Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis: AL 08/03

American League Lineup analysis is back again to help recap everything post-trade deadline. This article will help you stay up to date on the ever-changing lineups from the American League with notes on injuries, playing time changes, hot streaks, and more. The five hottest hitters in the AL over the past two weeks have been Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bobby Witt Jr., Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Lawrence Butler. Pretty much the same hitters as last week have kept it rolling. Keep reading for the latest news and notes from all 15 American League teams.

Please note that this article was written the day before publication. I will do my best to update the article with any relevant information from the previous night’s games.

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Takeaways

AL East

New York Yankees

• Jazz Chisholm has been added to the Yankees’ lineup
  • Since arriving last Sunday, Chisholm has been primarily playing third base and batting sixth in the lineup
  • He has also made a start in center field and figures to get time at second base when Gleyber Torres has an off day
  • Chisholm has been incredible for the Yankees in a small sample size and could feed off the positive energy in New York
  • DJ LeMahieu has moved into a bench role with this acquisition
• Giancarlo Stanton is back from the IL
  • Stanton has slotted back into the fifth spot in New York’s lineup and figures to serve as the primary DH
  • With Chisholm now in the mix and Trent Grisham on the bench, the team could opt to give Stanton more scheduled rest days to try and keep him healthy
  • When healthy, Stanton has played well this season with 18 home runs and excellent RBI numbers. He is especially valuable in points leagues
• Alex Verdugo is leading off
  • Verdugo has moved up to the top spot in the lineup despite mediocre on-base percentage numbers
  • The move up in the lineup coincides with Verdugo hitting safely in nine of ten games with a .353 average over that span
  • His barrel rate is up significantly during this period and he should score plenty of runs hitting ahead of Soto and Judge
  • Ben Rice has moved down to seventh in the lineup with Verdugo moving up
• Gleyber Torres was removed from the game on Friday night
  • Torres has been struggling at the plate for most of the season and appeared to not run out a ground ball during the game
  • It remains to be seen if Aaron Boone will decide to keep Torres on the bench for an extended period of time as a result of this
  • If so, DJ LeMahieu would likely see the biggest boost in playing time

Boston Red Sox

• Masataka Yoshida has been batting third in the lineup
  • Yoshida had primarily been batting fifth or sixth most games for Boston this season but has slid up in the order as of late
  • Since the All-Star break, Yoshida is batting well over .300 with more walks than strikeouts
  • A low barrel rate makes it unlikely Yoshida ever hits for much power, but fantasy managers can still expect strong OBP numbers from him
• The team acquired Danny Jansen from Toronto
  • Jansen joined the team last Sunday but has made just two starts since joining the team
  • He figures to get into the lineup primarily against left-handed pitching and on occasion against a righty
  • Connor Wong is still serving as the team’s primary catcher but is batting just .211 since the start of July

Tampa Bay Rays

• In comes Christopher Morel and out goes Isaac Paredes
  • The Rays made a move for more upside by acquiring Morel who could never put it fully together in Chicago
  • Morel figures to play in a utility role for Tampa and has been batting third in the lineup since being acquired
  • He homered in his first two games in a Rays’ uniform and has the kind of upside to turn into a league-winner over the final two months
• Richie Palacios is on the IL
  • Palacios suffered a hyper-extended knee and is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks
  • With Palacios out, Jonny DeLuca or Dylan Carlson figure to get the majority of playing time in the outfield
  • Carlson was acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline and could be given a chance to revive his career in Tampa
• Jose Caballero has been serving as the primary third baseman
  • With Paredes gone, the team is giving the first chance for playing time to Caballero who has moved up to fifth in the lineup
  • Caballero does not provide much offensively, but does have 28 stolen bases in just 90 games this year and could be a reliable source of speed with everyday playing time
  • The team also has Curtis Mead on the Major League roster who could see his playing time increase. The real name to watch is top prospect Junior Caminero and how long it takes the Rays to promote him from Triple-A

Toronto Blue Jays

• The Jays acquired Joey Loperfido from Houston
  • With Kevin Kiermaier getting sent to the Dodgers, the team is replacing him in the lineup with Loperfido
  • Loperfido was one of Houston’s top prospects entering the season but struggled to put things together at the Major League level
  • He should get everyday playing time in Toronto and hit second in the lineup in his debut Wednesday
  • Loperfido has upside for fantasy managers but will need to limit the strikeouts to become fantasy-relevant
• The team also traded away Justin Turner
  • Turner was serving as the team’s primary DH which has now been rotated around to a variety of players
  • Spencer Horwitz has finally been able to secure his lineup spot against lefties while Addison Barger seems likely to get the biggest boost in playing time
  • Barger has hit two home runs since being recalled from Triple-A and has solid underlying metrics that could make him worth taking a chance on in fantasy
• We are not talking enough about Vladimir Guerrero Jr
  • Vladdy has been on an absolute tear for the past month and a half after a slow start to the season
  • He is now up to 21 home runs on the season with seven coming since the All-Star Break
  • He is batting over .330 since the start of June while lowering his strikeout rate even further. This is an elite fantasy asset moving forward

