Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis: 09/20

For the final time this season, the National League lineup analysis has been completed. Writing these articles is not only beneficial to the reader, but also to me, as it helps me stay up to date on the ever-changing landscape of Major League lineups. I hope you enjoyed following along!

The five hottest hitters in the National League over the past two weeks have been: Matt Olson, Shohei Ohtani, Geraldo Perdomo, Daylen Lile, and Nico Hoerner. The five coldest hitters in the National League over the past two weeks have been Michael Harris II, Nolan Gorman, Jeff McNeil, Ezequiel Tovar, and Ketel Marte.

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Takeaways: NL Edition

Please note that this article is finalized the day prior to publication. I will do my best to update the information as it comes in later that night.

National League East

Philadelphia Phillies

• Edmundo Sosa is on the IL
  • The Phillies have grown increasingly thin at shortstop over the past two weeks, with both Sosa and Trea Turner on the IL
  • With Sosa out of the lineup, Bryson Stott has shifted over to shortstop, while Weston Wilson has taken over as the primary second baseman
  • The biggest change with Sosa and Turner out is that Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott are sticking in the lineup against lefties, which gives them a small boost
• Alec Bohm is back with the team this weekend
  • Bohm has been out with a shoulder injury, but is now back in the lineup
  • His return to the lineup has pushed Otto Kemp back into a utility role, although he could see some starts over Weston Wilson at second base
  • In 111 games this season, Bohm is batting .272 with nine home runs. His spot in the lineup ultimately determines how much value he can provide through counting stats like RBIs
• Bryson Stott has had a really strong second half
  • Stott made an adjustment with his hands in the second half and has been excellent offensively
  • Since August 5, Stott is slashing .333/.402/.547. He has five home runs and six stolen bases during this time frame
  • Increased power output would completely change the future outlook of Stott’s profile. If these changes stick, he is a top-five option at second base for years to come

Miami Marlins

• Graham Pauley is back from the IL
  • Pauley returned to the Marlins lineup on Wednesday and has seen time at both first base and third base
  • In 55 games with Miami this season, Pauley is batting .231 with four homers and two stolen bases
  • His return to the lineup is resulting in less playing time for Eric Wagaman. Pauley should get a consistent run to end the season
• Connor Norby also returned from the IL this week
  • Norby returned to the lineup on Tuesday and has started two of three games since returning
  • He is batting sixth and should serve as the everyday option at third base as the team assesses his value for 2026 and beyond
  • With Norby returning to the lineup, Maximo Acosta was optioned back to Triple-A
• Dane Myers has started two of three games since coming off of the IL
  • The Marlins welcomed back a whole crew of players this past week, including Myers
  • Although not listed as a starter on Roster Resource, Myers is working his way into the lineup, batting in the bottom third
  • In 101 games this season, Myers is batting .232 with 17 stolen bases. He could take playing time away from Troy Johnston or Heriberto Hernandez over the final few games

Atlanta Braves

• Matt Olson is scorching hot
  • Too little too late at this point is the general feeling, but this hot streak could skew his 2026 outlook
  • In what has been a somewhat disappointing season, Olson has hit seven home runs since September 6 and is batting .426 over that time
  • Overall on the season, Olson is up to 28 home runs with a .281 batting average. Another solid season, although most of his production has come in the last few weeks
• Marcell Ozuna has moved down in the lineup
  • Ozuna’s playing time has been inconsistent throughout the second half, but he is currently playing nearly every day
  • After spending most of the season in the middle of the lineup, he has recently shifted down into the bottom third
  • Ozuna is batting .286 since the start of September, but has not hit a home run since August 13. Without power, he holds little fantasy value
• Ha-Seong Kim has been very good for Atlanta
  • Kim never seemed to settle in for Tampa Bay, but he has a history of being a useful asset for fantasy managers
  • Atlanta has offered Kim a new opportunity to play shortstop every day and bat sixth in the lineup
  • Since joining the team, Kim is slashing .327/.390/.404 with one homer and zero stolen bases

