The goal with Lineup Lowdown is simple: we're looking for trends which could help identify players that might be undervalued or overvalued. Who is playing more/less? Who is moving up/down? We'll be doing a deep dive into one league each week as we navigate the lineup landscape.
To track all the latest changes around the league, visit our MLB batting order changes and MLB playing time changes pages.
Baltimore Orioles
– Colton Cowser had been situated in the No. 6 spot in the Orioles' lineup every time the club has faced a right-hander since June 21 before moving down to seventh Monday upon Adley Rutschman's return. Cowser has been brutal in July (.567 OPS) but he did homer Monday and is a good bet to hit higher in the batting order if/when Ryan O'Hearn and/or Ramon Laureano are traded.
– Another guy who should theoretically benefit from others being traded is Coby Mayo, who has started only two of the Orioles' last 11 games against right-handed pitching. However, Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is on a rehab assignment and expected back soon, which would muddy things for Mayo. Mayo has taken strides since the All-Star break, going 7-for-17 with two home runs, two doubles and a 0:4 K:BB.
Boston Red Sox
– The Red Sox have made a change in their leadoff spot, hitting Roman Anthony there for the last two games while Jarren Duran moved to the three hole. It was the first time all season that Duran was
The goal with Lineup Lowdown is simple: we're looking for trends which could help identify players that might be undervalued or overvalued. Who is playing more/less? Who is moving up/down? We'll be doing a deep dive into one league each week as we navigate the lineup landscape.
To track all the latest changes around the league, visit our MLB batting order changes and MLB playing time changes pages.
Baltimore Orioles
– Colton Cowser had been situated in the No. 6 spot in the Orioles' lineup every time the club has faced a right-hander since June 21 before moving down to seventh Monday upon Adley Rutschman's return. Cowser has been brutal in July (.567 OPS) but he did homer Monday and is a good bet to hit higher in the batting order if/when Ryan O'Hearn and/or Ramon Laureano are traded.
– Another guy who should theoretically benefit from others being traded is Coby Mayo, who has started only two of the Orioles' last 11 games against right-handed pitching. However, Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is on a rehab assignment and expected back soon, which would muddy things for Mayo. Mayo has taken strides since the All-Star break, going 7-for-17 with two home runs, two doubles and a 0:4 K:BB.
Boston Red Sox
– The Red Sox have made a change in their leadoff spot, hitting Roman Anthony there for the last two games while Jarren Duran moved to the three hole. It was the first time all season that Duran was not in the leadoff spot when the club went up against a right-hander. Manager Alex Cora has said the change will stick, which gives Duran a little RBI boost and Anthony a little runs scored boost.
– Ceddanne Rafaela had already been seeing increased action at second base, but it could become his primary position for a while after Marcelo Mayer (wrist) went down. Rafaela has handled the keystone in four of the past five contests, with the last three of those happening after Mayer was hurt. The domino effect means more Duran in center field, more Anthony in left field and more Masataka Yoshida at designated hitter.
New York Yankees
– The Yankees' outfield congestion cleared a bit in the least desirable way over the weekend when Aaron Judge landed on the IL with a flexor strain. In the three games since then, Cody Bellinger was in right field and Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez joined him in the outfield, while Giancarlo Stanton occupied DH. That will be the standard setup while Judge is out, but the expectation is that Judge will be a DH only initially upon his return. Stanton could get a little run in the outfield at that time, but he will be impacted the most by Judge's ability (or inability) to play the field. The timing couldn't be worse, as Stanton has heated up with seven long balls in July.
– Paul Goldschmidt has yielded first base to Ben Rice in three of the Yankees' last five games versus right-handed pitching. The right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt has been better in July (.728 OPS) after a dreadful June (.464 OPS), but he has massive splits this season, sporting an 1.130 OPS against lefties as compared to a .615 OPS versus righties. The left-swinging Rice sports an .809 OPS against right-handers while producing just a .674 OPS versus southpaws. Rice was up in Judge's old No. 2 spot against a righty Sunday. Meanwhile, newcomer Ryan McMahon has hit seventh in his first two games versus a right-hander as a Yankee. The left-handed-hitting McMahon also started against a lefty over the weekend, batting eighth.
For coverage of all the latest trade deadline news, check out our MLB Trade Deadline Tracker.
Tampa Bay Rays
– Jonny DeLuca finally returned from a lengthy absence this past weekend and started in center field and batted eighth Saturday versus a lefty. Chandler Simpson has remained the center fielder and leadoff man against righties even with DeLuca back in the fold, but DeLuca could continue to eat into the left-handed-hitting Simpson's playing time versus southpaws. For what it's worth, Simpson doesn't have notable splits so far, slashing .300/.339/.359 against righties and .308/.333/.308 versus lefties.
– With Ha-Seong Kim (back) out again, Taylor Walls has taken over at shortstop for each of the last six contests. Brandon Lowe (foot) is also shelved, opening up second base, where Jose Caballero has settled in for four of the past six tilts. Lowe and Caballero are both trade candidates, but if the former is dealt and the latter stays, Caballero could be in line for something close to everyday at-bats. Even with sporadic playing time, Caballero leads the AL in stolen bases for the second straight year.
Toronto Blue Jays
– Ernie Clement has started at second base for the injured Andres Gimenez (ankle) each of the last eight times the Blue Jays have faced a right-handed pitcher and also drew one start there versus a lefty during that stretch. In six of seven contests against southpaws since Gimenez went down, it's been Leo Jimenez at the keystone while Clement returns to third base. Addison Barger has handled the hot corner for some of those games versus righties, but the bulk of them have gone to Will Wagner, who has been in the lineup for 13 of the past 15 tilts against righties (and one of the games he wasn't in there was because he was in Cooperstown to see his dad get elected to the Hall of Fame).
