Fantasy Baseball Lineup Notes: Batting Order, Platoons, and Playing Time Changes - Week 12

Analyzing MLB starting lineup trends and emerging fantasy baseball sleepers for Week 12 (2024). Kevin reviews batting order changes, playing time, and platoons.

It's Week 12 in the fantasy baseball world. Wild things continue to happen in baseball, including the Rockies giving up 17 runs in a game that wasn't at Coors Field. Some thought it was impossible to be this horrendous, but not for the Colorado Rockies! My tolerance for bad baseball in purple pinstripes is beginning to dwindle, but I digress.

In this article, as usual, we'll go over some of the trends we're seeing with platoon hitters, notable playing time changes, and batting order notes. We'll focus on a couple of players for each section and provide some added depth and insight to help you build your lineup.

If there are players that you'd like to see covered or discussed that fit any of the criteria below, feel free to hit me up! Now, let's get to it.

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Platoon Player Updates for Fantasy Baseball

Zach McKinstry - 3B, Detroit Tigers

On the season, McKinstry's stats aren't going to look super appealing. He's been a victim of some bad luck but that's starting to turn around some in June. Though a limited sample size, the lefty is hitting for a 126 wRC+ in eight games in June with a homer, four RBI, and two runs scored.

Zach McKinstry DINGER 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ebTaSEbdAE

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 5, 2024

As I mentioned, he's been a victim of some bad luck with a .247 wOBA to go along with a .299 xwOBA. Positive results will start to swing his way. Not overwhelmingly, but they're coming. McKinstry is worth a bench spot on your roster if you want to see just how hot his June can get. DFS managers will want to target him on the road if they're looking for an under-the-radar option that won't be on many rosters.

Michael Busch  - 1B, Chicago Cubs

Another lefty platooning against righties, Busch has been providing the Cubs with some much-needed offense as they try to stay within reach of a wild-card spot. All season Busch has been hitting for a solid 127 wRC+ this season, but that's jumped up to 157 in the month of June.

MICHAEL. BUSCH. pic.twitter.com/Jo8FBDVDMp

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 21, 2024

Busch started the season with a lot of power. While that's subsided, he's been drawing a ton of walks with a 15.1% BB% in May and a 17.2% BB% in June. He's getting on base for the Cubs and eventually, that should turn into more runs scored for the lefty. Fantasy managers should consider rostering Busch. DFS managers will want to target him on the road where he's hitting for a 157 wRC+ compared to his 82 wRC+ at Wrigley.

Other platoon names to keep an eye on:

Luke Raley - OF, Seattle Mariners
Joc Pederson - DH, Arizona Diamondbacks

Playing Time Updates for Fantasy Baseball

Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán - C, Philadelphia Phillies

With J.T. Realmuto out for the next month after needing knee surgery, someone's going to have to pick up the slack in Philadelphia. Since Realmuto exited in Sunday's game against the Mets in London, the Phillies have been alternating between Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán at backstop. Based off the stats between these two, Philadelphia will desperately be missing Realmuto.

Marchán hasn't gotten many ABs this season as he only got called up to the active roster on Monday after Realmuto's injury. He hasn't gotten many chances at the plate in the minors either, so any fantasy manager taking a chance on him is taking a major risk. With Stubbs, he's only slashing .183/.269/.200 in 2024. The stats speak for themselves there. Neither catcher is currently worth a pickup in leagues until they prove themselves. And even then, you're only looking at a couple weeks of starts before Realmuto is back. If you need catcher help on your roster, look elsewhere.

Cavan Biggio - 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

With Toronto no longer needing Biggio's services, the 29-year-old was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers and will mainly be used at third base to fill in Max Muncy's open spot. With LA's lineup being top heavy, and also showing a willingness to let Chris Taylor and his .100 BA continue to get starts, there will be plenty of chances for Biggio to prove himself in the Dodgers' lineup.

Biggio was below average with Toronto this season, hitting for just an OPS+ of 80. That should be good enough to keep him at the bottom of LA's top-heavy lineup. And the more he's on, the more likely it is that NL MVP frontrunner Mookie Betts or LA's other NL MVP frontrunner Shohei Ohtani will knock him in. Snag him off the waiver wire if he's available in your league and stash him on your bench until he gets settled in.

Other names to keep an eye on who are now receiving more playing time:

Rob Refsnyder - OF, Boston Red Sox
Danny Jansen - C, Toronto Blue Jays

Batting Order Changes for Fantasy Baseball

Matt Vierling - 3B, Detroit Tigers

Another Tiger we're featuring here. Vierling has been having a solid season, hitting for a 116 wRC+. The Tigers have rewarded Vierling by putting him at the top of the lineup and he's now been hitting leadoff pretty consistently for all but one game in June.

Matt Vierling solo shot gets it started in Detroit! pic.twitter.com/BgZ9eCDJb7

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 12, 2024

Ironically his stats in June have not been up to par. However, it may help you be able to buy low on him. He's got a .312 wOBA and a .323 xwOBA so he may be having a slight bit of positive regression coming his way. Use this to your advantage and get Detroit's new leadoff man on your roster.

David Hamilton - SS, Boston Red Sox

A little more of a recent trend here, Hamilton has been seeing more time in the two-hole for Boston after generally hitting at the bottom of the order. And why not? He's got a solid 124 OPS+ on the season and has been better in May and June, hitting for an .883 OPS in May and an .894 OPS in June.

David Hamilton is literally the best hitter on the Red Sox.
pic.twitter.com/Dv4cAIDX9O

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 13, 2024

The main worry with Hamilton is that he's been the beneficiary of quite a bit of luck, hitting for a .352 wOBA with a .297 xwOBA. He may be a risky pickup, but it's hard to ignore a hot streak. Snag him if you're needing help at shortstop but be weary that negative regression will be rearing its ugly head for the 26-year-old soon enough.

Other players to keep an eye on for batting order changes:

Masyn Winn - SS, St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Gorman - 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

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