Washington Nationals

• Daylen Lile has settled into the cleanup spot in Washington’s lineup
  • Lile’s production down the stretch has been excellent and has resulted in a move up to fourth in the lineup
  • Since the start of September, Lile is slashing .375/.437/.734 with three home runs
  • Under the hood, Lile’s contact skills look excellent, but there is nothing in his batted ball data that suggests this breakout is sustainable. He could be a sell-high option in keeper/dynasty leagues this offseason
• Brady House is getting more lineup time again
  • House’s struggles offensively resulted in Paul DeJong stepping in at third base, but the team is giving House another chance to end the season
  • He has been playing most days and batting in the bottom third of the lineup
  • In 67 games, House is batting .235 with four home runs. His poor contact skills and extremely aggressive approach make it difficult to buy into House being a reliable fantasy asset in 2026

New York Mets

• Brett Baty is back in as the primary third baseman
  • The Mets have not kept their young hitters in the lineup consistently all season, but Baty has definitely seen the most playing time
  • He continues to platoon but is playing every day against righties and batting seventh in the lineup
  • In 123 games this season, Baty is batting .259 with 17 homers and eight stolen bases. He could be a value come draft season next year
• Is it easy to take Francisco Lindor for granted?
  • Lindor is putting together another excellent season for both fantasy baseball managers and the Mets
  • In 150 games, he is batting .264 with 27 homers and 30 stolen bases. For the third straight season, Lindor is hovering around the 30/30 mark with 100+ runs scored and 80+ RBIs
  • 2026 will be his age-32 season, but Lindor is showing no signs of slowing down. He should continue to be a reliable asset for fantasy managers

National League Central

Chicago Cubs

• The Cubs remain without two outfielders now
  • The Cubs currently have both Kyle Tucker and Owen Caissie on the IL
  • With both players out, Seiya Suzuki has shifted from DH to right field, and Moises Ballesteros has entered the lineup on an everyday basis. He has been batting fourth in the lineup
  • In 13 Major League games this season, Ballesteros is batting .286 with two home runs. He is worth adding in leagues for the stretch run
• Nico Hoerner is batting second in the lineup
  • With the injury to Tucker, Nico Hoerner has moved up in the lineup to fill his place
  • Hoerner has played well in 147 games this season, batting .301 with six homers and 28 stolen bases. He has been especially hot as of late
  • Since September 5, Hoerner is slashing .423/.483/.615 with more walks than strikeouts. Hoerner’s fantasy ceiling is always capped by his lack of power, but he has one of the highest floors at a thin second base position

St. Louis Cardinals

• Nolan Arenado has returned from the IL
  • Arenado returned to the Cardinals lineup on Monday. He has batted third, fourth, and sixth in three games since returning
  • With Arenado back, the Cardinals have shuffled around their lineup, although other injuries have maintained playing time for players like Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese
  • In 98 games this season, Arenado is batting .236 with 10 home runs. His offensive production has taken another step backward as he approaches the end of his career
• Victor Scott II is losing playing time
  • Scott has been out of the lineup against lefties and is even starting to see less playing time against righties
  • On the season, Scott’s average has dropped to .217. Since the start of September, Scott is batting .120 and has stolen just one base. He is not worth rostering
  • Scott’s spot in the lineup has mostly been filled by Nathan Church and occasionally Jordan Walker. Neither is worth rostering
• Willson Contreras is on the IL
  • As mentioned earlier, the Cardinals are without two infielders, with Contreras landing on the IL with a shoulder injury and Masyn Winn out with a torn meniscus
  • With those two players out, Nolan Gorman has shifted to a utility infielder and Thomas Saggese is playing shortstop every day
  • Saggese has been swinging a hot bat at the dish but lacks much upside for fantasy managers. He is batting sixth in the lineup

