Lineup Takeaways - Week 3 Lineup Trends

April 18, 2021

Mike Kurland takes a deep look at Week 3 fantasy baseball risers and fallers based on week one lineup trends, highlighting strong and weak platoons, and players who may benefit from lineup slot.

Week three of the MLB season is in the books. There are new injuries, players landing on the COVID IL, and much more that are causing lineups to alter. Let’s try to figure out what is noise and what really matters.

Just a reminder, I have added a 'Fantasy Fallout' section to the team breakdowns. This is meant to highlight lesser rostered players who may have fantasy relevance. As we get more tangible info and stats, the notes will evolve with it.

All roster percentages are based on Yahoo formats.

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National League

NL East

Miami Marlins

Miguel Rjoas continues to lead off against LHP and plays just about everyday.

• Jon Berti continues to find himself utilized sporadically. Just five starts this season with four being at second base and one at third base. 
• Garrett Cooper has found himself playing almost everyday. Has played in four of the last five games and eight of twelve overall. Jumping between first base and right field. 
• Corey Dickerson sits against LHP.
• Jazz Chisholm continues to start most days and has played second base and some shortstop. Could gain shortstop eligibility soon.

Fantasy Fallout

• Miguel Rojas and his three stolen bases are worth rostering if you are in a deeper league and need some stolen bases. He could fall into double digits at this rate. 
• Garrett Cooper has not started off well, but with the playing time there, we should see him turn it around. A career 26.4% strikeout rate suggests the strikeouts should improve (currently 34.1%) and with it the production would improve.
• Corey Dickerson has essentially been only helpful in batting average to start the year. We know there is some power potential there, but outside of deep 15-team mixed leagues or NL-Only formats, he is not someone to target. 

Atlanta Braves

• Freddie Freeman has begun to hit second in the lineup. 
• Ozzie Albies has hit fifth in two of the three games since and fourth in the other.
• Cristian Pache on IL with Groin strain. 

Fantasy Fallout

• This essentially affects the RBI production of Freeman and the run production of Albies, not to mention the loss of at-bats for Albies as well. Need to be mindful as you target waiver wire options to fill in around them as the stats they provide (or were expected to provide) have been affected. 
• We have seen Guillermo Heredia and Ender Inciarte both started a game in centerfield since the Pache injury. Not sure how playing time will fall out, but neither are worth a look outside the DEEPEST of NL-Only leagues.

New York Mets

• Over the last three games, it appears Dominic Smith has become the three-hole hitter with Michael Conforto falling the sixth in the lineup
• Jeff McNeil has hit his way to fifth of late. Hitting there in each of the last three games.
• Since J.D. Davis hit the IL, it has been a mix of Jonathan Villar and Luis Guillorme playing third base.
• Brandon Nimmo has led off every single game since Opening Day and that includes the latest LHP they faced.

Fantasy Fallout

• Unless you are desperate for at-bats in a NL-Only format, both Villar and Guillorme can be ignored. 
• If Brandon Nimmo is available in your league (especially OBP formats) he is worthy of being on your roster. This excludes 10-team mixed leagues however.

Philadelphia Phillies

• Not much of note this week. Only possible change is that Roman Quinn is starting to play more over Adam Haseley. Quinn has started three of the last four in centerfield.

Fantasy Fallout

• Roman Quinn should be added in the deepest of leagues if the playing time comes because he has difference making speed and could grab you some much needed stolen bases.

Washington Nationals

• Over the last two games, Victor Robles has been batting ninth, essentially trying to create a double leadoff situation while getting their top guys more at-bats
• Josh Bell and Ryan Zimmerman could be in a platoon. Josh Bell just returned from the COVID IL and he has started three of four since, but the rest day happened to be against a LHP and Zimmerman started. This is a situation to monitor.

Fantasy Fallout

• This was always possible, but Robles was not deserving of this initially and for it to happen so soon is a bit surprising. Just need to readjust your expectations as of now in terms of production. Robles loses production potential across the board

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

• Nothing of note this week

Cincinnati Reds

• Since the return of Jesse Winker (who leads off primarily) we have seen Tyler Naquin relegated to the bench. 

