MLB lineup tracker: Platoon, batting order and production trend updates (2024)

As we finish out the month of June it is about that time to revisit the recent happenings in playing time, production, players gaining and losing playing time to injuries (and injury replacements), and discuss the latest in platoons that are occurring across the league. We go team-by-team to discuss all this and more.

Please note the stats and trends are as of games played through June 21. Due to the rapid changes in trends we see in today’s game, things might only be relevant for a short period. I do cover lineups daily and if you are interested in that follow me on Twitter to see how.

National League

NL East

Atlanta Braves

• Michael Harris has hit .346/.369/.580 since being called up but is married to the bottom of the order for now — there’s just a lot of talent ahead of him. He has a strong 21.4% strikeout rate but with a 42.6% O-Swing%, a 13.7% SwStr%, and below-average contact rates, we could see strikeouts increase as MLB pitchers adjust.
• Marcell Ozuna has shifted toward the bottom half of the order since June 4. He is hitting No. 5-6 most days. Since May 1, Ozuna has hit .212/.268/.382 with a 79 wRC+ and a .285 wOBA. A slip further down the order could happen if he does not get going.
• With Ozzie Albies (ankle) out, Orlando Arcia has entered the lineup and has started five of the past six games while batting No. 8.
• Dansby Swanson moved up the order on May 25 but, since the beginning of May, he has been amazing after a terrible April.

Miami Marlins

• Between the regular IL and COVID IL, we have Jesús Aguilar, Jesús Sánchez, Brian Anderson, and Joey Wendle out. This has allowed looks at Jerar Encarnacion, Luke Williams, Bryan De La Cruz and Jon Berti. Berti and De La Cruz have the most staying power of these four names, with Berti having likely earned a spot even when everyone is healthy, assuming he sustains this production, of course.
• Since Berti entered the lineup as a regular on May 27, he has been a difference-maker for fantasy teams. With 16 stolen bases (a perfect 16-for-16 at that) while hitting .268, he’s pretty useful in those deeper formats, or any format, where steals are needed. He has led off vs. LHP and has moved up the order vs. RHP in two of his past three games. He could be earning his way into a consistent top-of-the-order spot.
• Jazz Chisholm has continued to produce home runs and stolen bases but there has been a spike in strikeouts that remind me of what we saw in 2021 — a fast start followed by a mediocre rest of the season. He has not hit that level of mediocrity yet but the strikeouts do leave a reason for concern if he does not correct them. He has a 35.1% strikeout rate so far in June, and he has posted a sub .770 OPS since April. He has started three of the past four against LHP but he is only hitting .097/.147/.161 with a .142 wOBA and -10 wRC+ against LHP on the season.

#Marlins Jazz Chisholm OPS by month 2021-2022

See Also

MLB DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/15/24)Fantasy baseball: Week 3 starting pitchers to streamMLB DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (4/13/24) - Today2024 Masters one and done picks, DFS lineups, sleepers, fantasy golf projections, longshots by PGA expert

2021:
Mar/Apr: .969
May: .658
June: .701
July: .670
Aug: .705
Sep/Oct: .657

2022:
April: 1.010
May: .749
June: .768 (so far)

Not as bad as last year but trending similarly. At least improvement is being shown which is encouraging.

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 21, 2022

New York Mets

• Dominic Smith was called back up and we have yet to see how they plan to utilize him. Smith hit .266/.347/.438 in the minors with two home runs and three stolen bases. He makes for the perfect platoon partner for J.D. Davis at DH. Davis has hit better vs. RHP this season (.744 OPS vs. RHP, .659 OPS vs. LHP), so we shall see how this all plays out.
• Luis Guillorme continues to play a pretty regular role, bouncing between second base and third base. He typically only starts vs. RHP. He has only started vs. one of the past four LHPs they have faced.

Philadelphia Phillies

• Alec Bohm moved up to as high as No. 2 in the order before being pushed back down to the bottom third of the order majority of the time. Since May 1, he is hitting .237 with a .584 OPS, .258 wOBA, and 62 wRC+.
• With Jean Segura out, Bryson Stott has become the second baseman, and gained that eligibility. Unfortunately, he has not done much of late to warrant a spot on shallower rosters, hitting just .170/.204/.319 over the past 14 days.
• With Bryce Harper dealing with a blister issue, Matt Vierling has been getting playing time. They were making a point to get him in at other positions even before the injury to Harper. Vierling has started seven of the past 10 games while playing three different positions. He is hitting .333 with 3 home runs and a stolen base over the past 14 days.

