This is arguably the biggest lineup article through the rest of the season, given the trade deadline passed on Monday. It’s only been a few days, but we’ve been able to see the initial ways in which teams are deploying their new players, in addition to who is stepping into vacated opportunities. This week’s piece will focus more on players traded and those taking on new roles.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Lawlar could return from the injured list soon, but simply finishing the season healthy would be a developmental win at this point. Ryan Waldschmidt is still with the big league club, but he isn’t playing every day. Lars Nootbaar has started every game since coming over from the Cardinals, but the Diamondbacks have yet to face a lefty.
Athletics
Injuries have wiped out what projected as such a fun offense in a great home park entering the season. That has helped Lawrence Butler get more playing time, and he’s been in the lineup against four consecutive LHP. Jonah Heim is catching every day and hitting in the middle of the order. Tommy White has started all but one game since being called up on July 17.
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Atlanta Braves
Austin Riley has hit seventh or eighth in each of his starts since July 25. Ha-Seong Kim returned from the IL this week but has yet to start. Lane Thomas has been in the lineup for just one of our games since arriving from the Royals, which really hurts his fantasy value given he was playing every day in Kansas City.
Baltimore Orioles
Dylan Beavers has led off against nine straight righties, and he’ll have chances to keep hitting high in the order now that Taylor Ward is in Seattle. Christian Encarnacion-Strand has started 14 of 19 since being called up to begin the second half, every one of them at third base, which has limited Coby Mayo‘s opportunities. Jackson Holliday has drawn four of six starts against lefties in the second half, and he’s been in the lineup for every right-hander during that stretch.
Boston Red Sox
Ceddanne Rafaela has started every game since June 21, primarily hitting second. At first it felt like necessity. Now it’s deserved. Jarren Duran is finally heating up, though he’s still in the bottom third of the order. Andruw Monasterio has started 14 straight as the everyday shortstop. Nick Sogard has taken over the primary leadoff and second base duties from Anthony Seigler.
Chicago Cubs
Tyrone Taylor, acquired from the Mets, appears to have a role against southpaws, possibly in a platoon with Michael Conforto. Otherwise, there’s still plenty of consistency here. James Triantos has been in the lineup only once since he was called up on July 24.
Chicago White Sox
Sam Antonacci has sat against four consecutive southpaws, but he still leads off vs. RHP. Brenton Doyle has drawn two starts against lefties since he was acquired from the Rockies, seemingly in a platoon with Tristan Peters. Andrew Benintendi and Randal Grichuk continue to split time.
Cincinnati Reds
Héctor Rodríguez has been in the lineup for two of three since being called up, sitting against a lefty. He has essentially inherited Nathaniel Lowe‘s role. Matt McLain is the everyday second baseman since coming off the IL, with Edwin Arroyo back at Triple-A.
Cleveland Guardians
Nathaniel Lowe has hit cleanup against both righties since being acquired while sitting against the lone LHP. Jo Adell has played two of three in that same stretch, resting against one of the two right-handers. Chase DeLauter has started all but one game since coming off the IL on June 28. Brayan Rocchio is no longer hitting in the top part of the lineup, but he remains the everyday shortstop.
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Colorado Rockies
Jake McCarthy has started every game since June 29, mostly hitting leadoff. It’s been a surprisingly steady lineup for such an obvious rebuilding team, and the deadline didn’t open up much opportunity. We know which of their hitters to stream at Coors at this point of the summer.
Detroit Tigers
Max Clark has started in center field and hit seventh in all six games since being called up, including two contests against lefties.
Houston Astros
Daulton Varsho has hit cleanup in every game since he was acquired, all versus righties. Jose Altuve is finally heating up a bit, though he’s been dropped to sixth in the order on recent occasions. Taylor Trammell has been an everyday player the past 10 days.
The Astros have surged into first place in the American League West while Alvarez aims for the first Triple Crown in MLB since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Kansas City Royals
John Rave and Kyle Isbel appear to be the beneficiaries of Lane Thomas being dealt to Atlanta. Jac Caglianone is getting more run at first base with Vinnie Pasquantino out. This lineup desperately needs a new leadoff hitter next season, as Carter Jensen continues to flirt with an OBP around .300.
Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto shifted from leadoff to cleanup on Thursday. Moisés Ballesteros has started three straight since arriving from the Cubs, including two against left-handers. Two of those came at DH and one behind the plate. There are DH opportunities available with Jorge Soler recently designated for assignment.
Los Angeles Dodgers
They’ve faced five lefties in their past six games, and Max Muncy got in the lineup for three of those southpaws. Tommy Edman bats third or fourth against most left-handers. Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt are set to split catching duties with Will Smith and Dalton Rushing both sidelined. This lineup looks old, which will be a key storyline as they go for a third consecutive World Series title.