Milwaukee Brewers

• Jake Bauers has turned into the preferred option at first base
  • To start the season, it was Rhys Hoskins. For a while, it looked like Andrew Vaughn would be a league-winner. Now, Bauers is seeing the edge in playing time
  • Bauers is sitting against lefties in favor of Vaughn, but is batting seventh in the lineup against most righties. Hoskins is not playing at all
  • Bauers is slashing .353/.405/.588 since the start of September, but the current mix of playing time makes it difficult to rely on any of these options for fantasy
• Brice Turang is batting all over the lineup
  • Some days, Turang is batting first, others second, third, or even fifth as of late
  • Regardless of where Turang is batting in the lineup, he is staying in it against lefties and continues to produce for fantasy managers at a high level
  • In 147 games this season, Turang has hit 18 homers, stolen 24 bases, and is batting .289. This is excellent production from a player who continues to get better
• Isaac Collins has been out of the lineup against two righties in the past week
  • Collins’ season has been one of the best stories of 2025, but he has slowed down in recent weeks
  • He is batting just .200 since the start of September and .184 since August 12. He has one home run in his last 107 plate appearances
  • With Collins playing less often, Blake Perkins has seen his playing time increase in the past week

Cincinnati Reds

• Sal Stewart has earned an everyday lineup spot
  • Despite the Reds not having an everyday lineup spot open, Stewart has forced his way into one
  • He is splitting time between first base and third base while batting fourth in the lineup
  • At first, Stewart’s lineup time came from Spencer Steer, although now he is eating into the playing time of Ke’Bryan Hayes
• Will Benson is playing more often
  • Benson has been getting consistent run in the outfield over the past week and is batting as high as third in the lineup
  • His playing time is coming at the expense of Austin Hays, who has seen his playing time tick down in the past week
  • Benson is an extremely streaky hitter with significant power, but a hit tool that makes it unlikely he maintains an everyday lineup spot
• Elly De La Cruz has moved down in the lineup
  • As the Reds try to make one final push toward the playoffs, De La Cruz has gotten ice-cold
  • Elly is slashing .167/.254/.233 since the start of September. His season-long wRC+ is quietly down to 104
  • Due to his recent struggles, the Reds have shifted him down from third to seventh in the lineup

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Nick Yorke is playing every day
  • Yorke has made starts at three different positions this week, batting in the bottom third of the lineup each time
  • In 12 games at the Major League level this season, Yorke is batting .167 with zero home runs
  • Yorke has flashed upside in the Minor Leagues but has struggled in each of his two Major League stints. He needs to show something in these final few games to make an impression for 2026
• Rafael Flores was promoted from Triple-A
  • Flores was acquired at this year’s trade deadline from the Yankees and is now in the Major Leagues
  • In 133 Minor League games this season, Flores is batting .280 with 22 home runs this season. The biggest concern is how his hit tool will hold up against Major League pitching
  • Flores appears to be playing on the short side of a platoon with Spencer Horwitz, although he could get additional at-bats at DH in place of Andrew McCutchen as the season winds down
• Nick Gonzales is playing shortstop
  • Gonzales started the season playing second base, but has been getting some playing time at shortstop in the past week
  • In formats like Ottoneu, Gonzales getting this late playing time could open up additional eligibility for fantasy managers next season
  • Gonzales has been batting fifth in the lineup in most games this week. Since the start of September, Gonzales is slashing .231/.259/.327 with zero home runs

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Ben Rortvedt is getting to catch every day
  • With Will Smith on the IL, it has been Rortvedt who has been getting a chance to catch every day. He is batting ninth in the lineup
  • Dalton Rushing returned from the IL on Tuesday but has not made his way into the lineup yet. The team is rolling with Rortvedt, even with Rushing healthy
  • In 39 games this season, Rortvedt is batting .165 with zero home runs. He does not offer any fantasy upside and is unlikely to maintain his starting role
• Tommy Edman is back from the IL
  • Edman returned to the Dodgers last weekend, but has not been playing consistently since returning
  • When in the lineup, Edman has gotten starts at both second base and center field while batting fifth. However, it seems as though the team is committed to getting Miguel Rojas everyday at-bats playing second base
  • Edman certainly offers more fantasy appeal and value, but is difficult to roster without consistent playing time
• Max Muncy has been platooning since coming back from the IL
  • Injuries have limited Muncy to just 96 games this season, but he returned to the lineup on September 8 and appears healthy for the stretch run
  • Since returning to the lineup, Muncy has yet to regain his timing. He has just two hits in 25 plate appearances
  • Muncy is batting fourth against righties but is sitting in favor of Enrique Hernandez against lefties. Hernandez is batting eighth against lefties

