The goal with Lineup Lowdown is simple: we're looking for trends which could help identify players that might be undervalued or overvalued. Who is playing more/less? Who is moving up/down? We'll be doing a deep dive into one league each week as we navigate the lineup landscape.
Baltimore Orioles
– Ryan Mountcastle returned over the weekend after being shelved since late May with a hamstring injury and has made three straight starts, batting fifth in each contest. Mountcastle was in the designated hitter spot in the first two of those games, allowing Coby Mayo to remain at first base. Mayo hit seventh once and sixth once in those contests before getting a breather Sunday. Mountcastle and Mayo should continue to share the first base and DH spots down the stretch, or at least until top prospect Samuel Basallo enters the picture.
– With Cedric Mullins traded, and Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) on the injured list, the Orioles are scrambling in the outfield. Greg Allen has started all three games since Cowser and O'Neill went down. Dylan Carlson and Jeremiah Jackson have drawn two starts apiece, and Ryan Noda and Jordyn Adams have started one game. Hot-hitting prospect Dylan Beavers should get an opportunity sooner rather than later, perhaps by Friday, as that's the cutoff date for retaining rookie (and PPI) eligibility in 2026.
Boston Red Sox
– I keep waiting for the Red Sox to just make Romy Gonzalez their everyday first baseman, but it hasn't quite
The goal with Lineup Lowdown is simple: we're looking for trends which could help identify players that might be undervalued or overvalued. Who is playing more/less? Who is moving up/down? We'll be doing a deep dive into one league each week as we navigate the lineup landscape.
Baltimore Orioles
– Ryan Mountcastle returned over the weekend after being shelved since late May with a hamstring injury and has made three straight starts, batting fifth in each contest. Mountcastle was in the designated hitter spot in the first two of those games, allowing Coby Mayo to remain at first base. Mayo hit seventh once and sixth once in those contests before getting a breather Sunday. Mountcastle and Mayo should continue to share the first base and DH spots down the stretch, or at least until top prospect Samuel Basallo enters the picture.
– With Cedric Mullins traded, and Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) on the injured list, the Orioles are scrambling in the outfield. Greg Allen has started all three games since Cowser and O'Neill went down. Dylan Carlson and Jeremiah Jackson have drawn two starts apiece, and Ryan Noda and Jordyn Adams have started one game. Hot-hitting prospect Dylan Beavers should get an opportunity sooner rather than later, perhaps by Friday, as that's the cutoff date for retaining rookie (and PPI) eligibility in 2026.
Boston Red Sox
– I keep waiting for the Red Sox to just make Romy Gonzalez their everyday first baseman, but it hasn't quite happened yet. Gonzalez – who has not posted an OPS lower than .917 in any month since May – has been in the lineup for seven of the past nine tilts, with two of the last three of those coming at first base. Abraham Toro has started the same number of games during that span but has just a .567 OPS since July 1, though he did homer Monday.
– With Carlos Narvaez battling nagging knee soreness, Connor Wong drew four straight starts and six starts over a seven-game stretch before Narvaez returned to action Monday. Narvaez could also be wearing down during his first full season at the big-league level, as he's sporting just a .509 OPS since the beginning of July.
New York Yankees
– Paul Goldschmidt could be falling into a short-side platoon role at first base, having made just two starts over the last six games versus right-handed pitching. Meanwhile, Ben Rice has started each of the last six contests and eight of the last nine tilts. That included one start at catcher versus a lefty. Rice hit second five straight times versus righties before batting fifth Monday, while Goldschmidt has been in the leadoff spot for two straight tilts versus southpaws.
– Giancarlo Stanton had been absent from the lineup for all four contests against righties since Aaron Judge returned from the IL before he played right field Monday, as Judge remains limited to DH duties. Stanton has played right field twice in the last three games, which were his first two starts in the outfield since 2023. Judge hopes to return to the outfield sometime during the team's upcoming road trip, although it's not clear whether he'll do it on an everyday basis.
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Tampa Bay Rays
– Yandy Diaz has taken over as the everyday first baseman since Jonathan Aranda (wrist) was hurt, which has freed up Diaz's old DH spot. The Rays have used five different players at DH in nine contests (including Diaz once), with Christopher Morel garnering four starts there versus lefties and Brandon Lowe starting there three times against righties. The domino effect has meant more opportunities at second base, where Tristan Gray (two times) and Ha-Seong Kim (three times, with Taylor Walls playing shortstop those days) have filled in.