Fantasy Fallout

• Although Naquin started off strong, he is droppable unless you have the space to stash him. However, without an injury, it is a crowded situation in Cincinnati.

Milwaukee Brewers

• With Kolten Wong and Lorenzo Cain on the IL this opens up the top of the order and so far we have seen Jackie Bradley Jr. lead off the one game.
• Dan Vogelbach has been hitting second, but one would think that won’t last once Christian Yelich returns to the lineup once the back issue has subsided.
  
• Avisail Garcia now has an everyday spot in the lineup while Cain is out. 
• Even with all the injuries, Keston Hiura has found himself still batting sixth regularly and appears to be set there for the time being. 
• Routinely batting third or fourth and having a heck of a start to the season, Travis Shaw deserves to be rostered in more leagues. He is just 20% rostered and looks like his old self.

Fantasy Fallout

• Travis Shaw should have room made for him in most formats. Only 20% rostered and absolutely crushing it start the year. He might just be back to form.
• Although he is NOT droppable, Keston Hiura has been struggling mightily. Striking out 37.5% of the time and is towards the bottom of the league in contact rate. His issues from 2020 have followed him into 2021.

• Vogelbach might have some run here with Wong out as Keston Hiura plays second base regularly. This is simply a cheap, power upside play, but he should not be rostered outside of NL-Only formats.
• Avisail Garcia should be given a look in leagues where he is available. Hitting in the middle of the order with a favorable home ballpark. He has been providing a little power (two home runs) and speed (one steal) so far as well.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Phillip Evans bats second against RHP and moves down to fourth or fifth against LHP, but the important thing is that he plays everyday.

Fantasy Fallout

• Phillip Evans has cooled down since the hot star, but he still has relevance in your deep leagues with the playing time remaining in his favor as well as a good spot in the lineup.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Tommy Edman has been playing right field recently with all the injuries in the outfield piling up. 
• This has allowed for Matt Carpenter to play second base the last two games and he is batting fifth in the process. 
• Dylan Carlson has found himself batting sixth and has yet to earn his way up the lineup.

Fantasy Fallout

• More NL-Only and 15-team mixed relevant players with Matt Carpenter seemingly locked into the starting second base role and batting toward the middle of the order.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Tim Locastro has become the everyday leadoff man.
• Christian Walker landed on the IL and it has been Asdrubal Cabrera playing everyday between third base and a strong side of the platoon at first base along with Wyatt Mathisen on the weak side of the platoon at first base.
• The biggest winner is Asdrubal Cabrera as he found his way into playing every day between third base and first base.
• When Cabrera moves to first base, Josh VanMeter is getting the reps.

Fantasy Fallout

• There is not much of relevance in shallower leagues. The only name I would consider in shallower formats is Tim Locastro for his stolen base potential as leads off with the plus speed tool.

• In 15-team mixed leagues, Asdrubal Cabrera could be useful given the playing time and with injuries and such piling up, he could fill a hole in the roster. He is only 16% owned.
• If you are in desperate need in a NL-Only league that is where Josh VanMeter would come into play.

Colorado Rockies

• Garrett Hampson has led off eight-straight and it is safe to say he is the leadoff man.
• Raimel Tapia has recently worked his way back towards the top as he has hit second in two straight games.
• Sam Hilliard has started the last two of three, but just four games total this season.

Fantasy Fallout

• Sam Hilliard (3% rostered) is droppable at this point. However, with him playing in two-of-three, if the playing time trends back up he might just be worth grabbing back up.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• With Cody Bellinger out indefinitely, as of now it is Zach McKinstry that will benefit in terms of gaining the playing time.
• With Mookie Betts returning, it seemed the Dodgers were on their way back to being healthy and McKinstry was headed back to the bench role, but given the new information about the significance of Bellinger's injury, McKinstry should remain mixed-league relevant. He has started in the last eight of nine games and hits seventh or lower.
• Something to watch is Gavin Lux is dealing with a sore wrist and it was McKinstry playing second base in the last game in his absence. McKinstry will continue to move around and play where needed as these injuries continue to pile up.