Washington Nationals

• Luis García made his MLB debut and has been hitting very well since coming up — two home runs, .342 through 20 games. He is not walking much (barely at all — 1.3% walk rate) but striking out just 20.5% of the time is a positive. But similar to Harris from the Braves, there is a lot of chasing (48.8% O-Swing%), and the SwStr% (18.4%) is high so the strikeouts and batting average could take a hit as pitchers adjust.
• Lane Thomas was hitting at the top of the order regularly before the past few games. He remains at the leadoff spot vs. LHP, but against the past two RHP, he has dropped to the bottom third of the order against each. At least he continues to play every game. He’s not a threat to be platooned yet.
• Yadiel Hernandez has started two straight games but has only started five of the past 11 overall. Playing time has fluctuated as the season has gone on, so that will likely continue and will be production dependent.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

• Jonathan Villar has started eight of the past nine games between second base and third base. He has started over Andrelton Simmons at second base the past two games. It will be interesting to see how the playing time will work out once Nick Madrigal returns.
• With Frank Schwindel on the IL, Alfonso Rivas returns to starting at first base. He is only relevant in the deepest of leagues.
• Rafael Ortega has fallen into a fourth outfielder/depth role with everyone healthy. That could be further impacted when Seiya Suzuki returns to the lineup. Ortega has started three of the past five games but just four of the past 10 overall. Playing time is currently trending up, but I don’t think it will last.

Cincinnati Reds

• Johnathan India returned to the order on June 14, right back in the leadoff role, and has started every game since.
• Albert Almora has now started six straight games and has been a starter since May 26. He could provide help in NL-only formats or the deepest of mixed leagues where you need plate appearances. Injuries are adding up and this is the type of fallback option you might need to settle for.
• Since the return of India to the lineup, Matt Reynolds has been the biggest playing time loser. He has only started three of the past six games but two were with Kyle Farmer out. With Farmer and India in, he has now sat two straight.

Milwaukee Brewers

• Kolten Wong is on the IL and had a setback. This should allow Jace Peterson and, possibly, Keston Hiura to get added run. Peterson is the preferred fantasy asset between the two at this point given the playing time and stolen base potential.
• Hiura has started two straight and five of the past seven overall, but the production has continued to be streaky. He did just gain second base eligibility on June 21, so that is a bonus.

• With Lorenzo Cain getting DFA’d, Tyrone Taylor enters the picture and will get his playing time now. Taylor has started four straight games, batting No. 7 or lower since Cain was DFA’d.
• Luis Urías slotted at No. 7 in the lineup on June 21. This is the lowest he has hit in the lineup since back when he debuted the first week of May. It is not without cause. He is hitting just .140 with a 34.5% strikeout rate and a .450 OPS in June. You have to wonder if he is truly healthy or still trying to play through both his recent thumb and hamstring issues.
• Christian Yelich entered into the leadoff spot with Wong on the IL and should continue to hit there until he returns. Since moving into the leadoff spot on June 8: two home runs and three stolen bases, while hitting .275.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Oneil Cruz received his long-awaited call-up. He debuted and batted No. 6 in the process.
• Tucupita Marcano was leading off prior to landing on the COVID IL. He led off six straight games before his IL designation. Once he is back, he should slot right back into that spot.
• Jack Suwinksi has been playing regularly but has now started four straight games and has moved into the middle of the order. Over the past 14 days, he has five home runs while hitting .233/.340/.605. Sadly, he has just five RBI to show for his five home runs.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Tyler O’Neill landed on the IL again. This opens up a path to plate appearances for Juan Yepez. While the lineup was healthy and full, Yepez sat four straight games leading into Monday, and played in just three of the past 10 overall before the IL stint for O’Neill.
• Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan have swapped lineup spots over the past week, with Donovan hitting No. 2 and Gorman batting fifth. Their recent production is the explanation for the change.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Ketel Marte sat four straight games but was back in the lineup June 21 as the DH (0-for-4, 2 K).
• Buddy Kennedy remains at second base and should continue to start as long as Marte remains in a DH role. He has started every game since his call-up. His Triple-A numbers hint at fantasy viability: four home runs and eight stolen bases while hitting .296/.384/.429. He has hit No. 6 or better in every game.
• Jordan Luplow and Pavin Smith have entered a platoon. Smith is getting the strong side (vs. RHP). Against LHP, Luplow has a .954 OPS and a 149 wRC+. Versus RHP, Smith has just a .679 OPS but has been better vs. RHP than Luplow — that said, you have to wonder how long the leash will be if Smith does not do more against RHP moving forward.
• Alek Thomas has been very solid of late and was moved up the order to No. 2 with Marte out. But in Marte’s return, Thomas dropped back down to the No. 7 spot. (Update: since writing this up, Kennedy left his June 21 game with an injury.)

