Lineup Analysis (9/24/21)

American League

Angels

• Brandon Marsh has led off seven of the last eight games.

• Luis Rengifo (.261/.300/.391 over the past two weeks) has started 12 straight games.

• Phil Gosselin has started seven straight (.266/.322/.375 with 7 HR and 3 SB) while batting third or fourth.

• Jack Mayfield (.215/.278/.441 with 10 HR and 2 SB with the Angels) has started 23 straight games. Maybe a power-only option in deeper leagues.

Astros

• The outfield is messed up with Michael Brantley (knee) on the IL and Kyle Tucker as the DH (dealing with a shoulder injury). Right now Yordan Alvarez (.896 OPS), Jose Siri (1.008 OPS), Chas McCormick (.764 OPS), and Jake Mayers (.750 OPS) are splitting time in the outfield.

Athletics

• Chad Pinder (vs LHP) and Tony Kemp are in a second base platoon.

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

• When Yan Gomes (.188/.278/.406 over last 2 weeks) plays, he bats in the middle of the lineup.

Blue Jays

• Randal Grichuk (.720 OPS), Jarrod Dyson (.396 OPS), and Corey Dickerson (.753 OPS) are splitting time in centerfield.

• Third base remains a timeshare with Breyvic Valera (.684 OPS) and Jake Lamb (.547 OPS).

Guardians (maybe)

• It’s sort of a mess and tough to figure out who is playing when.

• Yu Chang (.687 OPS), Owen Miller (.551 OPS), and Andrés Giménez (.601 OPS) are splitting time at the two middle infield positions.

• Bobby Bradley (.802 OPS vs RHP, .759 vs LHP) is only starting against righties.

• Franmil Reyes finally played 10 games in the outfield. Because of the recent games in the outfield, Bradley Zimmer (.667 OPS), Oscar Mercado (.672 OPS), and Harold Ramirez (.705 OPS) have been sitting more.

Mariners

• Jarred Kelenic (.227/.333/.659 with 5 HR and 2 SB) is now hitting in the middle of the order.

• Jake Fraley (.824 OPS vs RHP, .517 OPS vs LHP) only faces righties.

• Dylan Moore (.308/.379/.500 over the last two weeks) has started six straight games.

Orioles

• It’s a little tough to figure out what is going on with some games at an NL park and Anthony Santander (hamstring) and Trey Mancini (abs) being hurt but not on the IL.

• Richie Martin (.250/.282/.313 with 0 HR and 0 SB) has started six straight games at shortstop.

• Kelvin Gutierrez (.198/.292/.245) has started seven straight at third base.

Rangers

• Andy Ibáñez (.266/.311/.410) has started six straight since coming off the IL while hitting in the middle of the lineup.

• Earlier in the season, Yonny Hernandez was in a platoon, but he has started against the last two lefties.

• Willie Calhoun (.259/.323/.379) has only started against one of the three lefty starters since coming off the IL.

Rays

• This team has so few regulars and with Nelson Cruz and Wander Franco being hurt, it’s tough to find any values.

• Yandy Díaz (.743 OPS,.859 OPS over the last 2 weeks) has started in 10 of the last 11 games.

Red Sox

• While batting ninth, José Iglesias (.378/.452/.622 with Boston) has started eight straight games at second base.

• Bobby Dalbec (.751 OPS vs RHP,.885 vs LHP) doesn’t always start against righties.

Royals

• Steady as it comes.

• Adalberto Mondesi (.266/.296/.521 with 6 HR and 13 SB) has settled into batting sixth.

Tigers

• The lineup’s first half is set, but the bottom half is different every day.

• While it has only been two games, Daz Cameron (.629 OPS) and Isaac Paredes (.697 OPS) have started both since being recalled.

• Niko Goodrum (.214/.293/.336 with 7 HR and 14 SB) has started 12 of 17 games since coming off the IL.

Twins

• Max Kepler (.810 OPS vs RHP, .535 OPS vs LHP, .906 OPS over the last two weeks) has started nine of the last 10 games, three against righties.

• Nick Gordon (.263/.317/.394 with 4 HR and 10 SB) has started in eight of the last nine games.

