Buys, Sells, and News from AL Lineups: 07/30

Time to catch up on all the latest news on American League lineups. Just as with the National League, there is plenty to dive into including some possible impacts of the looming trade deadline. The five hottest hitters in the American League over the past ten days have been: Triston Casas, Nathaniel Lowe, Kyle Tucker, Whit Merrifield, and Julio Rodriguez. Keep in mind the stats detailed below are through the 28^th. I will try to include any last-minute updates that come through from yesterday’s action. Keep reading for notes on all 15 American League lineups.

More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Takeaways

AL East

New York Yankees

• Oswald Peraza has been sent back to Triple-A
  • He was batting .150 with a strikeout rate over 35% since being recalled. He is not worth keeping stashed
  • Aaron Judge was activated in a corresponding move
• Jake Bauers is back from the IL and was batting leadoff before the return of Judge
  • Bauers has posted excellent barrel rates with the Yankees, but a high strikeout rate remains concerning
  • He is a candidate to lose playing time now that Aaron Judge has returned
  • The other potential player to lose playing time with Judge back is Billy McKinney
• DJ LeMahieu has stepped back into an everyday role
  • LeMahieu has taken that job away from Peraza and is batting fifth or sixth in the lineup
  • He has looked much better at the plate recently batting over .300 since the break
  • He is not a must-add but is worth picking up if you are looking for batting average help in your infield

Boston Red Sox

• The Red Sox traded Kike Hernandez to the Dodgers
  • Hernandez was receiving the bulk of the starts at second base opening up an everyday role
  • Christian Arroyo is the most likely candidate to fill in for the short-term
  • Long-term, Trevor Story is nearing a return which will shift Yu Chang from shortstop to second base and take away Arroyo’s playing time
  • Neither Chang nor Arroyo is worth rostering at this point
• Alex Verdugo might be losing playing time
  • Verdugo sat two times this week against a right-handed pitcher in what manager Alex Cora referred to as a “mental break”
  • This is likely a way for the team to try and reset Verdugo while allowing Adam Duvall to build some trade value before the deadline
  • Verdugo has just two hits since the All-Star Break with a negative launch angle over that period
  • Fantasy managers should expect him to return to an everyday role, but he is no longer a must-roster player in shallow leagues
• Triston Casas continues to be incredible
  • What looked like a bust from the “my guys” article I posted before the season has turned into an excellent call
  • Casas is batting well over .400 with six home runs since the break and is looking like one of the best first basemen in fantasy baseball. His current batting average streak is unsustainable, but the power is legit
  • He should start getting more playing time against lefties if his run of success continues

Tampa Bay Rays

• Wander Franco has gone ice-cold at the plate
  • Franco is batting just .162 since the start of July although much of that can be attributed to a .182 BABIP
  • He is still hitting the ball extremely hard with a solid line drive rate and strong plate discipline metrics
  • Now might be your only chance to buy low on Franco before he returns to form
• I am growing concerned about Josh Lowe’s playing time outlook
  • Lowe is continuing to get most of the starts against righties but has been on the bench twice in the past week
  • He is batting just .233 since the break and .184 since the start of July
  • With both Curtis Mead and Jonathan Aranda swinging extremely well in Triple-A, you have to wonder if the team is considering moving either Luke Raley or Brandon Lowe to the outfield to get those prospects more playing time
  • This situation is worth keeping a close eye on
• Isaac Paredes is completely undervalued, especially in OBP Leagues
  • He has a 141 wRC+ on the season and over 600 PA he would be on pace for 32 home runs
  • He is still just 24 years old and should be a primary buy target in dynasty leagues. There is a chance he just continues to get better each season