Colorado Rockies

• Sean Bouchard was called up but has made just one start. He hit .338 in Triple-A with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases. This comes with a 21.8% strikeout rate and 13.3% walk rate. Unfortunately, the playing time is not likely to be there without injuries.
• Oddly enough, the Rockies’ playing time and lineup, as a whole, have been rather consistent this year. Kris Bryant appears in line to return this weekend, so we will see who gets squeezed in the outfield. Last time it was Yonathan Daza who was moved back into a reserve/fourth outfielder role.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Mookie Betts is out with a rib injury. This has led to Eddy Alvarez picking up the playing time. The Dodgers did trade for Trayce Thompson and he could be in line to take some of that playing time.
• Trea Turner has moved into the leadoff spot with Betts out.

San Diego Padres

• Manny Machado had a rough-looking injury but it sounds like he might have dodged anything serious, and might even avoid the IL altogether. Keep an eye out for that.
• As long as Machado is sidelined, C.J. Abrams is the beneficiary. He was called up and hit in the bottom third of the order. While it will be the Abrams Show with Machado out, it’s just hard to say how long Abrams will be up if Machado does avoid an IL stint.
• With Machado out, the team has moved Jake Cronenworth to No. 3 and Trent Grisham has ascended to the leadoff spot for the past two games.
• Nomar Mazara has deeper league appeal. He is on the strong side of a platoon, slotting No. 5-6 in the order over the past four starts, and hitting .298 on the year. The power production has not been there (just one home run in 60 plate appearances) but batting average help and RBI opportunities should be there as long as he slots in the middle of the order.

#Padres Manny Machado left the game after this play. Needed help to walk off but was able to put some weight on the injured leg. pic.twitter.com/xbs1lECnmO

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 19, 2022

San Francisco Giants

• This team is just a platoon-heavy team. With the exceptions of Luis González, Thairo Estrada, and Brandon Crawford, everyone has essentially been put into a time-share. Evan Longoria has been starting against more RHP of late, but even he has been in a platoon for part of the year.
• González is worth mentioning. Not only is he not in a platoon, but he leads off vs. RHP (bats bottom of the order vs. LHP) and he has seven stolen bases and three home runs while hitting .308. This comes with a strong 20% strikeout rate and above-average contact rates across the board.

American league

AL East

Baltimore Orioles

• Jorge Mateo was fun while he lasted, but now he is essentially a stolen base specialist. He’s now batting No. 9 and offering little else in terms of category juice.
• Tyler Nevin has started 12 straight games with Ramón Urías out. However, over the past 14 days, he has not taken advantage of the opportunity and has hit just .139 with one home run and a .517 OPS.
• After a slow start, it is good to see Adley Rutschman get going. The power has not been there yet, but hitting .297/.350/.514 over the past 14 days is reason enough to get excited about what he could do as the weather warms up and he continues to adjust to MLB pitching.

Boston Red Sox

• Jarren Duran is up again and leading off — as usual when he is up — but will he finally stay up? Enrique Hernández is starting a rehab assignment and it took Christian Arroyo landing on the COVID IL in the first place for Duran to get the call. During his MLB stints, Duran is hitting .310/.394/.517, and he recorded a two-steal game on June 20. The stolen bases could provide a huge boost, but it is hard to tell if he will finally remain up and be a regular piece of this offense when everyone returns to the lineup.
• Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec remain in a platoon with Dalbec being stuck on the weak side of it.

New York Yankees

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has missed three straight games and Marwin Gonzalez started two of them before moving to left field, making way for Gleyber Torres to start at shortstop for the first time this season. This is one way to keep the core of your top hitters all in the order instead of forcing one to sit daily.
• Between off days and the IKF injury, Gonzalez has picked up the extra playing time. I still would not look his way outside the deepest of AL-only formats. Not to mention the playing time might be going away sooner than later.
• Matt Carpenter has the amazing mustache and seems to hit a home run every few days, but the playing time just has not been there consistently. He has started just one of the past seven games.

