Buys, Sells, and News from NL Lineups: 07/25

Back at it with National League lineups. There is plenty to catch up on from the last 10 days of baseball. The five hottest hitters in the National League over that time period have been: Freddie Freeman, Nolan Gorman, Austin Riley, CJ Cron, and Cody Bellinger.

Disclaimer: This article is written the day before publishing. Not all statistics will be 100% accurate from the night before. I will do my best to update any important news or notes that come through at the last second. Keep reading to stay up to date on the latest trends from all 15 National League teams and check out the latest AL lineup article here.

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: NL Edition

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies

• Bryce Harper is officially playing first base
  • He appeared there for the first time on Friday before returning to DH on Saturday. The team figures to slowly transition him into an everyday field role
  • Jake Cave is getting in the lineup more with Kyle Schwarber moving to DH. This role figures to rotate around and Cave is not worth picking up
  • The Phillies are extremely likely to trade for an outfielder to fill this role and Cody Bellinger feels like a prime target
• Johan Rojas is not getting time in the lineup
  • After looking strong and playing in three of his first four possible games, Rojas has been on the bench almost every game since
  • The team does not seem ready to give him a regular role and he is not worth rostering at this time

Miami Marlins

• Garrett Cooper is up to third in the Marlins’ lineup
  • The slight bump from fifth to third does not do much to change his fantasy value although it does show the team’s commitment to him
  • He has not gone yard since July 7 and has seen his chase and whiff rates skyrocket over that period
  • He is worth a look in deep leagues as he continues to be in the lineup every day, but is no longer an attractive pick-up option at this time
  • Bryan De La Cruz is batting fifth most games now, but that does not change his fantasy value
• Dane Myers has cooled off after a fast second-half start
  • Myers’ run of success was always unreliable as his current .308 batting average comes with a .395 BABIP
  • He continues to bat in the bottom third of Miami’s lineup although his playing time could start to decrease as the regression hits
  • He is not worth a roster spot
• Jacob Stallings is back in the primary catcher role
  • Nick Fortes was receiving about 60% of the starts for a while, but this has now switched back to favoring Stallings
  • Stallings has a 58 wRC+ on the season and just two hits since the break
  • This is likely to remain a true timeshare that flips back and forth and provides very little fantasy value

Atlanta Braves

• Marcell Ozuna is ice-cold since the All-Star Break
  • Ozuna continues to bat sixth in the lineup despite his recent slump
  • He has a 19 wRC+ since the start of July despite a barrel rate over 11% and a declining whiff rate
  • His recent HR/FB% and BABIP are both well below the norms we have come to expect from Ozuna and should bounce back. He is a strong buy-low option if you are looking to add power to your outfield
• Orlando Arcia has three home runs since the All-Star Break
  • Arcia is barreling balls up at an impressive rate and has quietly been working to improve his average launch angle (up to 7.7-degrees since June 17)
  • The batting average has come back down to earth (as predicted), but this power surge offers a bit more intrigue to his profile
  • He is definitely somebody worth keeping an eye on as he is going to be an everyday player for the rest of the season
• Expect Michael Harris II’s power production to continue being inconsistent
  • The raw power is incredible, but he does not get enough launch on the ball to be a consistent power threat
  • He is also running a .368 BABIP since July 2 with high chase rates
  • His profile continues to be one that I am wary of and one that I am fine selling high on