San Diego Padres

• Jackson Merrill has gotten hot and is moving up in the lineup
  • Merrill has largely been considered one of the biggest disappointments of 2025 for fantasy managers. He is making a late push to change the narrative.
  • Injuries have hampered Merrill’s production for most of the season, but he now seems healthy and like his timing is finally right
  • Since returning from the IL on September 1, Merrill is batting .278. However, since September 7, he has crushed five homers. That includes homers in four straight games this past week
• Gavin Sheets and Ryan O’Hearn are playing consistently
  • With Xander Bogaerts on the IL, the team has shifted Luis Arraez to second base, opening up both first base and DH
  • Sheets has been playing DH. He was batting fourth but has shifted down with Merrill moving up
  • O’Hearn is batting seventh and sitting against lefties. In 40 games with the Padres, O’Hearn is batting .228 with three home runs

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Playing time is up for grabs at first base
  •  With both Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear on the IL, Arizona lacks a clear option at first base
  • Over the past week, Ildemaro Vargas and Tim Tawa have been splitting playing time. Both are batting eighth in the lineup
  • Tawa offers more upside to fantasy managers but owns just a 77 wRC+ in 64 Major League games this season. At this point, neither player is worth rostering
• James McCann is playing over Adrian Del Castillo
  • Del Castillo has been hanging around the Major Leagues for most of the second half and continues to slot in as a starter on Roster Resource, but that is not the case
  • He has started only two games in the past week despite Arizona playing all right-handed pitchers. He is not worth rostering to end the season
  • The veteran McCann has been getting more playing time at catcher on days when Gabriel Moreno is the DH. McCann does not hold any fantasy value
• Geraldo Perdomo has stayed hot to end a fantastic season
  • Perdomo has been one of the biggest breakouts in 2025. He has not slowed down at all to end the season
  • Locked into the leadoff spot, Perdomo is slashing .290/.393/.463 and is on pace to clear 100 runs and 100 RBIs this season
  • Since the start of September, Perdomo is slashing .340/.460/.660

San Francisco Giants

• Bryce Eldridge is up from Triple-A
  • Just when it was starting to look as though Eldridge would not make his Major League debut this season, the Giants called him up from Triple-A. He has been batting fifth in the lineup
  • Eldridge is considered by most to be the top first base prospect in all of baseball. He has light-tower power that could turn him into an instant impact fantasy asset
  • The biggest thing to watch is Eldridge’s strikeout rate. His contact rate in Triple-A sat below 70% and could cause some issues against Major League pitching
• Heliot Ramos has moved back up to the leadoff spot
  • Truthfully, Ramos never really left the leadoff spot for the Giants despite what Roster Resource claims
  • Ramos is locked in as San Francisco’s leadoff hitter despite his struggles throughout September. Since the start of the month, Ramos is slashing just .167/.254/.233
  • On the season as a whole, Ramos is batting .257 with 17 home runs. He profiles as a fine player, but not a difference maker moving forward

Colorado Rockies

• Blaine Crim is playing first base every day
  • The 28-year-old made his Major League debut with the Rangers earlier this season and is now getting a chance to play every day with the Rockies
  • He is playing in place of Michael Toglia, who was sent to Triple-A and is batting sixth or seventh in the lineup most nights
  • There is nothing in Crim’s profile that suggests he will be a reliable option for fantasy managers moving forward
• Mickey Moniak continues producing
  • Moniak has revived his career this season in Colorado and should be firmly on fantasy managers’ radars in 2026
  • He continues to bat second in Colorado’s lineup and is slashing .347/.385/.694 since August 31
  • On the season, Moniak is very quietly up to 23 homers and nine stolen bases. The improvements to his batting average have taken his game to the next level and could result in sustained value moving forward
• Brenton Doyle is once again playing less
  • The Rockies just have no patience and are once again taking it out on one of their better players
  • After getting hot to end August, Doyle has gotten cold and has now been out of the lineup twice in the past week against righties
  • His upside and elite defense should give him an edge in the 2026 playing time battle, but the Rockies are proving nobody is a lineup lock if they get cold enough. He is batting .130 since September 2