Miami Marlins
Liam Hicks’ departure has allowed Griffin Conine to move into the top half of the order. As previously mentioned, Kyle Stowers is primarily a first baseman now. Heriberto Hernández is still getting a long look here in the second half.
Milwaukee Brewers
Luis Lara‘s playing time is still a bit sporadic, but he’s in there more often than not. Garrett Mitchell has sat only twice since June 30. Christian Yelich has been hitting fifth this week, which is unusual for him. Joey Ortiz and Gary Sánchez are the odd men out at the moment.
Minnesota Twins
Trevor Larnach has held his leadoff role against righties since mid-June. Luke Keaschall continues to get most of the center field starts with Byron Buxton back on the injured list. Royce Lewis is heating up, mostly playing first base while mixing in some time at second.
New York Mets
Luis Robert Jr. wasn’t traded. He hasn’t started more than three in a row since coming off the injured list. Brett Baty‘s playing time has cratered in the second half. Jorge Polanco is in there roughly half the time. A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge continue to get all the reps they can handle.
New York Yankees
Luis García Jr. has played first base and hit third in all three games since being acquired, all vs. righties. Heliot Ramos has hit cleanup in his two contests since the trade. George Lombard Jr. has been the shortstop in both games since replacing Anthony Volpe on the major league roster. Spencer Jones is getting everyday opportunities, and Jasson Domínguez is now at Triple-A. It goes without saying, but this offense misses Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton.
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Philadelphia Phillies
They brought in Luis Arraez to play second base instead of trading for an outfielder. That has shifted Bryce Harper to right field, Bryson Stott to third base, and Alec Bohm to first base. They’ve used that defensive setup and the same nine regulars in all three games since the trade.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Esmerlyn Valdez got a day off Thursday after hitting cleanup in every game since July 1. Endy Rodríguez has started eight of 11 since coming off the IL, mixing in some speed as a catcher-eligible bat. Spencer Horwitz is back too, hitting fifth against RHP. Oneil Cruz still doesn’t have a timeline to return.
San Diego Padres
Luis Rengifo has started 12 in a row, mostly in left field. Ty France has hit cleanup in every game since July 19.
San Francisco Giants
Big shakeup at the deadline, which really hurt this lineup’s depth. It doesn’t help that Bryce Eldridge has been slumping, though he’s still hitting at or near the top of the order. Osleivis Basabe has swung a hot bat this week, taking advantage of the playing time that has opened up. Similar to the Angels, the bottom half of this lineup is extremely weak. Matt Chapman might not return this season.
Seattle Mariners
Taylor Ward has hit eighth against two righties since being traded and led off vs. the one lefty he’s seen. That could be a significant playing time downgrade, as he was consistently hitting at the top of the order in Baltimore. Meanwhile, Cole Young has continued to lead off against righties while still playing against LHP. Dominic Canzone has also started against six straight left-handers.
St. Louis Cardinals
JJ Wetherholt made his fourth start at shortstop on Wednesday, but he’s unlikely to get enough opportunities there down the stretch to earn 2027 eligibility. It’s been less than a week, but so far Bryan Torres has been the beneficiary of the Lars Nootbaar trade. Joshua Báez still has upside, though the hype has quieted over the past month-plus.
Tampa Bay Rays
Liam Hicks has hit cleanup in the two games he’s been active for since arriving from the Marlins, both against righties. That slid Cedric Mullins a few spots down in the order. Chandler Simpson still isn’t leading off, but he’s been productive and running more lately. Victor Mesa Jr. continues to get regular run against righties.
Texas Rangers
Joc Pederson is having a great year while continuing to lead off versus RHP. Josh Jung remains sidelined, but they’ve finally got everyone else healthy at the same time. Ezequiel Duran shifted from shortstop to third base once Corey Seager returned, and he’s started every game since June 28 while playing all over the diamond.
Toronto Blue Jays
Trading away Daulton Varsho has given Myles Straw four consecutive starts in center field. Jesús Sánchez is back from the IL and playing against RHP, platooning with Davis Schneider in left field. Nathan Lukes is leading off against righties with Yohendrick Piñango back at Triple-A.
Washington Nationals
Really interested to see how the highest-scoring lineup in MLB fares without Curtis Mead, Luis García Jr., and most importantly, James Wood, who is sidelined by an oblique issue. It’s too early for trends to have emerged, and they’ve faced two lefties this week, but there’s plenty of opportunity in an organization that has been able to meaningfully improve individual offensive ceilings.
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