This article is part of our In Some Depth series.
The past few weeks, In Some Depth has taken a forward-looking approach and tried to predict where some movement in advance of next month's non-waiver trade deadline. Rather than continue to wade back into those waters, this week I have instead returned to the normal format of diving into the league's depth charts and batting orders. Specifically, this week's edition examines some catching situations and surprise No. 3 batters.
Without any further ado...
Blue Jays
Starter: Russell Martin
Next: Dioner Navarro
This past offseason, it looked like Dioner Navarro might not be long for Canada after the Blue Jays inked Russell Martin to a big deal in free agency. After all, Martin has been an above-average hitter the past two seasons, and he filled the bill as the Jays' full-time guy last year. They did not, and Navarro sat out for more than a month with a hamstring injury. Martin has been everything the Jays could have hoped for in signing him to that offseason deal, while Navarro has a .695 OPS since returning from the DL in early-June. The two have frequently started in the same lineup of late, with one behind the plate and one in the DH slot. That should last while the DH slot is free from the likes of Edwin Encarnacion (currently at first) and Jose Bautista (currently in the outfield).
Orioles
In the mix: Matt Wieters, Caleb Joseph
Matt Wieters may have returned from Tommy John surgery earlier this month, but just as
The past few weeks, In Some Depth has taken a forward-looking approach and tried to predict where some movement in advance of next month's non-waiver trade deadline. Rather than continue to wade back into those waters, this week I have instead returned to the normal format of diving into the league's depth charts and batting orders. Specifically, this week's edition examines some catching situations and surprise No. 3 batters.
Without any further ado...
Blue Jays
Starter: Russell Martin
Next: Dioner Navarro
This past offseason, it looked like Dioner Navarro might not be long for Canada after the Blue Jays inked Russell Martin to a big deal in free agency. After all, Martin has been an above-average hitter the past two seasons, and he filled the bill as the Jays' full-time guy last year. They did not, and Navarro sat out for more than a month with a hamstring injury. Martin has been everything the Jays could have hoped for in signing him to that offseason deal, while Navarro has a .695 OPS since returning from the DL in early-June. The two have frequently started in the same lineup of late, with one behind the plate and one in the DH slot. That should last while the DH slot is free from the likes of Edwin Encarnacion (currently at first) and Jose Bautista (currently in the outfield).
Orioles
In the mix: Matt Wieters, Caleb Joseph
Matt Wieters may have returned from Tommy John surgery earlier this month, but just as a team would do for a returning starting pitcher, the Orioles have kept a close eye on Wieters' playing time. He only has 57 plate appearances since returning June 5th and he has started back-to-back games just twice. The lack of consistent playing time has not affected the rhythm of Wieters' bat too much, as he is still slugging just south of .600. Wieters should re-take the full-time role before long. Caleb Joseph will hang around in the meantime, earning him value in some formats.
A's
Starter: Stephen Vogt
Next: Josh Phegley
Stephen Vogt has been one of the bigs' best hitters this season, but his backup, Josh Phegley, has slugged a very quiet .545 through 100-ish plate appearances. That slugging percentage rose significantly in June, in which he hit four home runs in just 47 plate appearances. The power should avail him more playing time, assuming Vogt shifts to first base or DH more frequently as the season wears on.
Braves
Starter: A.J. Pierzynski
Next: Ryan Lavarnway
In the minors: Christian Bethancourt
Last week, I mentioned how A.J. Pierzynski could be a decent No. 2 catcher for a contending team. At the time, I hypothesized that this could lead to Ryan Lavarnway getting his first run at regular playing time in years. I just kind of breezed over the fact that Christian Bethancourt, who had a 40 OPS+ in his first few months of 2015, would likely stick in the minors for a while. Then Bethancourt started a six-game hit streak. He is now riding a .357/.386/.500 slash line in his half-month back at Triple-A Gwinnett, and he should be back to serve as a battery mate for the Braves' pitchers before long.
Cubs
Starter: Miguel Montero
Next: David Ross
In the minors: Kyle Schwarber
How long until this job is Kyle Schwarber's? There have been knocks on his defense behind the plate since before the Cubs drafted him a year ago, yet they continue to plop him behind the plate in the minors and refuse to tinker with him elsewhere in the field. He made an A-OK impression in his brief stint as the Cubs' primary DH, knocking in nearly as many RBI (6) as strikeouts (8) over his 22 at-bats. The call-up isn't as obvious or immediate with Miguel Montero posting a 112 OPS+ as the team's starting catcher, but it almost has to happen at some point. Especially if the Cubs remain in the thick of the NL Wild Card race.
Red Sox No. 3
Remember when we thought Xander Bogaerts was a bust? That may have only been a few months ago, but Bogaerts is temporarily the Red Sox's No. 3 batter with Hanley Ramirez on the disabled list. He has started the team's last five games in that slot, posting an .818 OPS over that stretch to crown a June in which he hit .324 with a .457 slugging percentage. However, he will probably slide out of the meat of the order once Ramirez returns, as the Red sox seem to be incapable of demoting the still-slumping David Ortiz.
Marlins No. 3
Quick. Without looking, name the Marlins' No. 3 batter.
Did you guess Adeiny Hechavarria? If so, you are either a diehard Miami fan, an Hechavarria owner, or you just couldn't think of any other Marlins. In any case, you would be correct.That means Hechevarria willnow play with some regularity the lineup position filled by Stanton not three weeks ago. At that time, Hechavarria was hitting eighth, between J.T. Realmuto and the pitcher. He might vacate the spot when the Marlins face some more right handed pitchers, as his handedness split is pretty significant (.651 OPS against right-handed pitchers versus .921 against lefties). Other candidates for the third spot in the Marlins' lineup include pretty much anyone outside of Dee Gordon, the catcher position, and the pitcher.
Phillies No. 3
Two weeks ago, the Phillies elevated electric rookie Maikel Franco to the third spot of the lineup. Since the change, Franco has hit .353/.400/.627 with four home runs and 16 RBI. That's more than an RBI per game in a lineup that does not exactly feature OBP hogs in the first and second spots. Chase Utley, who has filled the team's No. 3 spot for the past decade, will probably have to find a different lineup spot when he returns from the DL in mid-to-late July.
Giants No. 3
Matt Duffy entered 2015 with a utlity/infield depth sort of profile. Still, it was not too surprising when he bounced Casey McGehee from the team's starting third base gig, because Casey McGehee. However, the notion that he now bats third for the Giants is quite unexpected. Of course, the move makes sense, given that Duffy has an OPS on the right side of 1.000 over the past month or so. He should hold onto the spot for the immediate future, with Angel Pagan leading off and Hunter Pence That is what has happened with Hunter Pence back on the disabled list.
