’m not sure Nolan Jones (started in five of the last 10) and Charlie Blackmon (started in three of the last seven) are worth adding.