Tampa Bay Rays

• Isaac Paredes has been getting a good amount of playing time lately. He has started four of the past five games and had a three-home run game June 21, which should lead to some more playing time in the short term at the very least.
• Kevin Kiermaier and Manuel Margot are both out with injuries. This leaves an already thin offensive group thinner. Harold Ramirez and Vidal Bruján should be secured in playing time now, and Josh Lowe should have a very long leash to get things going.

#Rays Manuel Margot landing on the IL with a right knee sprain. We do not know the full severity. Here is the play it happened. pic.twitter.com/0n5ammUZQ5

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 21, 2022

Toronto Blue Jays

• This team remains one of the more consistent teams in terms lineup personnel.
• Gabriel Moreno is playing semi-regularly. He has started just one of the past four games though after starting five of his first seven. He has been good for batting average but it has been empty. Given the state of the catcher position, though, that is still useful.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox

• Yoán Moncada has hit the IL (again) and Jake Burger should slot into third base while he is out. He was already DHing, so now this is just another way to secure more playing time for now.
• With the return of Tim Anderson, A.J. Pollock has moved to the No. 5 spot. He was moved there just before Anderson returned and has started four straight games there.
• With Yasmani Grandal out, it has been essentially an equal split of starts between Reese McGuire and Seby Zavala.

Cleveland Guardians

• Franmil Reyes returned to the lineup and we got the first look at who might be most affected by this.
• Owen Miller was the first person to get sent back to the bench, so his playing time looks to be in peril. He lit the world on fire in April but has turned right back into a pumpkin. Since May 1, he is hitting .217/.265/.322 with a .255 wOBA and a 64 wRC+.
• Oscar Mercado was DFA’d, so the outfield platoon could be done for now.
• Andrés Giménez appears to have broken out of a platoon (long overdue if you ask me). He has started against the past three LHP the team has faced after sitting in the previous 7-of-8 vs. LHP. On the year (small sample) he is hitting .333 with a .796 OPS and a 130 wRC+ against LHP.
• Steven Kwan supplanted Myles Straw at the leadoff spot June21. Looking at their recent production, this should not be considered a shocking development.

Detroit Tigers

• Is the Riley Greene effect real? Since his call-up, we are seeing some players turn it on. It is almost certainly a coincidence but he could have also brought a spark, along with lineup protection, to others in the lineup, thus boosting the overall production and morale.
• Over the past seven days, Javier Báez has two home runs and two stolen bases, and he has not been striking out nearly as much. A small sample, but he is someone who runs hot/cold, so get him back in the lineup.
• Victor Reyes has been leading off against RHP and has been in a platoon, but at least he is on the strong side of it. He has led off seven of the past eight games they have faced a RHP. However, he has hit just .238/.238/.238 over his past 21 plate appearances. Austin Meadows is on the COVID IL and when he returns, I would expect Reyes to return to his reserve role on the bench.

Kansas City Royals

• Unfortunately, Salvador Perez appeared to suffer an injury to his left thumb while swinging on June 21. This could, or should, move MJ Melendez to catcher full time, leaving the DH spot wide open for Vinnie Pasquantino to play every day.
  
• After a slow start, Bobby Witt Jr. has posted an OPS north of .820 from May to present. He continues to hit No. 3 in the order and provide power, speed and even batting average — but the batting average will take time to show given the slow start. He is hitting .270 in June and has shown improvement going on three straight months.
• The Royals, in general, have had some players hitting better this month. They are likely going to be sellers at the deadline but it does not mean you can’t ride out the positive production of Carlos Santana and Michael A. Taylor. Both have hit over .300 for the past 30 days and have provided some help in other categories along the way. These are deeper league plug-ins.

