Week 14 of the Major League Baseball schedule will see us reach the midpoint of the season in terms of games played. Barring postponements, all American League teams will have played their 81st game by the end of next week. This upcoming week is also one of the busiest of the season.
Eight of the 15 American League teams are scheduled to play seven games. This week’s schedule is heavily frontloaded. The Athletics and Mariners are the only two AL teams off on Monday. With plenty of action on the horizon, it is time to dive into the fantasy lineup analysis for all 15 American League teams. Below are news and notes on all recent lineup changes, roster moves, and injuries to help you set the most optimal weekly lineups.
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Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 14 – American League
Athletics
The Athletics turned to the red-hot Zack Gelof to lead off on both Thursday and Friday before giving him the day off on Saturday. Gelof has a 23-game hitting streak heading into Sunday’s action. This feels like a temporary move considering how often the Athletics have changed leadoff hitters. Gelof’s .286 batting average seems unsustainable considering his .226 expected batting average. But fantasy managers with Gelof should continue to ride the hot hand. Carlos Cortes has lost playing time in recent days. Cortes has only started two of the last four games, as Lawrence Butler and Jonah Heim have earned starts in right field and designated hitter, respectively. The Athletics are on the road for six games this week, including two against left-handed starting pitchers. I project Butler to start four games, with Cortes and Heim starting three apiece.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have placed Adley Rutschman on the 7-day concussion Injured List. Make sure you get Rutschman out of weekly lineups. Samuel Basallo will start most of the games behind the plate. The problem is that Baltimore will face three left-handed starters in its six games. Basallo will probably sit out one or two of those games. When he does start against a lefty, he is more likely to bat fifth or sixth in the lineup as opposed to fourth. Coby Mayo has only started two of the team’s last seven games, as Blaze Alexander has earned most of the work at third base. Despite the friendly schedule, it is hard to recommend starting Mayo in weekly formats given his uncertain playing time. Colton Cowser is also tough to justify starting this week. He has only started once against a left-hander in the last 30 days.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox placed Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the Injured List on Saturday. That in and of itself will not make a ton of waves in fantasy baseball, as IKF’s value is more based on his positional flexibility than his prowess at the plate. However, Boston called up Anthony Seigler to replace Kiner-Falefa, and immediately had him lead off. It’s an interesting development considering Boston starts Week 14 with a series in Coors Field. Seigler had a .409 on-base percentage in Triple-A this season. The problem is that his path to full-time at-bats is unclear. Boston is scheduled to face four left-handed starting pitchers this week. They usually play Andruw Monasterio at second base and Caleb Durbin at third base when facing a lefty. This feels like a scenario where all three players could start four or five games.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are among the most platoon-heavy teams in the Major Leagues. So we cannot expect their upcoming lineups to resemble those from the past few days. They faced three consecutive left-handed starters from Wednesday through Friday. Chicago is only projected to face one left-handed starting pitcher this week. That means Luisangel Acuna, Randal Grichuk, and the recently promoted Junior Perez are not likely to start much. Sam Antonucci should lead off and start in left field in the five games against righties. He will be followed by Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, and Colson Montgomery. Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Jacob Gonzalez are the best bets to round out the top seven in Chicago’s lineup, with Tristan Peters and the catcher spot bringing up the rear.
Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland placed both Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez on the IL this week. They have recalled Kahlil Watson and Petey Halpin to replace DeLauter and Martinez on the roster. Watson is a former first-round draft pick and has started three straight games since being called up. He hit eighth in his MLB debut and sixth in his most recent start on Saturday. Watson should start most of the week in right field, as the Guardians face five right-handed starters and just one lefty. Halpin should get most of the work in center and hitting at the bottom of the lineup. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio has been elevated to the three-spot with all of the recent injuries to Guardians hitters. Rocchio has been a solid fantasy contributor this season and could see increased production hitting in the middle of the lineup.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers placed starting second baseman Gleyber Torres on the Injured List this week. It is Torres’ second IL stint this year. Hao-Yu Lee has been playing second base and hitting towards the bottom of the order. Detroit also placed Wenceel Perez on the IL. Perez had been losing playing time in recent weeks to Matt Vierling and James Outman, so the fantasy impact is minimal. The Tigers promoted Trei Cruz to replace Perez. Cruz hit ninth on Friday versus a right-handed starter and sat on Saturday against a lefty. Vierling and Outman should continue to split center field duties for the time being. Detroit plays a seven-game week, which includes five games against right-handed starting pitchers. I would give Vierling the slight nod over Outman despite the platoon disadvantage.
Houston Astros
Houston activated starting catcher Yainer Diaz from the IL this week. Considering some of the outstanding numbers that catcher-eligible players are putting up this year, Diaz is probably a borderline starter in one-catcher leagues, depending on your other options. But fantasy managers should absolutely add Diaz wherever he is available. He has averaged 20 homers per year over the last three seasons, with a career .276 batting average, and is still just 27 years old. Diaz has started three of four games since his return, batting sixth in the lineup all three times. The playing time will be there, and the production will follow. Houston has a full schedule this week and will only face one left-handed starting pitcher. Joey Loperfido will get most of the work in left field.
