Lineups Update (4/18/18)

I look at each lineup to find any recent changes. Big thanks to Baseball-reference.com for tracking the lineups.

Angels

  • Since Ian Kinsler has returned, he’s led off three of the four games with Cozart moving down to the 5th/6th spot.

Astros

  • Since returning, Yulieski Gurriel has batted in the 4th and 5th spots.
  • Last night, Alex Bregman dropped from the 2nd spot to the 5th spot with the normal players in the lineup. The likely reason is Bregman’s struggles (.214/.321/.300).

Athletics

  • The biggest change has been Mark Canha getting reps in centerfield and taking advantage of the opportunity by hitting .368/.400/.579. For teams desperate for hitting, he’s may be worth taking a shot on.

Blue Jays

Braves

  • Almost the exact same lineup that opened the season besides the catcher carousel.

Brewers

Cardinals

  • Insanely consistent lineup.

Cubs

  • The lineup was in flux when Anthony Rizzo was on the DL but it went back to the same cast as opening day.
  • A major issue for this team is Ian Happ and his .264 OBP caused by a 47% K%. The Cubs may eventually be forced to use Albert Almora Jr. and his .344 OBP in center field.

Diamondbacks

Dodgers

  • Every time the lineup seems set, it isn’t. The current version has Yasiel Puig (.206/.282/.270) out of the third spot (now a revolving door) and Cody Bellinger (.297/.338/.453) batting cleanup.
  • With Logan Forsythe out, Kyle Farmer has been playing third base.
  • Even after removing the pitcher spot, the Dodgers have used the same lineup all season.

Giants

  • They are using two consistent platoon lineups. Austin Jackson leads off against lefties. If a righty throws, Jackson sits with Gregor Blanco playing centerfield. Also against righties, Brandon Belt bats second.

Indians

  • This lineup has been consistent except that Michael Brantley (hitting cleanup) has pushed Yonder Alonso (batting 6th) down in the order since returning.

Mariners

  • I bet you can’t tell when Nelson Cruz went on the DL.

Marlins

  • They’ve moved Lewis Brinson off the leadoff spot and Derek Dietrich is leading off and Miguel Rojas is batting second.
  • I thought Cameron Maybin was a sneaky steals play before the season started but not now. He’s just not getting the playing time. He’s only played in five of the last nine games (at three in a row though).

Mets

  • While some teams have used a consistent lineup, that is not true with the Mets. They have a versus left lineup with Jay Bruce and Wilmer Flores. Otherwise injuries and “magic” seem to rule be in control the order.

Nationals

Orioles

Padres

  • Injuries have this lineup in flux but it has settled over the last few games:
  1. Jose Pirela
  2. Freddy Galvis
  3. Eric Hosmer
  4. Hunter Renfroe
  5. Christian Villanueva
  6. Franchy Cordero
  • It will be interesting to see how everything shakes out once Will Myers and Manual Margot return from the DL.

Phillies

  • A consistent lineup with J.P. Crawford batting 9th after the pitcher.

Pirates

Rangers

Rays

Red Sox

Reds

  • The team as moved Billy Hamilton to the leadoff spot when Jesse Winkler was hurt. I’d normally worry about Hamilton’s .297 OBP but the team as a whole just has a .305 OBP.
  • The lineup will likely see some changes once Scott Schebler and Eugenio Suarez return from the DL.
  • The Reds have promoted former first-round pick Alex Blandino. He’s an on-base machine who could see a power spike with MLB’s juiced ball.

Rockies

Royals

  • Consistently bad.

Tigers

Twins

  • Same lineup since the season’s started with a few rest days thrown in.

White Sox

  • They are keeping it consistent especially with the top four spots.

Yankees

  • Aaron Hicks has been slotted into the 6th spot since returning from the DL.
  • First, second, and third base has been a rotating mix the last few games. Miguel Andujar has played third in the last three games. Monitor the situation once Brandon Drury returns to see who takes the job since both have similar OPS (Drury: .725 Andujar: .706).





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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jmwRSmember
5 years ago

Someone call Bob Melvin up and let him know that Matty Chaps needs to be hitting second so that awesome OBP can play #LineupsForDummies