Toronto Blue Jays

• Danny Jansen was battling an injury but has since returned to the lineup
  • Jansen continues to share playing time with Alejandro Kirk although Jansen appears to have a slight edge at this point
  • He is up to 14 home runs and is now batting over .300 since the start of July
  • He is worth picking up in two-catcher leagues as long as he is getting consistent at-bats
• Whit Merrifield is running a lot less
  • Merrifield has just two stolen bases since June 15
  • He is hitting for plenty of average but that comes with a high BABIP and low hard-hit rate
  • If Merrifield is not stealing bases, he loses a lot of his fantasy value. Now might be a chance to sell high on an average that is likely to come back down to earth
  • The Blue Jays moved him into the leadoff spot on Friday which could produce more runs while moving George Springer back to fifth
  • If this continues, Springer is likely to see his RBI production increase while his run totals decrease

Baltimore Orioles

• Aaron Hicks is on the IL which in theory should open up more playing time for Colton Cowser
  • So far, Cowser is playing exclusively against right-handed pitching which would mean Ryan McKenna could play on the short side of the platoon with him
  • Cowser has looked rather pedestrian at the plate although his numbers come with an extremely low BABIP for somebody hitting line drives as often as he is
  • I am still very in on Cowser for keeper/dynasty leagues although he is not a must-roster player in redraft formats with his playing time situation
• The infield is a mess as far as playing time
  • Between the four infield spots and DH, there are seven players battling for playing time
  • Gunnar Henderson’s playing time is the only one that is consistent and every day
  • Ryan O’Hearn and Adam Frazier sit against lefties while Jorge Mateo only plays against lefties
  • Ramon Urias is mostly playing against lefties but will get an occasional start against a righty for either Ryan Mountcastle or Jordan Westburg
• Jordan Westburg is moving up to fifth in the lineup against lefties
  • Although Westburg is striking out a ton since the break, his chase and whiff rates remain in line with league average
  • He is hitting the ball hard with tons of line drives that make him an intriguing buy-low option

AL West

Houston Astros

• The Astros welcomed back Jose Altuve from the IL
  • Altuve slotted right back into the leadoff spot in Houston’s lineup and figures to be an elite option at second base the remainder of the season
  • His return has pushed Mauricio Dubon back into a bench role. Dubon is not worth rostering at this point
• Also, Yordan Alvarez returned from the IL
  • The player that figures to be most impacted by this is Yainer Diaz
  • Diaz was already seeing his playing time go down, despite strong offensive performances
  • There is still a chance that he takes playing time away from Martin Maldonado at catcher or rotates in at DH for Corey Julks once Alvarez is good to play the outfield
  • Diaz is not worth rostering in shallow leagues at this point
• Jeremy Pena has been batting second in a lot of games recently
  • Pena continues to struggle since the break and is not showing any real signs of breaking out of his slump
  • This move is likely just a way to try and spark the offense and I do not expect this to continue
  • Pena remains valuable in deep leagues thanks to his consistent playing time, but not somebody that needs to be rostered in shallow formats

Los Angeles Angels

• Zach Neto missed four games with an injury but has since returned to the leadoff spot in the Angels’ lineup
  • Batting ahead of guys like Ohtani, eventually Trout, Moniak, and Ward is a perfect spot for Neto’s fantasy value to skyrocket
  • I would be getting in now if you have not already
• Taylor Ward is returning to his 2022 form
  • Ward is batting in the middle of the lineup and has five home runs since the All-Star Break
  • His walk rate is way up, his average appears sustainable, and the power is legit
  • If he is sitting on your waiver wire, make sure you pick him up immediately
• Luis Rengifo has four home runs since the All-Star Break
  • Rengifo is primarily batting at the bottom of the lineup but is showing flashes of the same power he flashed last season
  • His barrel rate is over 15% since the start of July and he is worth a look if you are looking for a boost at second base
• Saturday news: Taylor Ward was carted off the field on Saturday with a head injury
  • If Ward is forced to miss extended time, Jo Adell could receive a promotion and see consistent playing time until Mike Trout is back

