This week has featured more big-league debuts, more IL stints, and more lineup shuffling. Let’s break it all down.
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Geraldo Perdomo was recently dropped to the bottom half of the lineup after hitting inside the top three in every game through June 3. Pavin Smith returned from the IL in June and has been the primary DH against righties. Tommy Troy is the primary left fielder with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sidelined.
Athletics
Lawrence Butler still isn’t an everyday player, even against righties. Henry Bolte isn’t one either, but he’s starting far more often than Butler. Carlos Cortes remains in a strict platoon but draws a premium lineup slot (typically 1-4) against RHP. Zack Gelof has started every game since May 3.
Atlanta Braves
They’ve faced one lefty and one righty since Ronald Acuña Jr. landed on the IL. Michael Harris led off against the righty, with Mauricio Dubón getting the role against the southpaw. Austin Riley hasn’t hit higher than fifth since May 18. Dominic Smith has been locked in at DH against righties for weeks.
Acuña Jr.’s hot streak halted by another IL trip
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s aggressiveness on the field has fueled his superstar rise, but as James Schiano points out, it has also resulted in an “odd push and pull” for Atlanta’s star as he hits the injured list again.
Baltimore Orioles
Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo both returned from minor injuries on Thursday. Colton Cowser has become an everyday player against righties, which wasn’t the case until recently. Coby Mayo still isn’t starting every game, but the trend is in the right direction. Jeremiah Jackson’s playing time has evaporated in June. Overall, the Orioles seem to be consolidating playing time more than they did to open the season.
Boston Red Sox
Jarren Duran has hit leadoff in every game since May 1. Mickey Gasper has overtaken Carlos Narváez as the starting catcher. Caleb Durbin has started every game since May 28 after starting just three of the previous nine.
Chicago Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong moved up to leadoff (second against lefties) on May 23 and hasn’t looked back. They’ve been remarkably consistent with their starting nine.
Chicago White Sox
Braden Montgomery has started all three games in right field since his call-up. Sam Antonacci (vs. RHP) and Chase Meidroth (vs. LHP) are still splitting the leadoff role. Jacob Gonzalez has started 8 of 11 since being called up.
Cincinnati Reds
JJ Bleday has started every game since April 29. Blake Dunn has been the primary leadoff option, though it isn’t an exclusive role. Noelvi Marte has started four of seven since being recalled from Triple-A. Edwin Arroyo has started six of nine since his call-up. Matt McLain is handling shortstop with Elly De La Cruz sidelined.
Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan is still hitting in the bottom third of the lineup. Brayan Rocchio has missed only three games this year. Travis Bazzana leads off against righties and hits fourth or fifth against lefties.
Colorado Rockies
Cole Carrigg has manned center field in all three games since debuting, batting sixth or seventh. Jake McCarthy leads off against right-handers; Willi Castro does so against southpaws.
Detroit Tigers
Gleyber Torres has returned from the IL and hit 1-3 in every game since. Colt Keith has been dropped in the order against righties as a result. Dillon Dingler has sat just once since May 3.
Houston Astros
Jose Altuve is back from the IL and hitting fifth. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes are hitting 3-4 after all the offseason hand-wringing about whether there would be enough playing time to go around. Carlos Correa‘s injury changed that calculus. Yordan Alvarez has missed only one game this season. Joey Loperfido is back from Triple-A, seemingly to platoon with Brice Matthews in left field.
Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone is on fire and has started against each of the past five lefties he’s had the opportunity to face. Carter Jensen leads off against righties with Lane Thomas getting the job against left-handers. Michael Massey and Nick Loftin are platooning at second base.
Los Angeles Angels
Wade Meckler hits third against righties with Vaughn Grissom sidelined. Trey Mancini has started at first base in two of the past three games since his recall. The depth in this lineup wasn’t strong to open the season, and it’s really hurting without Grissom, Jorge Soler, and Yoán Moncada.
Los Angeles Dodgers
All eyes are on whether Shohei Ohtani is in Friday’s lineup after he exited Thursday with knee inflammation. Andy Pages has hit second or third in each of his starts since May 26. Mookie Betts has been at cleanup since the same date. Kyle Tucker has mostly batted fifth or sixth lately. Ryan Ward and Alex Call share a left field platoon.
