Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 23: American League

The Major League Baseball regular season has just five weeks remaining. Week 23 in the American League is relatively quiet from a volume perspective. Only two teams are scheduled to play seven games, a direct result of a Saturday doubleheader. Five AL squads are off Monday, while the remaining 10 are off Thursday. There are no Monday or Friday day games involving American League teams for fantasy baseball managers to worry about. Below is the information you need to know about each of the 15 American League clubs. My fantasy baseball lineup analysis includes relevant roster moves, lineup changes, and injury news to consider before setting your weekly lineups.

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American League Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 23

Athletics

The Athletics placed Jacob Wilson on the injured list as his shoulder issues continue to persist. Wilson is expected to miss the rest of the season. The same fate officially befell Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom after the team transferred both players to the 60-day IL. Michael Stefanic and Darell Hernaiz have been recalled to replace Wilson and Soderstrom on the active roster. However, neither is a regular starter at this juncture. The Athletics are home for six games this week, with an off day Thursday. They will play all six games against right-handed starting pitchers. Based on recent lineups, expect Henry Bolte to lead off, followed by Jeff McNeil, Zack Gelof, Carlos Cortes, and Lawrence Butler. While McNeil has been mildly productive, the team could bench him at any point in favor of younger players it wants to evaluate down the stretch.

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore activated Samuel Basallo from the injured list early last week. He has started four of five games since his return. However, only two of those starts have come with Basallo behind the plate. He played first base once and served as the team’s designated hitter in the other. Basallo has hit fourth or fifth in all five games. The other big lineup news out of Baltimore is that Jackson Holliday has led off in six straight games. Better late than never, I suppose. With Basallo back, Dylan Beavers and Tyler O’Neill appear to be platoon bats again. Beavers has batted sixth versus righties, while O’Neill usually cleans up against lefties. The Orioles are off Monday before heading out on the road. They will face four left-handers this week, making O’Neill the preferred option over Beavers.

Boston Red Sox

Boston recalled Mickey Gasper after placing Masataka Yoshida on the IL. Gasper has been the team’s DH against right-handers and has played well. Just keep in mind that he hits toward the bottom of the lineup and rarely starts against left-handers. Boston is scheduled to face two left-handed starters next weekend after an off day Thursday. That is contingent on Yankees starter Max Fried returning from the IL on schedule. Boston and New York square off in a day-night doubleheader Saturday. As a result, they are the only two American League teams scheduled to play seven games in Week 23. Nick Sogard continues to lead off against right-handers and remains a solid streaming option.

Chicago White Sox

Fantasy baseball managers should know what to expect from the Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox. They have kept their lineups intact over the past couple of weeks. This week, they will face five right-handed starting pitchers and one left-hander. Sam Antonacci will lead off against righties. Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, Braden Montgomery, and Colson Montgomery will follow Antonacci in the batting order. Benintendi and Tristan Peters will not start against the lefty, while Antonacci’s role that day remains up in the air. It is also possible that one of the Montgomerys sits. Chase Meidroth will almost certainly lead off that day. Randal Grichuk, Brenton Doyle, and Luisangel Acuña will start and could be worthy of DFS consideration.

Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland placed Rhys Hoskins on the injured list because of a back issue. Hoskins is a platoon-only bat who has 47 hits this season while striking out 100 times. His time as a fantasy asset has come and gone. The Guardians recalled David Fry to replace Hoskins, but he has yet to start in four games. Fry is likely to remain on the bench for most of Week 23, as Cleveland faces only one left-handed starting pitcher in its six games. Angel Genao has settled into the sixth spot in the batting order while playing three different positions. He may not earn multi-position eligibility quickly enough to matter this season, but the 22-year-old has been a solid hitter since reaching the major leagues earlier this month.

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers recalled Brett Callahan last weekend and immediately began using him as their left fielder against right-handed starting pitchers. Callahan has hit as high as fifth in the lineup, while Max Clark has hit exclusively eighth. On the other hand, Clark is playing every day, while Callahan has yet to start against a left-hander. Callahan is one of several Tigers hitters in platoon situations. That will make Week 23 tricky for many fantasy managers to navigate. Detroit will face three left-handers and three righties this week, with Thursday as an off day. Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry are expected to join Callahan on the bench, while Corey Julks, Ben Malgeri, and Javier Báez are projected to start. None of these players is a recommended starter in weekly leagues, as each is likely capped at three or four starts.

Houston Astros

Houston made a couple of tweaks to its lineup but no major changes. LaMonte Wade Jr. has seen an uptick in playing time. He has started four of five games after starting just two of the previous seven. Interestingly, Wade has started both games the Astros have played against left-handed pitchers, albeit low in the lineup. The team designated Nelson Velázquez for assignment, so perhaps Wade has some life left in him. Taylor Trammell has not started a game versus a lefty since July and is hitting just .103 against them this year. The Astros will spend the week in New York following an off day Monday. They should face five right-handed starting pitchers and one left-hander, so Trammell could be a useful streamer.