Washington Nationals

• CJ Abrams is up to the leadoff spot
  • If you missed my performance report on middle infielders, you should check that out here to read all about Abrams
  • He has been on a tear batting .361/.410/.588 since July 19
  • Those numbers come with a .413 BABIP and he is bound to see some regression, but this is a player with elite speed and growing power. He needs to be added where available
  • Lane Thomas is now batting second which could provide some additional RBI opportunities
• Luis Garcia is now batting eighth in the lineup
  • Although he is moving down, he is a player you should be keeping an eye on
  • The issues have been a low launch angle and concerning chase rates
  • Well, since June 20, his average launch angle is up at 9.5-degrees(a massive increase from his previous rate)
  • With more line drives, his BABIP should start increasing. I am not picking him up yet, but I am keeping my eye on him
• Keibert Ruiz has hit safely in every game since the break
  • Ruiz’s mediocre slash line this year has a lot to do with his .241 BABIP
  • He is hitting more barrels than ever, has a line drive rate of over 20%, and has some of the best contact metrics in baseball
  • He has been a popular buy-low target of mine for some time now and is somebody worth picking up if you need help at catcher

New York Mets

• Starling Marte has landed on the IL
  • With Marte out of the lineup, Mark Canha has stepped back into a regular role batting eighth in most games
  • Canha is swinging the bat pretty well since the start of July although he does not hold much fantasy relevance
  • He is not worth picking up outside of 15+ team leagues
• Mark Vientos is back from Triple-A
  • Vientos figures to eat into the playing time of Daniel Vogelbach who continues to get most of the starts at DH
  • This lineup spot should ultimately go to Ronny Mauricio who continues to dominate Triple-A
  • Vientos is not worth picking up
• A lot of talk has been about Alonso’s slump since returning early from injury
  • Similar to how Harper has slumped in the power department, so has Alonso
  • Unlike Harper, all of Alonso’s quality of contact metrics have taken a hit
  • You should not be dropping Alonso, but if you are relying on him down the stretch, you should be adding an insurance policy in case Alonso requires another trip to the IL or continues to struggle

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

• Dansby Swanson is back from the IL
  • Swanson hit sixth in the lineup in his return
  • His returning to the field pushes Hoerner back to second base, Morel back to DH, and is most likely to take playing time away from Trey Mancini and Miguel Amaya
• Miles Mastrobuoni is getting regular playing time at third base
  • Mastrobuoni is swinging the bat extremely well since returning from Triple-A on July 8
  • He is batting in the bottom third of the lineup and hit the first home run of his career on Friday and has added two stolen bases
  • Although his recent BABIP is unsustainable, Mastrobuoni offers an intriguing blend of power and speed. He is not somebody I am rushing to add but is worth keeping an eye on
  • Patrick Wisdom is riding the bench now and is not worth rostering
• Cody Bellinger continues to crush baseballs
  • He has hit safely in 10/11 games since the break including multi-hit performances in seven of those eight with four home runs
  • He is barreling the ball more and more while continuing to lower his strikeout rate
  • He profiles to be the most desired bat at this year’s trade deadline which could reopen a lineup spot for Trey Mancini or even Matt Mervis if Bellinger is dealt

St. Louis Cardinals

• Tyler O’Neill is back from the IL
  • O’Neill is batting somewhere between fifth and seventh in the lineup since returning and playing every day
  • The upside that O’Neill offers is obvious (34 home runs and a .286 average in 2021), but he was struggling earlier on this season
  • He is worth a speculative add if you need help in the outfield, but is not somebody I am prioritizing
  • His return to the lineup has taken playing time away from Dylan Carlson who now appears to be on the short side of a platoon with Lars Nootbaar
• Nolan Gorman is moving back up the lineup
  • He remains in a platoon but has three home runs and an average of over .300 since the All-Star Break
  • His excellent quality of contact remains paired with terrible plate discipline metrics
  • He is likely to be a streaky player for the remainder of the season but offers big power upside at the second base position
• Jordan Walker is hitting fewer ground balls
  • His average launch angle since the start of July is up to 12.2-degrees even if his stat line is not showing improvements
  • The new issue has been high chase and whiff rates
  • He has tremendous upside and remains somebody that should be rostered in all leagues