Baltimore Orioles

• Jordan Westburg has a fractured hand
  • Westburg was in the midst of a fantastic season and this injury is likely to keep him sidelined until late in the regular season
  • With Westburg out, the team is promoting another top prospect in Coby Mayo to make his Major League debut
  • Mayo is one of the game’s top prospects and is a must-add player in all 12+ team leagues. He is likely to play every day and bat in the back half of the lineup
• Jackson Holliday is back in the Major Leagues
  • Holliday is back for his second stint in the Major Leagues and has taken over as the primary second baseman
  • Although his first stint in the Major Leagues did not go as planned, he is another must-add player
  • He has been batting at the bottom of the lineup so far and has moved Ramon Urias into a bench role
• Eloy Jimenez was acquired from Chicago
  • A bit of a surprising move, the team made a move for Jimenez despite a plethora of young talent
  • He has yet to appear in a game since being acquired and could be used in a short-side platoon role
  • With Jimenez and Austin Slater being added to the roster, Heston Kjerstad was sent back to Triple-A

AL West

Houston Astros

• Joey Loperfido was traded to Toronto
  • As mentioned previously, Houston made a move that included sending Loperfido away
  • Loperfido was getting fairly regular playing time in the outfield which now is going to Chas McCormick
  • McCormick has been batting toward the bottom of the lineup and is batting around .300 since the All-Star Break
• Victor Caratini is getting more playing time
  • The Astros are looking for a bit more offensively and are giving Caratini a chance behind the dish
  • Yainer Diaz is spending time as the DH so that Houston can get both players into the lineup
  • Caratini does not have much offensive upside and is not worth rostering

Los Angeles Angels

• Anthony Rendon is back on the IL
  • Surprise, surprise as Rendon did not stay healthy for long
  • With Rendon out, Willie Calhoun has reentered the starting lineup with Brandon Drury getting time at third base
  • Calhoun continues to bat fourth in the lineup against righties but is not hitting for enough power to be fantasy-relevant
• Nolan Schanuel has three home runs since the All-Star break
  • Schanuel already has great contact skills making any improvements to his power worth taking note of
  • His average launch angle and barrel rate are both up significant amounts which is helping to fuel this power outburst
  • Schanuel is slashing .327/.485/.538 since July 11 and should be rostered in any league you need help at first base

Texas Rangers

• Josh Jung is back from the IL
  • Jung has had a lengthy absence from the Rangers’ lineup but finally returned on Tuesday
  • He has hit seventh in the lineup since returning and is certainly worth picking up if he is available anywhere
  • With Jung returning to the lineup, Travis Jankowski has lost most of his playing time
• Josh Smith and Marcus Semien have flipped in the lineup
  • Smith has been batting leadoff recently with Semien batting third behind Corey Seager
  • Smith has been scuffling a bit since the ASB batting just .200 and only one home run. His BABIP was always bound to come down and he could start to move down in the lineup
  • Semien meanwhile has no change in his fantasy value with this lineup switch and is still a reliable asset

Oakland Athletics

• Zack Gelof is struggling again
  • Gelof has seen his average dip back under .200 and continues to be a disappointment this season
  • He is batting just .111 with one homer and one stolen base since the ASB and could be losing playing time
  • Gelof has been on the bench twice in the past week and could lose playing time to Tyler Nevin as the season moves along
• Brent Rooker was not traded
  • One of the surprises of the deadline was Rooker staying in Oakland where he continues to bat in the middle of the lineup
  • Rooker has been excellent this season and has added another five home runs since the ASB
  • His strikeout rate is down below 15% since the break. If he can keep his strikeout rate down, his fantasy value will reach new heights
• Shea Langeliers is quietly up to 20 home runs
  • Langeliers continues to bat in the middle of Oakland’s lineup and has been producing solid power numbers throughout the season
  • Langeliers is never going to hit for much average but if you are fine punting that category, he is worth a look in two-catcher formats

Seattle Mariners

• Justin Turner has taken over at first base
  • With Turner playing first, the team optioned Tyler Locklear back to the Minor Leagues
  • Turner has been batting fourth in Seattle’s lineup since joining the team and has quietly been playing well
  • Since the ASB, Turner is batting over .400. He might not hit for much power anymore, but fantasy managers can at least expect a strong average from him
• Dylan Moore continues to serve as the everyday shortstop
  • Moore has been batting sixth or seventh in the lineup most games and is now up to 20 steals on the year
  • Moore’s flyball tendencies are going to lead to low BABIPs, but he has plus power and tremendous speed that provide fantasy value
  • He is worth rostering in 14+ team leagues
• The team is using a variety of players to fill in for Julio Rodriguez
  • The team is rotating their one open lineup spot between Mitch Garver, Luke Raley, and Jason Vosler
  • Raley has the slight edge in playing time but is still sitting against all lefties
  • With the current divide in playing time, none of the three are worth rostering in fantasy

