Lineup Analysis (9/5/20)

by
September 5, 2020

Here is a quick look at some of the post-deadline trade lineups. Fantasy managers will need to dive in again on Sunday to see if any additional trends develop.

American League

Angels

Astros

  • A steady lineup with Kyle Tucker slotting into the sixth spot.
  • Several players are rotating through Alex Bregman’s third base slot.

Athletics

  • It was set but Tommy La Stella (just traded for) hit second in his first game back. He might drop down later since it was also the first game with Marcus Semien out with an injury.

Blue Jays

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Indians

Mariners

  • Too many trades and no games leads to one huge information void.

Orioles

Rangers

Rays

  • Constantly unpredictable.
  • Brandon Lowe has sat two of the last four games after struggling (.108/.250/.270) over the past two weeks.
  • Joey Wendle (.257/.318/.416, 2 HR, 2 SB) has joined Austin Meadows and Willy Adames as the only regulars after starting 12 of the last 13 games.

Red Sox

Royals

Tigers

Twins

White Sox

Yankees

  • So many injuries have the lineup always changing.
  • Clint Frazier (.273/.394/.564) is batting cleanup.
  • Tyler Wade is playing shortstop and batting ninth.

National League

Braves

  • Over the last week or so, Nick Markakis (.899) and Adam Duvall (.816 OPS) have been fixtures in the corner outfield spots.
  • Travis d’Arnaud has taken over most of the catching duties while hitting .322/.355/.517.
  • The Braves have faced 24 straight right-handed starters, so it’s tough to know if there are any platoons.

Brewers

  • A mess and getting worse with the signing of Dan Vogelbach and release of Justin Smoak.
  • I think management is just moving around the lineup to find anything that works. As a whole, the team has a .683 OPS on the season.
  • Luis Urías (.666 OPS) was leading off for a while but now it is Ben Gamel (.715 OPS).

Cardinals

Cubs

Diamondbacks

  • Josh Rojas now starting at second and hitting a .583 OPS so far.
  • Tim Locastro (.733 OPS) is starting against lefties and one of the other outfielders sits for him.

Dodgers

  • Chris Taylor (.757 OPS) has started four straight in the outfield.
  • They don’t have a designated DH and just rotate all the regulars through for a rest.

Giants

  • While not a great lineup, it has become steady over the last couple of weeks.
  • Evan Longoria (.308/.344/.487) and Brandon Belt (.333/.420/.621) are back to hitting third and fourth.

Marlins

Mets

  • It seems like there is a new lineup each night but it’s the same players just in a new order.
  • The big trade deadline addition was Todd Frazier (.736 OPS) who is starting against lefties.

Nationals

Padres

  • After making several trades, the lineup spots cleared up.
  • Mitch Moreland is playing every day, even against lefties.
  • Jurickson Profar (.714 OPS) still has a set spot in the outfield.

Phillies

  • The lineup has been set in stone for a while except for the centerfield spot with Roman Quinn (.657 OPS, 2 HR, 6 SB) and Adam Haseley (.729 OPS, 0 HR, 0 SB) in the mix.
  • Phil Gosselin (.920 OPS) is making a case to play every day, but there is no open spot.

Pirates

  • This is just one sad ass lineup. Jacob Stallings and Colin Moran are the only regulars with an OPS over .750. Their leadoff hitters have a .248 OBP on the season.
  • Ke’Bryan Hayes hit sixth and played third base in his debut. I expect him to move up in the lineup.

Reds

Rockies

  • Raimel Tapia (.390 OBP, 4 SB) is still leading off.
  • Kevin Pillar has started his games in center field after being traded for.
  • The bottom half of the lineup isn’t playing every day and about impossible to roster.





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

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AnonMember since 2025
5 years ago

The Indians’ lineup is just insanely stable. Hernandez/Ramirez/Lindor/Santana have batted 1/2/3/4 all but one game this year and are up to 34 in a row now. I have to wonder if any team has ever started 4 switch hitters at the top of the lineup, let alone 34 games in a row.

Just for fun, they have now started the same top five 29 games in a row with Franmil in the 5 spot and all but 3 games this year have been the same top 5.

Also, I have a feeling the Cubs lineup is going to settle into a regular Happ/Bryant/Rizzo/Baez/Schwarber with Bryant off the IL now.

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