Milwaukee Brewers

• The team promoted Sal Frelick to the Major Leagues
  • Frelick went 3/3 with the game-winning RBI in his Major League debut and was batting sixth in the lineup
  • He figures to sit against most lefties but be in the lineup regularly over righties
  • He has an elite hit tool and plus speed, making him a strong pick-up if you need help in the outfield. He reminds me most of Steven Kwan in terms of potential upside
  • Although it appeared he was going to take playing time away from Blake Perkins, it seems that Joey Wiemer is actually the player losing out on the most playing time. He is no longer worth rostering in redraft without an everyday role
• Brian Anderson landed on the IL
  • With Anderson out of the lineup, Andruw Monasterio has stepped into an everyday role batting between fifth and seventh in the lineup
  • Monasterio lacks significant fantasy upside but is hitting for a solid average and has plus speed
  • He is not a priority add in most leagues but is worth picking up if you are in an NL-only format
• Nobody understands how Jesse Winker continues to bat fourth in the lineup
  • He has a 64 wRC+ on the season and his only home run of the year came back on June 20
  • I anticipate him losing his starting job once one of Rowdy Tellez or Brian Anderson comes back and at the very least he should start moving down in the lineup

Cincinnati Reds

• Elly De La Cruz has moved into the leadoff spot in the Reds’ lineup
  • He has been struggling at the plate batting .233/.278/.356 with a strikeout rate of over 32% since the start of July
  • I have been saying you should sell high, but now is not the time to sell. He is a streaky hitter with tons of highs and lows
  • Ride out this current low and give Elly De La Cruz a chance to adjust
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand was promoted to Cincinnati
  • CES started every game Wednesday-Monday batting seventh in the lineup
  • He is getting into the lineup for a variety of players and has massive power that makes him worth picking up in all 12+ team leagues
  • The biggest thing to watch is his chase rate which has plagued him in the Minor Leagues. If he can keep this number in check, he is going to be a fantasy monster
• Tyler Stephenson is seeing his playing time take a hit
  • Stephenson has already moved down to eighth in the lineup and without the DH spot, he is seeing his playing time decrease
  • He has been a disappointment offensively this season and is no longer a catcher that needs to be rostered

Pittsburgh Pirates

• The youth movement has continued with the promotion of Endy Rodriguez
  • Rodriguez is getting the majority of starts at catcher batting seventh or eighth in most games
  • Rodriguez has significant fantasy upside as he has demonstrated strong OBP skills and solid power. He is worth picking up as he should continue playing almost every day
  • Austin Hedges was not fantasy relevant before and definitely is not now with his reduction in playing time
• Liover Peguero was also promoted from the Minor Leagues and is playing shortstop everyday batting ninth
  • Peguero was a fast riser up prospect lists last year before struggling during the second half
  • He has strong tools but needs to get the ball in the air more to ever hold real fantasy relevance
  • I am not picking him up, but he is worth keeping your eye on
• Henry Davis is proving why he was the first overall draft pick
  • Davis continues to bat fifth and play right field
  • He hit two home runs off Shohei Ohtani and has three multi-hit performances since the All-Star Break
  • The only thing that fantasy managers need to worry about is if he will lose catcher eligibility, but that does not impact redraft leagues

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

• David Peralta continues to platoon with Chris Taylor and Jason Heyward with Jonny Deluca
  • Peralta and Heyward hold the most fantasy relevance as it is difficult to roster a player on the short side of a platoon
  • Heyward has just two hits since July 5 and is not worth rostering at this point outside of deep OBP leagues
  • Deluca has the most dynasty upside, but I am not sure the Dodgers will ever view him as more than a fourth outfielder
• Freddie Freeman is still amazing
  • It is easy to take a player like Freeman for granted, but he is having another excellent season and his wRC+ is up to 166
  • He somehow is already up to 12 stolen bases with 20 home runs and continues to be an elite fantasy asset. Do not take him for granted