Fantasy Fallout

• With the playing time seemingly in place, Zach McKinstry should be rostered in 12-team mixed leagues or deeper.

San Diego Padres

• Fernando Tatis Jr. was activated and this pushed Ha-Seong Kim back to the bench.
• Jurickson Profar found himself back in the bottom third of the lineup as well with the team getting healthier.
• Jake Cronenworth has hit top three in the lineup in his last four starts. He could've earned that lineup spot.

Fantasy Fallout

• Ha-seong Kim becomes droppable again as the playing time is not there and the performance just has not been there.

San Francisco Giants

• A Tommy La Stella and Donovan Solano platoon at second base is happening with La Stella occupying the strong side and leading off when he is in.
• Austin Slater still continues to play most days, leading off against LHP and moves down the lineup against RHP.
• It appears Brandon Belt and Wilmer Flores are in a platoon and it is Belt on the strong side of said platoon at first base.
• Mauricio Dubon has become a weak side platoon player as well with all but one of his starts being against LHP.

Fantasy Fallout

• With all the platoon situations going on, the strong side platoon partners all have value in deeper 12-teamers and 15-teamers, but the weak side platoon partners (Solano and Flores) are not players to roster.

American League

AL East

• With Austin Hays on the IL, DJ Stewart has found his way into the starting lineup. He has hit top three in three of the last four.

Fantasy Fallout

• Having flashed some power in 2020 and in the minors, Stewart could provide said power off the waiver wire. Although it has not showed up yet, it could any day now. There is some swing and miss to his game, so be mindful of the batting average risk you take on with him as well.

Boston Red Sox

• Nothing new of note here.

New York Yankees

• Aaron Hicks might be falling down the lineup as he has hit fifth and sixth in two of his last three starts.
• Rougned Odor has found everyday at-bats as he has started five-straight at second base as DJ LeMahieu has shifted to first base.

Fantasy Fallout

• Rougned Odor (2% rostered) has AL-Only appeal and maybe some deeper mixed league appeal in the short term as the Yankess work their way around having Luke Voit out. Odor is still the same Odor, so the skillset is still very volatile. I would let him be someone else's problem.
• Aaron Hicks (36% rostered) has not looked good to start the year and if he continues to bat towards the bottom half of the lineup, he will need to bat above .200, among other things, to remain relevant. He is someone I would consider cutting depending who is available on the waiver wire.

Tampa Bay Rays

• Austin Meadows has now led off the last four games. The Yoshi Tsutsugo leadoff experiment could very well be over.
• Joey Wendle and Manuel Margot have found themselves playing regularly, which is high praise given the Rays history of not doing so.
• Mike Brosseau has now started against two-straight RHP, batting seventh both games in the process.

Fantasy Fallout

• Be mindful of Mike Brosseau's playing time as he is someone who could become mixed league relevant.
• If you need stolen base potential, Joey Wendle and Manuel Margot are both options to assist there. Wendle brings more of a floor, especially in the batting average category.

Toronto Blue Jays

• Randal Grichuk has hit cleanup for five-straight games now and we have seen Cavan Biggio fall the sixth.
• With Teoscar Hernandez and George Springer out, Rowdy Tellez has found a way to get playing time, but as the lineup gets healthy, he seems the likely odd man out give how well Grichuk has played to this point.

Fantasy Fallout

• Rowdy Tellez may have found his swing having had a base hit in four-straight games with one being a home run. It is a far cry from being a must-start player, but it is worth monitoring how he continues to produce and could be worth a speculative add.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox

• Luis Robert was hitting second regularly, but with the return of Tim Anderson, Adam Eaton was bumped back to the two-spot and Robert fell back to the seventh.
• Andrew Vaughn has now started two-straight in left field and hitting towards bottom third of the lineup.

Fantasy Fallout

• Andrew Vaughn is still the same prospect and player we thought him to be on draft day. If someone gave up on him and dropped him, he is worth stashing to see if the playing time is finally coming. They also designated Nick Williams for assignment so that clears up some of the path for regular playing time.
• Adam Eaton has earned his spot at the top with a .370 OBP and is hitting for unexpected power with three home runs.