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City activated Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia from the injured list Monday. Unfortunately, the good news did not last long. Garcia injured his hamstring Thursday and was placed back on the IL. Fantasy managers can move on, as the injury could end Garcia’s season with Kansas City out of serious playoff contention. It has mostly been a lost season for Pasquantino, but he has been hot since his return and can be a difference-maker down the stretch. The Royals have parted ways with veteran outfielder Starling Marte. They released the 37-year-old and called up Matthew Lugo from the minor leagues. Lugo could start when Kansas City faces a left-handed pitcher. The Royals face two lefties next weekend.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels placed Nolan Schanuel and Wade Meckler on the injured list Saturday. I have not seen any timeline updates regarding either player’s return, but this is the point in the season when fantasy managers may not be able to afford to wait on injured players. Gustavo Campero and Christian Moore were called up in corresponding moves. Campero has played left field and batted sixth, while Moore has hit eighth and played second base. With Meckler out, Zach Neto has returned to the leadoff spot for Los Angeles. Moisés Ballesteros made his first start at first base Sunday. I don’t think Ballesteros is likely to become eligible there this season, as Vaughn Grissom plays first base fairly often, but it is worth monitoring. The Angels will play six home games and face three right-handed starters and three left-handers this week.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have used Luke Keaschall in the leadoff spot for the past six games. Keaschall started his second MLB season quite poorly but has improved in recent weeks. He could maintain his spot atop Minnesota’s lineup for the foreseeable future. The Twins placed Austin Martin on the injured list early last week. Minnesota has yet to face a left-handed starter since Martin went down, so it is difficult to say exactly how the team will set its lineup. Ryan Kreidler and Alan Roden are the most likely candidates to start in Martin’s place, but neither is worth considering for fantasy purposes. The Twins will face two lefties to start the week before closing with four consecutive right-handers.

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees activated Cody Bellinger from the injured list Sunday. He may miss a game or two, but do not hesitate to get him back into starting lineups. New York placed Ryan McMahon on the IL. José Caballero should get most of the starts at third base for as long as McMahon is out. Fantasy managers can feel free to drop McMahon. The same goes for anyone who was holding out hope for a September surge from Giancarlo Stanton. The oft-injured slugger suffered another calf injury while rehabilitating over the weekend. New York is most likely to face two or three left-handed starting pitchers this week. Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario are the most obvious platoon bats, but neither will get enough plate appearances to start in weekly leagues.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle placed Brendan Donovan on the 7-day IL after he was hit in the head by a ball in the batting cage before Saturday’s game. Plan to be without him for the duration of Week 23. The Mariners recalled Patrick Wisdom, but I would not expect him to play much. Seattle faces only one left-handed starter in its six games this week. The Mariners faced four straight lefties to close this past week, so their recent lineup configurations may be somewhat skewed. Do not be surprised to see Cole Young get the bulk of the work in the leadoff spot with Donovan out. Taylor Ward is another option, but he hasn’t cracked the top four in any of Seattle’s last four games despite facing a lefty each time.

Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay experimented with Chandler Simpson in the leadoff spot for a few games earlier in the week. However, the team has reverted to having Yandy Díaz hit first over its past three outings. The Rays placed Victor Mesa Jr. on the injured list this week. Interestingly, Tampa Bay decided to call up a third catcher rather than find a direct replacement for Mesa. That is good news for Jonny DeLuca, who has started each of the team’s last three games against a right-hander. DeLuca hit sixth in each of those games after batting third against a left-handed starter Friday. Over 600 plate appearances, DeLuca’s current pace would yield roughly 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases. You can find worse streamers. The Rays are off Thursday and will bookend their week by facing left-handed starting pitchers Monday and Sunday.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers activated Danny Jansen from the 60-day IL and recalled Logan O’Hoppe. They still have Elías Díaz on the active roster, but my guess is that he ends up as the odd man out. Texas will face three left-handed starting pitchers during its six-game Week 23 schedule. Justin Foscue has led off in each of the last two games against lefties but went 0-for-8 in the process. The Rangers may opt for Wyatt Langford in that spot, which could result in a lineup bump for Jake Burger. Joc Pederson will continue to lead off versus righties. Evan Carter is the only other Rangers regular whose role shifts dramatically based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness. He has mostly hit sixth versus right-handers and ninth against left-handers.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto made several roster moves this week. The Blue Jays activated Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the 7-day IL Saturday. Before that, they sent Lenyn Sosa to the minor leagues and placed Josh Smith on the injured list. On Sunday, they sent Davis Schneider to the minors. Meanwhile, Andrés Giménez has missed three straight games because of a hamstring injury. George Springer has started only one of Toronto’s last four games versus right-handed pitchers. The recent moves may lead to a more regular role for Springer, but fantasy managers need to monitor the situation. The Blue Jays face only two left-handed starting pitchers during their six-game week. Brett Bateman has settled into the leadoff spot and has been a solid source of batting average. However, his contributions in the other fantasy categories have been subpar to this point.