AL Central

Detroit Tigers

• Dillon Dingler is up from Triple-A
  • The Tigers traded Carson Kelly away at the trade deadline opening the door for the team to promote one of their top prospects
  • Dingler was batting .308 with 17 home runs in Triple-A this season
  • Since being promoted, Dingler has been batting sixth in the lineup and figures to serve as the everyday catcher moving forward
  • The power is there, but Dingler will need to limit the strikeouts to find success at the Major League level
• Bligh Madris is batting fifth in the lineup
  • With Mark Canha gone, Madris is getting a chance to serve as the undisputed starting first baseman
  • Madris has never hit much at the Major League level but is batting over .300 so far
  • His BABIP sits way above .400 and fantasy managers should not expect this run of success to continue
• Javier Baez is back from the bereavement list
  • Baez only missed a couple of games but could see his playing time decrease moving forward
  • The team acquired Trey Sweeney from the Dodgers who should find his way to Detroit soon
  • Sweeney can play both third base and shortstop and could take over for Gio Urshela or Baez

Kansas City Royals

• Adam Frazier has lost his starting role
  • Frazier was struggling for some time and has now moved back into a bench role
  • Freddy Fermin has taken over as the primary DH while also spelling Salvador Perez at times
  • Fermin continues to play well when given a chance and is worth adding in two-catcher formats
• Maikel Garcia has moved back up into the leadoff spot
  • Garcia served as the team’s leadoff batter for much of the first half before a slump resulted in him sliding down in the order
  • The Royals have decided to bump him back up thanks to better play during the second half
  • Garcia has gone 6/6 on stolen base attempts in the second half. The rest of his game is inconsistent, but his speed should continue to shine throughout the second half
• Hunter Renfroe’s bat has come to life
  • Despite his struggles, Kansas City has stuck with Renfroe throughout the season and he is now rewarding them
  • Renfroe is batting over .300 since July 4 and owns a wRC+ over 170 since the break
  • Renfroe is a strong points league player with more value in OBP leagues

Chicago White Sox

• The team acquired Miguel Vargas from the Dodgers
  • Vargas was blocked in LA by too many players but should finally get a chance to play every day in Chicago
  • In two games with the White Sox, Vargas has been batting second and playing both DH and left field
  • With Vargas’ prospect pedigree, he is worth a look in deeper leagues where you are searching for upside
• Dominic Fletcher is back from Triple-A
  • With Tommy Pham gone, Fletcher seems most likely to fill in and see additional playing time in the outfield
  • Fletcher has plus contact skills but not much upside for fantasy managers. He has been batting eighth in the lineup and is not worth rostering
  • Nicky Lopez has moved back up to the leadoff spot with Tommy Pham now in St. Louis
• Nick Senzel and Gavin Sheets are splitting playing time
  • Senzel has been given another chance in Chicago but has continued to struggle with his new team
  • Sheets is a known commodity. Plus power but an inconsistent hit tool leads to prolonged slumps
  • Neither player is worth rostering in fantasy

Minnesota Twins

• Jose Miranda is working to get his starting job back
  • Miranda was dominant offensively prior to his injury, but a crowded lineup has made it difficult for him to regain his playing time
  • Miranda figures to get most of the at-bats at DH although he will have to fend off Trevor Larnach
  • When playing, Miranda is batting in the middle of the lineup
• Byron Buxton has four homers since the break
  • Buxton has been on a tear in the month of July and has been batting second in the lineup in most games
  • His strikeout rate has crept back up, but Buxton’s big-time power is enough to give him significant fantasy value
  • After a slow start, Buxton could be in for a big second half

Cleveland Guardians

• Lane Thomas is batting second in the lineup
  • Thomas has taken over in right field since being acquired by the Nationals
  • He is up to 28 stolen bases and has been unlucky in the home run department. He should see the power start to increase and is now batting in a better lineup
  • With Thomas joining the lineup, Will Brennan has been optioned to Triple-A
  • Angel Martinez has moved down to fifth in the lineup
• Andres Gimenez has been in the lineup against three of four lefties
  • Cleveland has faced several lefties in the past week, but fantasy managers should be encouraged that Gimenez has maintained a lineup spot for most of the games
  • Gimenez’s offensive numbers have taken a major step backward in 2024, but he is still providing elite defense which should keep him in the lineup
  • Brayan Rocchio continues to split time with Daniel Schneeman at shortstop and Jhonkensy Noel is getting time against lefties in place of Bo Naylor
• Josh Naylor has returned to the lineup
  • Naylor missed a few games in Philadelphia dealing with general soreness late last week but has since returned to the lineup
  • He is one of the more underrated players in all of baseball and is up to 23 homers on the season
  • There is even more upside here as Naylor’s .243 BABIP sits well below his career mark of .285