Lineup Analysis (7/6/24)
Note: These lineup notes were taken without Friday’s lineups.
American League
Angels
• Kevin Pillar has only started in four of the last 15 games.
• Miguel Sanó has started in five of the last eight games.
• Jo Adell has hit ninth in five straight games.
Astros
• The outfield is a mess with the team using six different outfielders (Chas McCormick, Yordan Alvarez, Joey Loperfido, Mauricio Dubón, Trey Cabbage, Jake Meyers) over the last three games. Alvarez is the only regular.
• Jon Singleton is only starting against righties.
Athletics
• JJ Bleday and Miguel Andujar have been at the top of the lineup in six straight games.
• Lawrence Butler (1.326 OPS in July) with three straight starts.
Blue Jays
• Since Isiah Kiner-Falefa went on the IL, Ernie Clement has started every game at third base, and Spencer Horwitz with every start at second.
• Over the last 10 games, Davis Schneider has started in six.
Guardians
• Tyler Freeman has only started in six of the last 10 games.
• Daniel Schneemann has sat against the last three lefties.
• Jhonkensy Noel has started in five of eight games since being promoted.
Mariners
• Since coming off the IL, Jorge Polanco has started in seven of nine games.
• Dominic Canzone was starting against every righty but that has dropped to just two of the last five.
Orioles
• Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser have seven starts in the 10 games since Kjerstad was promoted.
• Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo are splitting time with Jordan Westburg moving from second to third.
Rangers
• No changes.
Rays
• Jose Siri might now be a regular with 12 starts over the last 13 games.
Red Sox
• David Hamilton (.484 OPS over the last two weeks) with only four starts over the last right games (sits v. 2 lefties and 3 righties).
• Dominic Smith with 10 straight starts at first base.
Royals
• Maikel Garcia has started nine games at second base.
• Hunter Renfroe with 11 straight starts.
• MJ Melendez doesn’t start against lefties.
Tigers
• I figured there would be more regulars on the team but it’s just Wenceel Pérez, Riley Greene, and Colt Keith.
Twins
• Since being recalled for Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee has started in his place while batting eighth.
White Sox
Lenyn Sosa with 10 straight starts at third base.
Yankees
• J.D. Davis (vs LHP) and Ben Rice (vs RHP) are in a first base platoon. Rice has led off during his last 3 starts and even smacked 3 HRs in Saturday’s game v. Boston. Speaking of…
• Anthony Volpe (.307 OBP) has moved off the leadoff spot.
National League
Braves
• Forrest Wall (vs RHP) and Luke Williams (vs LHP) are in a left field platoon.
• Zack Short with three straight starts at shortstop. Orlando Arcia has been banged up and unproductive (.582 OPS).
Brewers
• Andruw Monasterio with three starts at third base with Joey Ortiz on the IL.
• Garrett Mitchell with two starts in three games since coming off the IL. He hit fifth in both games.
Cardinals
• Nolan Gorman (vs RHP) and José Fermín (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.
Cubs
• Steady.
Diamondbacks
• Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy are splitting time in the outfield since Thomas came off the IL.
Dodgers
• Gavin Lux with eight straight starts at second base.
• Jason Heyward with 10 straight starts, three against lefties.
Giants
• LaMonte Wade Jr. (vs RHP) and David Villar (vs LHP) are in a first base platoon.
• Brett Wisely (vs RHP) and Tyler Fitzgerald (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.
Marlins
• Jorge Soler has hit lead off for six straight games.
• Nick Ahmed has started at shortstop for seven straight games.
Mets
• Tyrone Taylor has started in eight of the last nine games.
• Jose Iglesias is only starting against lefties.
Nationals
• Ildemaro Vargas has started in five straight games.
Padres
• In his first four major league games, James Wood has hit third, fifth, and sixth.
• Jesse Winker (vs RHP) and Harold Ramírez (vs LHP) are in a DH platoon.
Phillies
• Remains a mess with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on the IL. The only regular to emerge seems to be Johan Rojas in CF.
Pirates
• Connor Joe has only four of the last 11 games.
Reds
• Stuart Fairchild has started in 10 of the last 11 games.
Rockies
• Nolan Jones is now batting either seventh or eighth.
• Charlie Blackmon has hit leadoff in five of the last six games.
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.
I believe Soler is still on the Giants despite a lackluster season.
It’s also funny because he would have one of the worst leadoff hitter profiles imaginable — he doesn’t really get on base (because he doesn’t really walk or hit singles) despite the ability to hit it to the moon when he connects.
And yet they’ve been starting him there