NL Lineup Analysis (7/26/19)

By this time next week, several teams in the National League will probably have lineups with a different look. For now, managers are mostly tinkering on the margins. Still, there are a few players who have recently seen their playing time take a turn for the better or the worse.

Arizona

David Peralta made his return to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday after missing three weeks with a shoulder injury. He pinch-hit on Wednesday, but on Friday he started, and Christian Walker was the regular who made way for him. Going forward, Peralta’s presence could impact Jarrod Dyson and Tim Locastro, who had been splitting time in left field. A change in the batting order could be in the works, as Dyson and Locastro have been serving as the leadoff hitters. Peralta has batted exclusively in the third and fourth spots so far this season.

Wilmer Flores, who was activated from the IL on July 18, got the nod at second base for the two games in which the Diamondbacks faced a left-handed starter. He has essentially fallen into a platoon with Jake Lamb, with Eduardo Escobar playing second base against righties and third base against lefties. Perhaps with Friday’s promotion of Yasmany Tomas from Triple-A Reno, Flores will lose some starts against lefties. There is potentially enough room in the lineup for both when the Diamondbacks have a two-game series in Yankee Stadium next week. However, if one of them is to get sent down, Tomas is the only one with options left.

Atlanta

Last week’s activation of Ender Inciarte has, in fact, cut into Austin Riley’s playing time, as the rookie has started only three of the Braves’ last seven games. Not surprisingly, Riley has started both of the games during this stretch that featured a left-handed opposing starter.

For the last three weeks, the Braves’ catchers have split their playing time in a predictable pattern, with each Tyler Flowers start followed by a pair of starts by Brian McCann.

Chicago

The Cubs sent Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, which would seem to open up second base for Robel Garcia. The 26-year-old rookie was beginning to stake his claim for the job, having started each of the last four games. However, his playing time may take a hit in light of Ian Happ’s promotion from Iowa. In fact, Garcia is out of the lineup for Friday night’s series opener in Milwaukee, but it’s David Bote who is taking over at second base. Happ is making his season debut on Friday night in left field, as Kyle Schwarber will sit against lefty Gio Gonzalez.

Russell was sent down as the corresponding move for the activation of Willson Contreras. The two-time All-Star catcher started on Wednesday and is in the lineup for Friday night, and for now, the Cubs are still carrying both Victor Caratini and Martin Maldonado as backup catchers.

Cincinnati

Derek Dietrich is out of the second base and outfield mix now, but Scooter Gennett is still not playing every day. He is getting the bulk of the starts at second base, but has given way to Jose Peraza in the starting lineup for two of the last six games. When everyone is healthy, the outfield alignment has been generally steady with a left field platoon of Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin to go along with Nick Senzel and Yasiel Puig. Senzel exited Wednesday’s game due to allergies, but he will be available to play on Friday night against the Rockies. Should the Reds trade Puig, that would likely open up more playing time for Ervin and Josh VanMeter.

Colorado

The only unsettled playing time situation is the outfield timeshare involving Ian Desmond and Raimel Tapia. Desmond continues to start steadily against lefties, but he has started only two of the last seven games against righties. Tapia, meanwhile, has started only one of the last seven games against a lefty but has started six of the last seven versus a righty. It’s not a strict platoon, but it’s pretty close.

Los Angeles

Alex Verdugo’s playing time has been reduced since the return of A.J. Pollock, as he has missed four starts over the last 12 games. If Enrique Hernandez has to miss time due to the hand injury he sustained on Wednesday night against the Angels, that could mean a little more playing time for Verdugo. When he does start, Verdugo has still been batting second, which has been his primary spot in the order since the middle of June.

Miami

There is not much of consequence to report here. With J.T. Riddle on the IL, Cesar Puello has made 11 straight starts in center field. The steadier playing time has not helped him to break out of a slump, as he is 1 for his last 15 (though the one hit was his home run off Reynaldo Lopez on Wednesday night).

Milwaukee

Tyler Saladino’s overall numbers (.133/.200/.233) are still abysmal, but his recent back-to-back games with homers may have bought him some playing time, at least in the short run. He had started five games in a row, including two since his brief homer streak, but he is out of the Brewers’ lineup for Friday night’s game against the Cubs. Two of those starts were at shortstop, and Saladino made one start apiece at second base, third base and left field.

If Saladino’s general lack of production doesn’t lead to less playing time, Thursday’s promotion of Travis Shaw might. Shaw went 14 for his last 39 (.359) with six home runs and 16 walks at Triple-A San Antonio, and he could fill in at first, second or third base. On Friday night, he was in the starting lineup at first base.

New York

There is not much new in the Mets’ lineup, but there has been some minor tinkering in the batting order. Michael Conforto, who has been used mostly in the cleanup spot against righties, has hit second in each of the last eight games with a right-handed starter. For seven of those games, Peter Alonso has batted third, and for the last six of those contests, Robinson Cano has hit out of the cleanup spot.

Philadelphia

Between June 24 and July 15, Maikel Franco was out of the starting lineup only once, and he took full advantage of the steady playing time, slashing .368/.415/.719. More recently, he has had to split time at third base with Brad Miller, starting only five of the last nine games. A couple of those benchings were due at least partially due to a groin injury, and Miller has gone 2 for 15 over this stretch. Franco’s fantasy owners should keep tabs on his playing time this weekend, just in case Gabe Kapler opts to continue the recent arrangement.

Pittsburgh

With the Pirates facing only one left-handed starter over the last 11 games, there have not been many changes to the lineup. Jung Ho Kang is in the lineup in place of Kevin Newman for Friday night’s game against Zack Wheeler and the Mets. It’s just his second start against a righty over this recent 11-game span. Kang has made sporadic starts against right-handers throughout the season, but with Newman stuck in a 5 for 28 (.179) slump, his playing time is worth tracking.

San Diego

Luis Urias‘ much-anticipated callup came on Saturday, and he has started each of the Padres’ five games since getting promoted. Much to the dismay of his fantasy owners, he has gone 1 for 16 over this stretch.

The other new development for the Padres is the move of Manuel Margot up to the second spot in the batting order after he had been typically hitting in the bottom third. He pushes out Eric Hosmer, who has been batting cleanup against righties and sixth against lefties.

San Francisco

Even though the Giants have faced only one left-handed starter since July 2, Alex Dickerson has been alternating his starts with benchings against righties for nearly two weeks. A couple of Dickerson’s missed starts were due to injuries, but owners in weekly leagues should be wary of using him for now. Austin Slater has been filling in for Dickerson when he is out of the lineup. Meanwhile, Kevin Pillar and Mike Yastrzemski are serving as everyday outfielders.

St. Louis

Yairo Munoz is making his sixth straight start on Friday night against the Astros. He is starting at third base, replacing Tommy Edman, who had made eight of the 10 starts there since Matt Carpenter (foot) went on the IL. Carpenter is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis and could return soon.

That may interfere more with Edman’s playing time than Munoz’s. Whereas Edman has only played at second and third base, Munoz has played every non-battery position besides first base and right field. Prior to Friday night, Munoz’s four most recent starts were all in the outfield. He is 7 for his last 20 (.350) with a home run and three stolen bases.

Washington

After starting only three times during a stretch of 16 games, Howie Kendrick has now started two of the last three games at first base. Prior to going on the IL for plantar fasciitis on Monday, Ryan Zimmerman had been enjoying a fairly even split in playing time with Matt Adams at first base, so it appears likely that Kendrick will inherit Zimmerman’s share of starts.