Opening Day Lineup Thoughts

American League

Angels

• Gio Urshela got the start at short with David Fletcher on the bench.

• Brandon Drury played first base with Jared Walsh on the IL.

Astros

• Mauricio Dubón started at second base with David Hensley as the DH.

• Jake Meyers started in center instead of Chas McCormick.

Athletics

• Does it even matter?

• Esteury Ruiz hit ninth.

Blue Jays

• Whit Merrifield got the start at second base.

Guardians

• Oscar Gonzalez was on the bench with Will Brennan getting the start against a righty.

Mariners

• Tommy La Stella started as the DH.

Orioles

• Adam Frazier at second and Gunnar Henderson at DH are interesting. I suspect there will be different infield configurations until someone starts to struggle.

Rangers

• Brad Miller was the DH with Josh H. Smith in left. I’m not sure either is relevant, especially hitting at the bottom of the lineup.

Rays

• A lineup of their best players. We’ll have to see how it changes over the next few days.

Red Sox

• Nothing interesting.

Royals

• Nothing out of place.

Tigers

• Matt Vierling (20/20 upside) hit leadoff.

• Ryan Kreidler hit ninth and played third base. He has the feel of a Quad-A bat who had contact issues and non-elite power, not a good combination. He could steal a few bases (15 in 250 PA in AAA).

Twins

• Trevor Larnach hit cleanup ahead of Joey Gallo giving Larnach a huge value boost.

White Sox

• Romy Gonzalez in right field instead of Gavin Sheets (bench), Oscar Colás (bench), and Eloy Jimenez (DH) against a lefty.

Yankees

• Anthony Volpe starting and batting ninth.

National League

Braves

• No Eddie Rosario with a left-handed starter.

• Travis d’Arnaud getting the start at DH.

Brewers

• Brian Anderson starting in right.

Cardinals

• Brendan Donovan hit leadoff with Tommy Edman in the nine-slot against a righty.

Cubs

• Someone named Miles Mastrobuoni started in right field in right field with Seiya Suzuki on the IL. The 26-year-old Mastrobuoni hit .300/.377/.469 with 16 HR and 23 SB in AAA for Tampa last season. I’m not sure what to think of him or if he’s worth rostering. From prospect reports, he has an above-average bat but below-average power and fielding.

Diamondbacks

• Kyle Lewis hit leadoff. It’ll be interesting to see how may plate appearances Lewis gets as the DH or if the team trusts him in the field.

• Corbin Carroll and Jake McCarthy got buried in the bottom of the lineup with a lefty on the mound.

• Evan Longoria started at third instead of Josh Rojas.

Dodgers

• Chris Taylor started the game on the bench.

Giants

• Blake Sabol (catcher qualified) started in left field.

Marlins

• Garrett Cooper hitting third and playing first base with Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the cleanup spot.

Mets

• Nothing out of place.

Nationals

• Alex Call got the start and hit sixth.

Padres

• David Dahl hit ninth while playing in right field.

Phillies

• Jake Cave batted eighth against a righty.

Pirates

• Canaan Smith-Njigba hit fifth while in right field (not much power, but can provide average and speed).

• Ji Hwan Bae started second.

Reds

• A lot is going on here. TJ Friedl is in center, Jason Vosler started at first, Spencer Steer at third, Will Benson in left, and Jose Barrero at short. The key for me is lineup position with Friedl hitting second and Vosler fifth. Since their home park is a launching pad, it’ll be interesting to see who can secure full-time at-bats.

Rockies

• Against a lefty, Elehuris Montero got the start at third.

• Harold Castro started in left and hit eighth.