Kansas City Royals
After placing Vinnie Pasquantino on the Injured List last weekend, Kansas City is now dealing with injuries to both Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia. Witt has a Grade 1 MCL sprain, while Garcia has missed three straight games with a hand injury. Both players are questionable for Week 14. With both out on Saturday, the Royals went with Lane Thomas and Jac Caglianone behind leadoff hitter Carter Jansen. Thomas is on a heater and has started seven consecutive games. He makes for a solid play this week, with a slight lineup bump if Witt and/or Garcia miss time. Kansas City will play seven games, including three against left-handed starting pitchers. John Rave and Starling Marte are likely to split right field duties based on that day’s starting pitcher.
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels placed star outfielder Mike Trout on the IL this week. Hopefully, Trout will be back in the lineup by next weekend. Los Angeles did get Vaughn Grissom back this week following his own IL stint. Grissom has hit anywhere from third through fifth in three games since his return. Jo Adell has been hitting third against left-handed starters and in the cleanup spot versus righties. The Angels are playing six games against an all-right-handed slate of starting pitchers this week. Because of that, I expect Wade Meckler to get most of the time in left field ahead of Christian Moore. Donovan Walton and Denzer Guzman should also be in the team’s everyday lineup this week. Guzman should play third base, while Walton and Grissom can play second base and DH.
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota has scored at least nine runs in four of its last eight ballgames. All four of those games took place when a right-handed starting pitcher opposed them. A top-three of Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, and Kody Clemens has led the way, and the team has gotten contributions across the board. Larnach is the one among the three that is most difficult to justify starting this week. He does not start against lefties, and Minnesota faces a pair in Week 14. With only six games scheduled, that means Larnach will only start four times. The same will likely hold true for Victor Caratini and Tristan Gray as well. All of the other Twins regulars should get five or six starts this week.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees will face the ever-rare five lefty lineup this week. New York has been playing Jose Caballero in the outfield against lefties so that Anthony Volpe can play shortstop. I would expect more of the same, leaving Spencer Jones on the bench. Amed Rosario will also get the nod ahead of Ryan McMahon when a left-hander is on the mound. Volpe and Rosario could be solid weekly streamers, but I would not overpay for either player. Jasson Dominguez has hit fifth in each of the last two games versus lefties. That is where I would expect him most often this week as well. New York is expected to activate Austin Wells from the IL, but there is little immediate fantasy impact. Wells has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this year and bats left-handed.
Seattle Mariners
The good news is that the Seattle Mariners activated both MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford this week. Crawford is back to leading off and playing third base, with Raleigh hitting directly behind him. The bad news is that the team placed Randy Arozarena on the IL. Seattle called up Connor Joe, who should get most of the reps in left field until Arozarena returns. Weston Wilson may also be an option after he was recently recalled. Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, and Luke Raley have all dealt with minor ailments throughout the past week, but all should be ready to go by Tuesday. Raley and Dominic Canzone should earn five starts, as the Mariners will face five righties and one lefty this week.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay has a seven-game homestand beginning on Monday. They will face five right-handed starting pitchers and two lefties. Cedric Mullins has continued to bat third against righties. Mullins is a solid streaming option for fantasy managers needing assistance in the outfield. The Rays activated Jonny DeLuca from the IL and designated Austin Slater for assignment. DeLuca hit third against a lefty on Friday before hitting the bench against a righty on Saturday. He will likely be on the short end of a platoon in right field with Victor Mesa Jr. Ryan Vilade and Ben Williamson will start against left-handed starting pitchers and may earn a start or two versus righties. However, it will not be enough to warrant starting either player in fantasy this week.
Texas Rangers
Corey Seager could be ready to return early this week following a stint on the 7-day IL. However, concussions can be tricky, so fantasy managers will need to monitor Seager’s progress. The Rangers play seven games, including six against right-handed pitchers, so hopefully Seager can make it back soon. Texas activated Josh Smith from the Injured List only to option him to the Minor Leagues later in the week. Ezequiel Duran is most likely to be the full-time second baseman once Seager returns. For now, he has been playing every day at shortstop while Nicky Lopez and Cody Freeman have been splitting second base duties. Alejandro Osuna and Jarred Kelenic have been called up from Triple-A. Osuna should get most of the work in left field, albeit towards the bottom of the lineup.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays activated outfielder Daulton Varsho from the IL this past Saturday. Toronto begins an extended homestand Monday, featuring seven games in Week 14. Six of those games are projected to be against right-handed starting pitchers. Fantasy managers should not hesitate to put Varsho in weekly lineups. I would continue to start all Blue Jay regular hitters in most formats. Having said that, the exact order of Toronto’s lineup is somewhat in flux. Varsho hit sixth on Saturday, with Nathan Lukes hitting second. However, Ernie Clement, Jesus Sanchez, and Alejandro Kirk all sat out the game. All three should be in the lineup close to every day next week. Kazuma Okamoto has hit anywhere from third through seventh over the past four days.
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