San Diego Padres

• The Padres appear to be giving Luis Campusano another chance to be the primary catcher
  • Gary Sanchez has gone ice cold with a .152 average since the start of July
  • Campusano is still splitting time with Sanchez and batting seventh in games where he is in the lineup
  • He is batting .333 since coming back up to the Major Leagues and is worth a speculative add if you need help with catching
• Alfonso Rivas is now getting time at DH with Matt Carpenter
  • The tricky part here is that both players are left-handed batters and neither one is proving deserving of an everyday role
  • If the Padres are going to be buyers at the deadline this is the most obvious area for them to upgrade
  • Neither player is worth rostering in fantasy
• Now is your chance to sell Xander Bogaerts
  • He has been swinging the bat well, hitting over .300 with three home runs since July 3
  • His quality of contact metrics look no different than they have all season with the only differences being a .348 BABIP and 17.6 HR/FB%
  • Do not buy this hot streak from Bogaerts

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Gabriel Moreno is on the IL
  • Moreno’s injury has moved Carson Kelly into an everyday role. Kelly is batting toward the bottom of the lineup
  • Kelly has been injured for much of the year but has been horrible offensively when he has gotten to play
  • He is not worth picking up at this point
• Emmanuel Rivera is getting another chance to start at third base
  • Rivera is batting sixth or seventh most games while taking playing time away from Evan Longoria
  • Rivera has very strong quality of contact metrics but needs consistent playing time to be fantasy relevant
  • He is somebody who holds value in deep leagues but is not a must-roster player
• Alek Thomas continues to be an underrated fantasy asset
  • He is batting at the bottom of the lineup but has been very strong since returning from Triple-A
  • Since his return, he is batting .289/.298/.518 with four home runs and two stolen bases
  • He is not a significant asset in OBP leagues (low walk rate is a killer) but remains a strong buy in most other formats

San Francisco Giants

• Mike Yastrzemski is staying in the lineup against most  lefties
  • Yastrzemski is struggling since returning from the IL, but most of that comes from a .103 BABIP despite a line drive rate of over 23%
  • He is a strong buy-low target in deeper OBP and points leagues
• Luis Matos is getting consistent lineup time even if it is not every day
  • Matos is batting fifth or sixth with his biggest issue being a high ground ball rate. He has a lot of upside for dynasty leagues as he is already demonstrating strong contact rates, but his redraft value remains uncertain
  • His consistent playing time is forcing Blake Sabol and Patrick Bailey into more of a timeshare at catcher
  • Sabol is still getting a few spot starts in the outfield, but it is far less consistent. Both Sabol and Bailey are difficult to roster without regular playing time
• Wilmer Flores has been getting time in the upper third of the lineup
  • Flores has primarily seen his playing time increase because of an injury to LaMonte Wade Jr. Wade Jr. has since returned to the lineup which could take his playing time away from him
  • Flores is quietly up to 12 home runs in just 70 games and a 137 wRC+. Brett Wisely is continuing to struggle with regular playing time at second base and Flores could be a candidate to see more time there
  • Flores has yet to start a game there this season but has an extensive history of playing the position. If he can see his playing time increase, he could be worth adding

Colorado Rockies

• CJ Cron is battling back issues that have kept him out of the lineup
  • With Cron sidelined, Michael Toglia is getting additional playing time batting sixth or seventh in the lineup
  • Toglia continues to have major strikeout issues at the Major League level despite his big-time power
  • He is not worth picking up even if Cron is forced to miss extended time
• Ezequiel Tovar has gone cold at the plate
  • Tovar continues to rotate between batting second and batting seventh despite batting under .200 since the start of July
  • Tovar’s quality of contact continues to be encouraging for his long-term outlook
  • He is striking out too much and is dealing with some poor BABIP luck. I am not worried about him in dynasty and keeper leagues although he could continue to struggle this season
• Ryan McMahon was scratched from the lineup on Monday
  • If he is forced to miss extended time, Alan Trejo is most likely to see his playing time increase

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