#Royals Salvador Perez left the game after this AB. He finished the AB but every swing caused a similar reaction to what you see here. He winced in pain and would release the bat with the injured hand every swing. pic.twitter.com/5JHszF55Md

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 22, 2022

Minnesota Twins

• Alex Kirilloff has been called up, and now that he’s settled at first base, this seemingly leaves Jose Miranda getting squeezed for playing time. Miranda has started just one of the past three games and it was at DH in a game Gary Sánchez played catcher. As long as everyone is healthy and they remain committed to keeping Gio Urshela at third base, Sánchez and/or Byron Buxton at DH, and Kirilloff at first base, Miranda could be the one who has trouble finding consistent plate appearances. We still need a larger sample though.
• Gilberto Celestino has been filling in as the fourth outfielder lately. He has only started one of the past three games but, before that, he started four straight as the Twins DH Buxton regularly to keep him healthy and his bat in the lineup.

AL West

Houston Astros

• Other than Jeremy Peña and Aledmys Diaz both being out, thus vaulting Mauricio Dubón into the starting shortstop role, this team remains very consistent with its lineup. In his past seven games, Dubon has had 17 plate appearances with a home run and stolen base. He is hitting .400 in the process.
• The center-field job remains a revolving door with Jose Siri and Chas McCormick alternating starts there. It is a situation you shouldn’t bother with unless you need plate appearances in an AL-only league.

Los Angeles Angels

• Brandon Marsh and Jared Walsh drop in and out of platoons, it seems. Both are currently in a full-time roles for now though.
• With Anthony Rendon out for the year, Matt Duffy has picked up most of his playing time. He’s not exactly doing anything with it though, hitting just .179 over the past 14 days with 2 combined runs and RBI. That is it.
• Luis Rengifo has taken over the second base job, starting the past eight games. However, he too is doing little with his opportunity, hitting .139 with just a run over the past 14 days. Yikes.

Oakland Athletics

• Tony Kemp is in a platoon. It’s the strong side, at least, and he leads off vs. RHP at that. He has sat vs. nine of the past 11 LHP.
• Chad Pinder plays vs. LHP and even leads off against them — four straight leadoff appearances vs. LHP. However, he is mostly in a platoon. He does start against some RHP but they are few and far between.
• Jonah Bride has entered the lineup as a regular and moved up to No. 2 in the order over the past two games. In his seven MLB games, he is hitting an empty .333 — no counting stats so far. He should be only rostered in the deepest of formats where you need plate appearances and a pulse.
• Christian Bethancourt remains relevant, as he is hitting .275 over the past 14 days with three home runs and a stolen base. Being eligible as a catcher but playing more often due to handling first base duties for this team adds to his fantasy appeal and value.
• Don’t sleep on Seth Brown. He is hitting a respectable .250 over the past two weeks but with four home runs, and he has stolen a base over this span as well. He has relevance in 15-team mixed leagues and deeper.

Seattle Mariners

• Julio Rodriguez has moved into the top third of the lineup spot and has given the team no reason to move him out. Another rookie, like Witt, who had a slow start but has been amazing since the calendar turned to May. Since May 1, he has put up a triple-slash of .299/.355/.505 with a .374 wOBA and 152 wRC+. This is not to mention the power and speed production that has come with it (nine home runs and nine stolen bases). He has been a fantasy darling.
• Taylor Trammell has been in the lineup since May 23. He has been on a strong-side platoon. He has a couple of home runs and a stolen base over the past 14 days while hitting .222. He’s been nothing special, but is relevant in AL-only formats.
• With returns likely in the not-too-distant future for Kyle Lewis and Jarred Kelenic, it feels as though Trammell is on borrowed time. The same can be said for Justin Upton, who has started five straight games since being called up. He’s batted No. 6 or lower in the process, but is playing every day at DH.

Texas Rangers

• Josh Smith was activated off the IL and started over Ezequiel Duran on June 21. This was coming off no game on Monday and a rest day on Saturday for Duran, so he didn’t need the additional rest. Before the IL stint, Smith was called up ahead of Duran and was starting at third base — in Smith’s five starts at the MLB level he has only started at third base. He can play the outfield, so maybe they finally push Kole Calhoun (and his .437 OPS in June) to the bench. This would make the most sense instead of shunting the growth of your future full-time starters. I would love to see both Duran and Smith fit into the lineup, and there is room if the Rangers are willing to make it. It is a situation worth monitoring moving forward.
• Since his call-up, Leody Taveras has started eight straight games. Unfortunately, he has hit an empty .250 since. He has tools but has yet to flash them fully. He showed a glimpse of them in 2020, so we know it can happen, but until it does, he belongs on the waiver wire in most leagues.

(Top photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)