Texas Rangers

• Corey Seager is back on the IL with a sprained thumb
  • This injury does not appear to be too serious, but it does open up a lineup spot for somebody to fill
  • Right now, Ezequiel Duran has shifted to shortstop and the DH spot is being filled by a rotating cast of players
  • Mitch Garver and Brad Miller appear to be the two most likely candidates to step in although Robbie Grossman is also receiving some at-bats
  • None of those players are worth rostering
  • Travis Jankowski has moved up to second in the lineup with Seager out
• Nathaniel Lowe has hit safely in all but one game since the break
  • Lowe continues to be one of the most reliable first basemen in fantasy, especially in OBP leagues
  • He is a strong four-category contributor and should continue to post excellent counting stats for the rest of the season
• Jonah Heim is now on the IL
  • Mitch Garver profiles to get the majority of starts at catcher while Heim is out
  • Garver is not somebody that I am prioritizing adding

Oakland Athletics

• Brent Rooker has officially lost his everyday lineup spot
  • With Rooker on the bench, Cody Thomas is getting a chance to start and bat in the middle of the lineup
  • Thomas had hit 17 home runs in Triple-A but has struggled with strikeouts throughout his professional career
  • He is only worth an add in AL-only leagues
• Tyler Soderstrom is striking out over 30% of the time so far and could be losing playing time to Jordan Diaz
  • Soderstrom has always had trouble limiting the strikeouts and that problem seems to be getting worse at the Major League level
  • He is whiffing over 30% of the time and his launch angle is currently negative
  • He is not worth holding onto in redraft formats and both of these issues are what landed him on my prospect bust article from the off-season
  • Diaz is showing improvements at the plate recently and is worth keeping an eye on if he secures more consistent playing time
• JJ Bleday continues to carry an interesting profile
  • He is slugging over .500 since the break and batting in the middle of Oakland’s lineup
  • His walk and barrel rates are both excellent and he is worth a flier in keeper leagues and should be added in deep OBP leagues

Seattle Mariners

• Jarred Kelenic broke his foot after kicking a cooler
  • With Kelenic on the IL, Cade Marlowe is getting a chance to play more consistently
  • Marlowe has flashed enticing power and speed at the Minor League level but is another player to struggle with strikeouts
  • In a very small sample size, he is performing well and his progress is worth keeping an eye on
• Dylan Moore anybody??
  • I have been preaching about Moore’s potential since the off-season and he got off to a slow start after returning from injury
  • He is now getting a chance to play more in a utility role and is batting over .400 since the break
  • He is still not worth rostering outside of AL-only leagues without consistent playing time, but keep your eye on him if he can take the second base job away from Kolten Wong
• Julio Rodriguez has four home runs since July 22
  • Rodriguez has been in a bit of a sophomore slump this year but appears to be breaking out in a big way
  • His strikeout rate is nearly 30% since the break and his average launch angle is barely above zero signaling some caution flags in redraft leagues
  • However, he has a strong barrel rate and is an elite talent

AL Central

Detroit Tigers

• The Tigers are giving Zack Short a chance to prove himself
  • Short is seeing additional playing time over Nick Maton who has once again lost his starting job
  • Short quietly has a barrel rate of over nine percent this season although the results have been underwhelming
  • He is not somebody I am rushing to pick up, and it is likely that the team promotes one of Justyn-Henry Malloy or Colt Keith soon
• Spencer Torkelson’s value seems underrated right now
  • His Major League career got off to a disappointing start, but he has shown significant improvements this season
  • Since the start of July, he is batting .261/.333/.489 with a double-digit walk rate and a 15.9%-barrel rate
  • He is a strong buy option for any teams you need a corner infielder on

Kansas City Royals

• Freddy Fermin is getting into the lineup more
  • When playing, Fermin is batting in fifth or sixth and has a 126 wRC+ in his first 42 games
  • His .357 BABIP is unsustainable, but the power appears to be legit and catchers with consistent playing time are automatically fantasy relevant
  • I would be adding Fermin over somebody like Soderstrom in redraft formats
  • With Fermin getting more time at catcher, the Royals have shifted Salvador Perez to DH/1B with Nick Pratto landing on the IL
  • Pratto is a fine drop at this point
• Michael Massey is moving up in the lineup
  • He is now batting fifth in a lot of games with three home runs since the All-Star Break
  • He is chasing a little bit less recently, but a lot of his metrics look similar to how they have all season. He is not worth picking up at this point
• Drew Waters is continuing to play every day despite his recent struggles
  • Waters is batting just .217 since the break and .232 since the start of July
  • His strikeout rate since July 1 is 40% and it would not surprise me to see him start losing playing time
  • Samad Taylor and Edward Olivares are candidates to take his spot in the lineup and Waters is not worth holding onto outside of AL-only leagues

