Fantasy Baseball Lineup Notes: Batting Order, Platoons, and Playing Time Changes - Week 16

July 12, 2024

Analyzing MLB starting lineup trends and emerging fantasy baseball sleepers for Week 16 (2024). Kevin reviews batting order changes, playing time, and platoons.

We're onto Week 16 of the fantasy baseball season. Normally I'd include some sort of sarcastic update about my Rockies here, but over the past week, they've actually been incredibly mundane. Just a normal, subpar baseball team and nothing more. So there's nothing witty here, just a team that struggled to make any noise against the Cincinnati Reds after surprising the upstart Kansas City Royals over the weekend. It's a hard job keeping up with the purple pinstripes, but I digress.

In this article, 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 who 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

Sal Frelick - OF, Milwaukee Brewers 

If you read this article, you know the formula. So say it with me: Lefties who face righties are the key. And Frelick fits the bill here. Month after month, he's increased his average, though his OPS slacked in June. In July, he's picked it back up and he needs to be on your radar.

Sal Frelick hits his first homer of the year! pic.twitter.com/pjM7RXzwIx

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 15, 2024

With two homers on the year, you're not expecting a lot of power out of him. But he's good for a plethora of singles and has a solid 9.4% BB% on the season. He is due for some negative regression with a .311 wOBA and a .285 xwOBA, but he's currently performing at league average with a 101 wRC+. If you need a bat in a deeper league, Frelick may just be your guy.

Ben Rortvedt - C, Tampa Bay Rays

We wrote about Rortvedt a short while ago, and after a very subpar May, he's turned it back on. A 170 wRC+ in June makes him a prime candidate for you to add to your roster as soon as possible.

BEN RORTVEDT?!?! pic.twitter.com/qcnvVgrsXq

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) June 16, 2024

Now, he's been a big beneficiary of luck with a .341 wOBA and a .297 xwOBA, so you should expect him to cool off in the future. But at a 126 wRC+ on the season, you should still expect near league-average production once he's experienced a drop-off. If you're in need of help at catcher, then check out this backstop in Tampa for a ray of hope (boo Kevin, boo....I know).

Other platoon names to keep an eye on:

Dominic Canzone - OF, Seattle Mariners
Willie Calhoun - DH, Los Angeles Angels

Playing Time Updates for Fantasy Baseball

Spencer Horwitz - 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

It's questionable times in Toronto right now, but not for Spencer Horwitz, who's been taking advantage of his increased playing time he's seen since June 8, hitting for a 160 wRC+. That leads the Blue Jays in that time span and makes him a prime target for you to add.

Spencer Horwitz's 4th home run of the season, into the cove on the bounce. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/HE5jE6ZFh9

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) July 11, 2024

A 13.5% BB% and a 14.4% K% shows a great plate approach that gets him on base with plenty of balls in play. A .396 wOBA and a .386 xwOBA is fantastic to have. Horwitz is a must add for any fantasy manager looking for help at second. Slide him into your lineup as soon as you can.

Kevin Pillar - OF, Los Angeles Angels

Pillar joined the Angels in a bit of a platoon role while excelling against lefties, but his production has started to drop. His 123 wRC+ will look appealing on the outside, but he's in a bit of a slump and only has three hits since June 17. Not exactly what you want to see for fantasy production.

If you're looking for some outfield help, there are going to be plenty of other options. But if he's on your roster, it may be time to consider dropping him for better options as he's seen fewer and fewer at-bats over the past few weeks.

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

Daniel Schneemann - SS, Cleveland Guardians
Miguel Rojas - SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Batting Order Changes for Fantasy Baseball

Colt Keith - 2B, Detroit Tigers

This Tigers rookie has taken a little bit of time to get going, but he's really started to turn it on. Detroit moved him up into the two hole on June 19 and he's absolutely tearing it up, hitting for a .974 OPS since getting bumped up. If you're looking at his season-long wRC+ of 91, you may not see value, but buy into his recent hot streak and you may be thankful you did.

Colt's heater continues 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/sLLfwlvrbB

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 10, 2024

On top of his recent hot streak, Keith has a .298 wOBA with a .318 xwOBA, pointing toward a slight bit of positive regression headed his way. If he's floating around on your waiver wire, then snatch up this rookie ASAP. With this kind of hot streak, you know this Tiger just keeps earning his stripes (you're booing me again, I know).

Brenton Doyle - OF, Colorado Rockies

When I can find ways to fit my Rockies into these articles in a positive light, then I will. And Doyle has been a real bright spot on a dull purple baseball team, hitting for a 113 wRC+ on the season and a .533/.622/1.300 slash line in July. He's dropped from the top of the order to the four and five spots, but knowing the Rockies' old-school mentality, that's simply to give him more opportunities to rack up as many RBI as possible, potentially providing more fantasy value.

The reigning NL Player of the Week just hit his 2nd home run of the game!

🚀 107.8 MPH
☄️ 442 FT pic.twitter.com/QW4fNBjPfo

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 10, 2024

His .351 wOBA is balanced out by a .346 xwOBA, somewhat unusual for a player that calls Coors home. He's not the beneficiary of luck and that's a good thing. He's unsurprisingly much better at home than on the road (146 wRC+ vs. 83 wRC+) but the NL Player of the Week may be an under-the-radar pickup for you. Consider picking him up if he's on your waiver wire. And if you're a DFS player, target him against lefties at home as he's hitting for a 176 wRC+ in that scenario.

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

Jorge Soler - DH, San Francisco Giants
Wilyer Abreu - OF, Boston Red Sox

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