Cleveland

• Between shortstop against LHP and centerfield against RHP, Amed Rosario has found his way to everyday playing time. He even leads off against LHP, but otherwise bats sixth against RHP
• Because Amed Rosario is the weak side platoon partner at shortstop, that hinders Andre Gimenez. Not only is Gimenez batting ninth majority of the time, he is also not playing every day.

Fantasy Fallout 

• The playing time is there for Amed Rosario and at just 7% rostered, he is readily available. The issue is the lack of production so until he gets going, I would not add him outside of 15-team mixed leagues or deeper.
• Due to not playing every day and the production being middling, Andres Gimenez is droppable in 10-teamers without a middle infield spot or in 10-team points formats.

Detroit Tigers

• We are seeing a lot of Willi Castro batting second.
• Renato Nunez has recently hit his way to the middle of the order as well.
• After not starting initially against LHP, Akil Baddoo started against a LHP. This could be a sign of everyday playing time coming his way.

Fantasy Fallout

• All-or-nothing power with Renato Nunez here. Sure, there is playing time, but having hit two home runs on the year while hitting .211 really is all you need to know and expect from Nunez. He's 4% rostered.
• Willi Castro has not had the best start to 2021 and is droppable in 10 and 12-team mixed leagues.

Kansas City Royals

• Nothing of note this week.

Minnesota Twins

• Against RHP, Luis Arraez is the leadoff man. Against LHP, he drops to the bottom half of the lineup.
• Byron Buxton has moved into the middle of the order and we saw him lead off against a LHP. He is dealing with a hamstring injury, but upon returning it will be interesting to see how he slots in there. Especially with the return of Josh Donaldson (batting second) in the lineup.

Fantasy Fallout

• Luis Arraez is still just 46% rostered and will get you a ton of runs and hit over .300 in the process. He should be rostered in more leagues.

AL West

Houston Astros

• Other than the majority of the starters being out and causing chaos in the lineup, not much has changed. Myles Straw will likely lead off in the short term and could be a good stream while doing so.

Los Angeles Angels

• With Dexter Fowler having season ending ACL surgery, they have moved Jared Walsh to right field and he even got the start against the last LHP they faced. No more platoon for the time being.
• Albert Pujols has been able to play first base full time now and typically bats fifth or sixth.
• With Anthony Rendon on the IL we should see more of Jose Rojas.

Fantasy Fallout

• Albert Pujols gains deep 15-team relevance. He would be an emergency add for at-bats.
• Jose Rojas I would just leave on the waiver wire, even in AL-Only formats. He has struggled tremendously to start the season and may even be in a platoon.

Oakland Athletics

• Jed Lowire has continued to hit in the top third of the order and remained fantasy relevant in the process.

Fantasy Fallout

• It is 2021 but Jed Lowrie is still relevant. I am as surprised as anyone, especially considering the injury issues that have plagued him of late. At 52% rostered, you may have missed the chance to add him. However, if you are in a league with a middle infield spot, Lowrie is perfect for it if he is available.

Seattle Mariners

• Evan White has worked his way back from injury and hits fifith or sixth since his return.
• Jose Marmolejos has hit fourth in six of the last eight and has carved out a role and regular playing time. Most of which was while White was out, but with White back in, he finds himself in left field for the time being.

Fantasy Fallout

• Jose Maromlejos has worked his way into the mix and could pose a threat to Dylan Moore when Kyle Lewis returns. However, both could be out of a regular job upon the return of Lewis and when Jarred Kelenic gets the call.

Texas Rangers

• Adolis Garcia since getting brought up due to Ronald Guzman getting sidelined with a knee injury has found himself starting four straight and batting fourth in three of those starts in the process.

Fantasy Fallout

• Adolis Garcia has flashed big power in the minors. He has seasons of 22 home runs and 32 home runs as recent as 2018 and 2019. The 28 year old has shown us the potential for power is there. He already has a home run in these four games, but given the lack of MLB track record and the swing-and-miss he showed as the power has developed, I would temper expectations.

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