Chicago White Sox

• We are still waiting to see if the White Sox make any big moves from their starting lineup at the deadline
  • Korey Lee was acquired from Houston along with Trayce Thompson from the Dodgers
  • Lee figures to get called up at some point this season and could step into the everyday catcher role currently being occupied by Seby Zavala
  • I am not picking Lee up, but he is worth keeping an eye on
  • Thompson figures to play on the short side of a platoon with Oscar Colas or solely as a fourth outfielder. He is not worth picking up
• Jake Burger is playing second base with Yoan Moncada back from the IL
  • Burger does not look like your typical second baseman, but fantasy managers are just hoping he plays enough games there to gain eligibility
  • He has 25 home runs on the year although he is not going to provide much of an average
  • If you need a second baseman and are looking for power, pick up Burger now for when he gains eligibility
• Andrew Vaughn still might be battling an injury
  • He missed two games last weekend and was out of the lineup two consecutive games on Thursday and Friday
  • There is also a chance he is just losing playing time due to his 12 wRC+ since July 1
  • He is not a must-roster player in shallow redraft leagues

Minnesota Twins

• Jorge Polanco is back from the IL
  • Polanco hit fifth in the lineup and was playing third base in his return
  • He will likely shift to second base against lefties for Eduoard Julien and continue playing third base most games against righties taking playing time away from Donovan Solano
  • This is great news for Julien who continues to crush baseballs since the All-Star Break. Julien is running a .408 season-long BABIP and a strikeout rate of over 30%
  • Now might be a good time to sell high on Julien before he regresses back to normal levels
• Matt Wallner is getting consistent run in the middle of the Twins’ lineup
  • Wallner is splitting time between DH (while Buxton was on the paternity list) and the outfield
  • Now that Buxton is back, it remains to be seen how playing time will shake out, but Joey Gallo is a prime candidate to be on the bench more frequently
  • Wallner is slugging .486 since his most recent promotion and is worth adding if you are looking for power in the outfield
  • He is striking out over 35% of the time since his promotion which is worth noting
• Alex Kirilloff has four home runs since the break
  • He has produced solid value for most of the season in OBP leagues, but his power returning would take his value to new levels. His power has been absent since he was dealing with wrist injuries
  • His strikeout and chase rates spiking recently are a little alarming, but he should remain a strong fantasy asset for the remainder of the season

Cleveland Guardians

• Amed Rosario was traded to the Dodgers
  • Right now, Gabriel Arias is getting a chance to earn the starting shortstop spot and batting toward the bottom of the lineup
  • Arias has always had an interesting profile but has been unable to get the ball in the air enough while limiting his strikeout rate. I am not adding him at this point
  • Brayan Rocchio should be back up sometime soon and profiles to be their shortstop of the future
  • Andres Gimenez has moved up to second in the lineup with the departure of Rosario
• Oscar Gonzalez is back from Triple-A
  • Gonzalez hit 11 home runs during his time in Triple-A but did not seem to make any strides in his approach at the plate
  • Myles Straw was on the bench the first game that Gonzalez got into the lineup, but I assume Gonzalez will be used as more of a fourth outfielder than an everyday start
  • Will Brennan’s starting spot appears safe for now although his playing time could decrease against lefties (batting just .164 against them this season)
• Bo Naylor has been heating up since the All-Star Break
  • He has three home runs while also keeping his strikeout rate under 20% during this period
  • There is plenty of power here and if he can keep his strikeout rate down, he profiles to be a useful fantasy asset
  • David Fry is serving as the primary backup catcher to Naylor but is not worth rostering in fantasy