– The left-handed-hitting Hunter Feduccia has started all five games versus righties since being added to the roster and made one additional start against a lefty. All but one of the right-handed-hitting Nick Fortes' starts have been against southpaws, and his one start versus a righty came prior to Feduccia being called up.
Toronto Blue Jays
– Ty France has been in the Blue Jays' lineup for seven of nine tilts since being acquired at the trade deadline, including three games versus right-handers. He's reached base 13 times over his first 31 plate appearances with Toronto. While France has gotten off to a fine start with his new club, he's likely to see his playing time cut dramatically once George Springer (concussion) is back in the fold.
– Seven of Addison Barger's last eight starts have come at third base, as the return of Daulton Varsho has meant a shift to right field for Nathan Lukes. With Barger at the hot corner, Ernie Clement has occupied second base in five of his last seven starts, but Andres Gimenez's return from an ankle injury is imminent and Springer shouldn't be far behind, which will create a playing time crunch manager John Schneider must sort through.
Chicago White Sox
– Lenyn Sosa has been up in the No. 2 spot in the lineup each of the last eight times the White Sox have faced a righty, and he hit leadoff in their one game versus a lefty during that span. Dating back to June 25, Sosa is slashing .292/.331/.540 and has clubbed 10 home runs over 37 contests. He started three straight at first base after Miguel Vargas (oblique) was hurt, but each of Sosa's last six starts have come at second base, with Curtis Mead settling in at first base the last six games.
– Brooks Baldwin has started nine straight tilts, with eight of those coming at third base. Baldwin could settle into more of a super utility role once the White Sox get healthier, or he could be used as their primary left fielder if the club wants to stick with Andrew Benintendi at DH. The 24-year-old Baldwin has an .809 OPS across his last 21 contests, so he should continue playing somewhere.
Cleveland Guardians
– Switch hitter Angel Martinez has been out of the lineup for two of the last three and four of the last eight times the Guardians have faced a right-hander. Meanwhile, the lefty-swinging Daniel Schneemann has patrolled center field when Martinez has sat, and he's started all 15 games versus righties in the second half. Schneemann has also been situated in the two hole for the Guardians in each of his last eight starts and is slashing .304/.420/.429 since the All-Star break.
– C.J. Kayfus has been in the lineup for seven of eight contests since his promotion. Four of those starts – including three of the last four games – have come in right field, as Kayfus has overtaken Nolan Jones as the preferred option at that position. Kayfus has reached base seven times across his last four tilts, which included his first major-league home run.
Detroit Tigers
– After going 11-for-62 with a 25:1 K:BB over a 15-game stretch, Riley Greene was down in the No. 6 spot in the Tigers' lineup for a game this past Friday, which is the lowest he's batted all season. He was then out of the lineup the day after that. Perhaps the message was received, as Greene was back in the cleanup spot Sunday and snapped out of his funk with a home run.
– Zach McKinstry has also inched down in the lineup following a slow start to the second half (.177/.250/.339), batting either seventh or eighth in eight of his last nine starts. He did move back up to sixth Sunday, although that was with Wenceel Perez (foot) out. McKinstry still bounces around to different positions, but the majority of his time has been spent at third base (13 of his last 21 starts).
Kansas City Royals
– It took until Aug. 6, but the Royals finally demoted Jonathan India from the leadoff spot. The 28-year-old simply hasn't offered the on-base skills the Royals were expecting when they acquired him via trade over the offseason, as he's sitting on a career-low .321 OBP through 109 games. India has hit seventh three times, sixth once and had a day off over the last five games, while Mike Yastrzemski has sat atop the batting order four times during that span.
– After starting four times in his first five games (two against righties) upon his arrival in Kansas City, Randal Grichuk has been in the lineup just three times in his team's last nine contests. Meanwhile, John Rave started just two of five games during the former stretch and seven of nine in the latter span of games. Rave has perked up a bit at the plate since the All-Star break, sporting a .792 OPS with all three of his home runs.
Minnesota Twins
– Luke Keaschall has started six straight tilts since his return from the IL last week, with the first five of those coming at second base before he slid into the DH spot Monday. He hit fifth in the first three of those contests before inching up to third against a lefty and then fourth the last two games versus righties. Keaschall has hit the ground running at the big-league level with a ridiculous 1.130 OPS in his first 13 contests.
