Lineup Thoughts (6/1/18)

Angels

• They have not been able to settle on a leadoff hitter, mainly because Zack Cozart (.232/.310/.395) and Ian Kinsler (.217/.286/.331) both haven’t hit. I wonder if the Angels may add a high on-base outfielder to leadoff.

Astros

• None

Athletics

• They are using the same platoon lineups over the past few weeks with Marcus Semien’s paternity leave causing some mix-ups.

Blue Jays

• The lineup has generally been steady with Curtis Granderson sitting against lefties. Josh Donaldson’s injury has caused some changes though.

Braves

• It’s been steady but Ender Inciarte is leading off with Ronald Acuna on the DL.

Brewers

• Jesus Aguilar is batting third and Ryan Braun fifth over the last few games.

Cardinals

• Matt Carpenter is back to leading off after hitting (.297/.379/.582) in May.
• Jedd Gyorko is forcing himself up the lineup after hitting .284/.357/.441 so far this season.
• The 23-year-old Yairo Munoz (.314/.364/.471) is an interesting bat in deeper leagues. Last season, he hit over .300 with 13 HR and 22 SB in fewer than 500 combined plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A

Cubs

• It’s tough to tell anything with this lineup

Diamondbacks

• Jake Lamb as sat twice against a left-handed starter since returning from the disabled list.
• Jarrod Dyson has led off the past three games with David Peralta batting fifth.
• Paul Goldschmidt is batting second in the last four games he’s started.

Dodgers

• Complete randomness.

Excluding the pitcher, the Dodgers have used the same lineup just once so far this season. pic.twitter.com/gZ3U9rH6P1

— Jeff Zimmerman (@jeffwzimmerman) June 1, 2018

Giants

• Having the 30-year-old Gorkys Hernandez come out of nowhere and successfully be the leadoff hitter is so the Giants.
• The lineup was steady for a while but the return of Mac Williamson as put the lineup in flux. Well, except for Hernandez who leads off.

Indians

• Greg Allen has been hitting ninth and playing centerfield. He was always a stolen base threat in the minors but those numbers have not translated to the majors.

Mariners

• It’s changing with Dee Gordon returning from the DL and trading for Denard Span. Gordon’s return allows Gordon Beckham to return to obscurity.

Marlins

• Derek Dietrich (vs righties) and Cameron Maybin (vs lefties) are in a leftfield platoon. When Dietrich starts, he usually bats leadoff.

Mets

• The Mets are starting Jose Bautista in left field with Yoenis Cespedes out.
• Additionally, Jay Bruce has taken Wilmer Flores’s spot with Adrian Gonzalez in a first-base platoon.

Nationals

• Matt Adams (vs righties) and Mark Reynolds (vs lefties) are in a first base platoon until Ryan Zimmerman returns.

Orioles

• Generally a consistent lineup except over the last few games where Trey Mancini and his .232/.309/.372 triple slash line moved off the leadoff spot. A different player each game has been used as a replacement so it’s impossible to know the Orioles plans moving forward.

Padres

• Travis Jankowski, and his career .445 OPS against lefties, sits against them. Hunter Renfroe takes his place in left field.

Phillies

• They were consistent until Rhys Hoskins went on the DL. Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams gained the most playing time since they no longer have to share at-bats.

Pirates

• The outfield situation is about impossible to figure out with Starling Marte, Corey Dickerson, Gregory Polanco, and Austin Meadows all taking a seat. The only for sure I’ve seen is Gregory Polanco sitting against lefties. This move is understandable since he has a career .754 OPS against righties and .597 against lefties.

Rangers

• The lineup was steady but Adrian Beltre just returned and DH’ed while Shin-Soo Choo sat. Choo may sit some until Beltre can play third fulltime.

Rays

• This lineup is just a mess to figure out. The hitter, besides C.J. Cron, who doesn’t get platooned is Daniel Robertson.

Red Sox

• The post Hanley Ramirez‘s lineup is starting to take shape. Moving up in value is Xander Bogaerts going from the #2 hole with Andrew Benintendi’s roto value dropping since he’s now leading off and missing the RBI chances. Benintendi may feel he needs to run more with two of his 10 stolen bases attempts coming from the leadoff spot (33 PA leading off vs 204 PA otherwise).
• The big gainer is Mitch Moreland who has played in seven of the eight games and has hit either 3rd or 4th in the lineup.
• The back half of the line is constantly changing with Dustin Pedroia back and the Mookie Betts injury.

Reds

• Tucker Barnhart might be usable in 10-team leagues since he is now batting second.
• Jesse Winker has been benched with Alex Blandino taking over the leadoff spot. Both are nearly fantasy irrelevant with no power or speed. They are just AVG (or OBP) options.

Rockies

• Noel Cuevas has been starting and batting second against lefties with David Dahl heading to the bench.

Royals

• Hunter Dozier’s hitting 6th with Lucas Duda on the DL.

Tigers

• This lineup was starting to settle in but the return of Miguel Cabrera tonight will throw it into flux. The big change in playing time concern surrounds John Hicks. The Tigers might be at the point of benching or releasing Victor Martinez (in last year of his contract) and make Cabrera the full-time designated hitter.
• Since Jeimer Candelario is hitting (.275/.367/.526) third, he may move down, maybe not.

Twins

• Injuries have kept the lineup changing with the only major move being Max Kepler moving down to sixth in the lineup over the last few games.
• When Byron Buxton was in the lineup, he hit ninth.

White Sox

• The Sox are diving deep for players and are regularly playing interesting boppers, Daniel Palka and Matt Skole. The 26-year-old Palka (.277/.298/.535) is playing right field every day and batting 4th or 5th. The 28-year-old Skole has just played three games at first or DH, but is batting 5th. Of the pair, owners desperate for regular at-bats should focus on the younger Palka who has been on several prospect lists.

Yankees

• It’s tough to get a good reading on this lineup with Greg Bird just returning. Bird has hit near the lineups middle but sat yesterday with a lefty starter.
• One other note since the Greg Bird return, Gleyber Torres has moved off the 9th spot a couple times.