Miami Marlins
Kyle Stowers is up to five games (four starts) at first base, cutting into Connor Norby‘s recent opportunities. Xavier Edwards has oscillated between leadoff and cleanup this season, which shifts the balance between runs and RBI opportunities. Joe Mack ranks 15th in plate appearances among primary catchers since his debut.
Milwaukee Brewers
Andrew Vaughn remains the odd man out against righties but continues to mix in. David Hamilton is consolidating the shortstop playing time versus right-handers. Gary Sánchez‘s playing time has cratered since everyone got healthy.
Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis has started all five games since returning from Triple-A, three at first base and two at second. Brooks Lee is sticking at third base while Tristan Gray and Orlando Arcia split shortstop. Kody Clemens and Josh Bell consistently hit 3-4.
New York Mets
Some consistency has developed, with Mark Vientos losing the most playing time. He has started once in their past seven games. Jared Young is the primary cleanup option versus RHP.
Yankees still can win AL East despite Judge injury
In a winnable American League with depth ready to “step up,” CC Sabathia believes the Yankees “should have enough” to stay afloat as Aaron Judge works his way back from the injured list.
New York Yankees
Paul Goldschmidt has been an everyday player since May 20 and is typically hitting inside the top three. Anthony Volpe has started 10 of 15 at shortstop since Jose Caballero returned from the IL. Caballero has started 11 times in that span, but he’s back to moving around the diamond. Spencer Jones has been in the lineup against three of the four right-handers since his recall.
Philadelphia Phillies
The most consistent lineup of the past month now that Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott start against the majority of southpaws. Derek Hill was acquired from the White Sox on Thursday, possibly to platoon with Justin Crawford.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz being sidelined puts a damper on MLB’s sixth-highest scoring offense. Spencer Horwitz gets the leadoff role against RHP with Nick Gonzales filling it against LHP. Jared Triolo is the everyday shortstop with Griffin out. Marcell Ozuna‘s playing time against righties has diminished lately.
San Diego Padres
Gavin Sheets has started all but two games since May 8. Bryce Johnson, Samad Taylor, and Jase Bowen are getting corner-outfield reps with Ramon Laureano on the IL and Nick Castellanos having been designated for assignment.
San Francisco Giants
Bryce Eldridge has started 15 of 16, but he hasn’t hit higher than fifth this year. Casey Schmitt has led off every game in June. Drew Gilbert is sharing center field with Jonah Cox.
Lee’s hitting streak puts him on fantasy radars
Jung Hoo Lee has been on an absolute tear since returning from the injured list. Eric Samulski dives into the numbers behind his 16-game hitting streak, sharing why the Giants’ OF deserves more attention in fantasy.
Seattle Mariners
Colt Emerson has a chance to stick at shortstop with JP Crawford on the IL. Cole Young has hit leadoff against righties in Crawford’s absence. Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley continue to mash in strong-side platoon roles.
St. Louis Cardinals
Lars Nootbaar is back from the IL and hitting fifth versus RHP. He sat against the one southpaw they’ve faced since his return. Bryan Torres has sat three straight with Nootbaar back. Nathan Church is off the IL and playing center field with Victor Scott II now at Triple-A.
Tampa Bay Rays
Cedric Mullins has started against seven of the past eight lefties they’ve seen. Ryan Vilade and Austin Slater are hitting in the top half of the order against southpaws.
Texas Rangers
Joc Pederson (vs. righties) and Wyatt Langford (vs. lefties) are sharing leadoff duties. Evan Carter is back to sitting against lefties now that Langford has returned. Ezequiel Duran has started every game since April 29, bouncing between first base, second base, and right field since Corey Seager got healthy and reclaimed shortstop.
Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit leadoff on Tuesday, but that was a game George Springer sat. Nathan Lukes hits first or second against righties. Andrés Giménez platoons at shortstop with Charles McAdoo. Against left-handers, McAdoo slides to second base with Ernie Clement covering short.
Washington Nationals
Curtis Mead still sits against the occasional righty, but he’s frequently used off the bench in those games. Luis García Jr. gets the two-hole against righties. Daylen Lile has missed only one game this year.
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