• Luis Arraez (.742 OPS vs RHP, .621 OPS vs LHP) is only playing against righties.

White Sox

• Even with Tim Anderson off the IL, Leury García (.706 OPS) has started in nine of ten games.

• Gavin Sheets is starting against all righties.

Yankees

• The lineup has stabilized with Luke Voit (.768 OPS) being the odd man out.

• Brett Gardner (.220/.329/.355 with 9 HR and 3 SB) has started eight straight games in center field.

National League

Braves

• Eddie Rosario (vs RHP) and Guillermo Heredia (vs LHP) are in an outfield platoon.

• Expect fewer RBI from Jorge Soler going forward since he’s now batting leadoff.

Brewers

• Since returning from the IL, Willy Adames (.264/.338/.476) is batting second.

• The outfield is a mess with Christian Yelich and Avisaíl García playing most of the time. Jace Peterson, Lorenzo Cain, and Tyrone Taylor are also sprinkled into the mix.

• Eduardo Escobar (.247/.327/.440) is now playing first base with Luis Urías (.249/.342/.440) taking over at third base.

Cardinals

• Set in stone with everyone back and healthy.

Cubs

• David Bote (vs LHP) and Matt Duffy (vs RHP) are in a second base platoon.

• Trayce Thompson (.167/.333/.667) has started three straight in right field.

• Nico Hoerner (.310/.388/.379) has started three straight at shortstop since coming off the IL.

Diamondbacks

• Another team that’s just a mess. Besides Josh Rojas and Ketel Marte, there are no regulars. No one really deserves much praise. After Rojas, Marte, and the two catchers (Kelly and Varsho), no hitter (min 50 PA) has an OPS over .733 (Peralta). As a team, they have a .690 OPS. Find talented hitters elsewhere.

Dodgers

• And yet another mess. Cody Bellinger (ribs) is on the IL, Chris Taylor (neck) is hurt, AJ Pollock is off the IL, and Gavin Lux (.702 OPS) and Luke Raley (.538 OPS) have been filling in.

Giants

• Just the normal four platoon (first base, second base, two outfield spots). The only issue is who will fill the Darin Ruf 러프’s (oblique) short side of an outfield platoon since he’s on the IL.

Marlins

• The lineup has stabilized with Lewin Díaz (.732 OPS) at first base and Eddy Alvarez (.635 OPS) at third.

Mets

• Jonathan Villar (.398 OPS over the last two weeks) has been dropped from the leadoff spot with J.D. Davis getting two starts at third base, one against a lefty.

• Kevin Pillar (.691 OPS vs LHP, .673 OPS vs RHP) always starts against lefties but who he replaces seems random.

Nationals

• It has been stable for weeks. Yadiel Hernandez is the only “regular” who isn’t regularly starting (started seven of the last 10).

Padres

• Yet another mess to figure out. With everyone healthy, there are no regulars beyond Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Trent Grisham, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Adam Frazier, Jurickson Profar, and Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 are sitting the most.

Phillies

• Freddy Galvis (.249/.311/.417) has started nine straight games.

• Matt Vierling (.802 OPS) and Brad Miller (.783 OPS) along with J.T. Realmuto are splitting time at first base.

Pirates

• Anthony Alford (.709 OPS), Yoshi Tsutsugo (.741 OPS), and Ben Gamel (.746 OPS) are sharing two outfield spots.

• Hoy Park has started in six of the last seven games after hitting .231/.400/.423 over the last two weeks. Part of his value comes from taking a walk before the pitcher hits.

Reds

• It was steady with just the third base platoon, but everything is now different with Mike Moustakas, Tyler Naquin, Jesse Winker, and Shogo Akiyama hurt. Max Schrock (.833 OPS), TJ Friedl (7 PA), Delino DeShields (.627 OPS), Aristides Aquino (.681 OPS), and Jose Barrero (.452 OPS) have all played in the outfield over the last four games.

Rockies

• Garrett Hampson got dropped from the leadoff spot after hitting .158/.273/.211 over the past week.

• Sam Hilliard (.943 vs LHP) sits against lefties.