– The left-handed-hitting Alan Roden had started all but one game against righties this month before sitting out Monday's contest with a thumb issue. He was even at the top of the batting order three times over that stretch, although his leadoff days could be done with Byron Buxton now back in the fold. Assuming he can put the thumb injury behind him, Roden should be the Twins' primary left fielder down the stretch.
Houston Astros
– Carlos Correa was dealt back to Houston at the trade deadline and has taken over as the Astros' everyday third baseman (he did make one start at shortstop when Jeremy Pena had the day off). He's batted cleanup in six of eight games versus righties and hit second the three times the Astros have faced a lefty since he returned to his old haunts. The 30-year-old Correa has looked rejuvenated thus far, putting up a 1.042 OPS in 10 contests since rejoining the Astros.
– Jesus Sanchez has hit either second (six times) or third (twice) in eight games versus right-handers since landing in Houston via trade. He remained in the lineup against a lefty Sunday, batting sixth, before sitting out Monday's contest versus a southpaw. The eventual return of Yordan Alvarez (hand) – assuming he does finally return at some point – could complicate the playing time picture for Sanchez, but he's in a great situation right now.
Stay up to date on who is in and who is out with RotoWire's MLB Injury Report!
Los Angeles Angels
– Jo Adell has had a fine season at the plate, but the Angels haven't been happy with his center-field defense. They finally decided to do something about it by shifting Adell back to right field and installing the defensively gifted Bryce Teodosio in center field for eight of the past nine tilts (Adell did return to center for the other contest). Teodosio has batted ninth in all eight of his starts but has already stolen three bases without being caught. I don't know that he'll be able to get on base enough for it to matter, but he'll be a threat to run anytime he does reach.
– Luis Rengifo has still essentially been an everyday player since both Yoan Moncada and Christian Moore returned to action, starting six of eight contests. He's finally shown signs of life offensively during that span, too, slashing .391/.417/.783 with a pair of home runs. Meanwhile, fellow infielder Oswald Peraza has made just one start since the Halos acquired him from the Yankees at the trade deadline.
Sacramento Athletics
– About five months after signing him to a long-term contract extension, the Athletics appear to have made Lawrence Butler a platoon outfielder. The left-handed-swinging Butler has been out of the lineup each of the last four times and seven of the last occasions against southpaw hurlers. Butler has a .556 OPS and 39.8 percent strikeout rate against lefties this season, and he has just a .570 OPS versus all pitchers since July 1. The 25-year-old is still batting leadoff against most righties, although he was down in the No. 7 spot versus a couple righties last week.
– Darell Hernaiz has assumed everyday shortstop duties in place of the injured Jacob Wilson (forearm) since being promoted in late July, starting 12 consecutive contests. He batted ninth in each of the first four of those games but has hit sixth (five times) or fifth (once) in six of the last seven tilts. Hernaiz has very little power to speak of, but he's managed to pop a couple homers already. Contact skills are his best asset though, as he's struck out just twice while drawing six walks thus far.
Seattle Mariners
– J.P. Crawford took over as the Mariners' leadoff hitter in late April and retained that post until late July. However, over the last 10 contests Crawford has batted eighth eight times and ninth twice. Seattle's new leadoff man is Randy Arozarena, who has reached base at a .356 clip and scored eight runs in 10 games atop the batting order.
– Rookie Cole Young has found a bit of a groove offensively in the second half, particularly from a plate discipline perspective, boasting a 5:13 K:BB over 58 plate appearances. The left-handed hitter has been on the bench twice over the last four games against right-handed pitching though, with the Mariners using Jorge Polanco at second base those days while Cal Raleigh settles in at DH. Young has also been out of the lineup each of the last four times the Mariners have gone up against a southpaw.
Texas Rangers
– The Rangers have faced two lefties and two righties since Jake Burger was activated from the IL, and Burger has started against both southpaws and been on the bench against both right-handers. It's been the left-handed-hitting Rowdy Tellez at first base for those two contests versus righties, and he sports an .866 OPS with a couple homers in 16 games with Texas. Tellez slugged a game-tying homer in the ninth inning Monday versus the Diamondbacks before Burger came off the bench to deliver a walk-off RBI single.
– Adolis Garcia was planted in the Rangers' cleanup spot for every game from June 28 to Aug. 6, but he's slumping again and was down in the No. 7 spot Monday. Joc Pederson has batted cleanup in each of the last two games versus right-handed pitching, and Pederson sports a 1.090 OPS so far in August.