– Joey Loperfido has settled into a regular role against right-handed pitching, starting 10 of 11 games in such situations since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. He's off to a great start at the plate, too, with an OPS near .900 along with a couple home runs and a stolen base. Daulton Varsho (hamstring) is due back later this week, which throws a potential wrench into Loperfido's playing time outlook.
Chicago White Sox
– The switch-hitting Brooks Baldwin has been a regular lately against right-handed pitching, making 11 straight starts in such situations in July when healthy (he missed some time with a back injury). Most of those starts have come in center field while Luis Robert was banged up, with some left field also mixed in. Robert is healthy now but is almost sure to be traded this week, at which point Baldwin could take over as the Pale Hose's primary center fielder.
– Colson Montgomery played shortstop almost exclusively in the minors, but each of his last four and nine of his last 11 starts with the White Sox have come at third base, as the club has been leaning on Chase Meidroth at shortstop. At the plate, Montgomery has made a nice first impression, and he's been particularly of late with four homers and 10 RBI in his last six tilts. The left-handed swinger has not been platooned, starting six of seven games versus southpaws since his promotion.
Cleveland Guardians
– Brayan Rocchio took over as the Guardians' everyday shortstop when Gabriel Arias hurt his ankle in late June, and he has continued to play every day even after Arias returned, shifting over to second base for three of the last four tilts. The 24-year-old has started all but one game in July and has held his own offensively with a .737 OPS.
– It's been a very specific role for David Fry since he returned from right elbow surgery in early June, as he has started all but one game at DH versus lefties and garnered just one start against a righty over that span. With a .552 OPS and 39.1 percent strikeout rate, he has not been sharp. Fry will not be allowed to play the field again until 2026 as the Guardians protect his elbow.
Detroit Tigers
– Jahmai Jones has become a regular presence in the Tigers' lineup against left-handed pitching, starting all 14 games versus southpaws since being called up in mid-June. He has batted first, second or third in each of those starts and is sporting an .868 OPS with four home runs across 62 plate appearances against left-handers. All but one of Jones' starts have come from the DH spot, with the other start coming in left field.
– Matt Vierling has made 10 starts in center field, four starts in left field and one start apiece in right field and at DH since returning from the IL in late June. He's been in the starting lineup 64 percent of the time over that stretch, but he could become something close to the Tigers' everyday center fielder for a while after Parker Meadows (quad) went down.
Kansas City Royals
– The Royals traded for Randal Grichuk this past weekend and immediately threw him into the lineup in right field for the injured Jac Caglianone (hamstring) in each of the first two games since the deal, with one of them coming against a right-hander and one against a left-hander. Grichuk had operated mostly as a short-side platoon bat with the Diamondbacks, but given the Royals' lack of offensive punch from their outfield this season, he could get an opportunity to play every day between the outfield and DH.
– The Royals called up Luke Maile as a third catcher on July 4, and since that day Salvador Perez has made more starts between first base and DH (10) than he has at catcher (nine). It's meant a slight uptick in playing time for Freddy Fermin, who has matched Perez with nine starts at catcher during that span while adding another at DH.
Minnesota Twins
– Royce Lewis is finally showing some signs of life, sporting a 1.271 OPS with three home runs and four doubles across his last eight contests. As a result, Lewis has been elevated in the batting order, hitting fifth three times and fourth once across the Twins' last four contests. Previously, he had hit seventh or eighth in eight of nine tilts.
– Brooks Lee has seen his role diminished a bit lately, having been out of the lineup eight times across the last 19 games. In his last six starts, he has not exited the bottom-third of the batting order. After sporting a .908 OPS in June, Lee has a lowly .353 OPS in July. He does, however, figure to benefit from the Twins' likely trade of Willi Castro.
Houston Astros
– Mauricio Dubon has assumed the role of primary third baseman since Isaac Paredes (hamstring) landed on the IL just after the All-Star break. He has started nine straight contests over that span (seven at third base, two at shortstop) and has started 16 straight games dating back before the break. The steadier playing time has allowed Dubon to find a bit of a groove with a .299/.357/.429 batting line in July. He has just one home run and zero steals during that span, however, as the utility player just doesn't offer much at all from a counting stats perspective.
– Taylor Trammell has found himself in the leadoff spot each of the last four times the Astros have gone up against a right-hander, and the left-handed hitter has started 12 of the last 13 contests versus righties. Across the latter stretch, Trammell has put up a .963 OPS with two home runs and two stolen bases. Most of Trammell's reps have been in center field, and he should continue to see regular reps there against righties while Jake Meyers (calf) is shelved.
Los Angeles Angels
– In five games since Jorge Soler (back) landed on the IL, the Angels have used LaMonte Wade and Gustavo Campero in right field twice apiece and Chris Taylor once. Wade has somehow been even worse for the Angels (.476 OPS) than he was for the Giants (.546 OPS). Campero has done very little offensively during his time in the majors, but he's always hit in the minors and did steal a couple bases in his last start. Mike Trout said around the All-Star break that he hoped to return to right field soon, but there's been no indication that that's imminent.
– The Halos made a subtle lineup tweak after Soler got hurt when they flipped Trout and Nolan Schanuel, putting the former in the two hole and the latter in the three spot. Schanuel remains a plate discipline wizard, boasting a 10.6 percent walk rate and just a 12 percent strikeout rate. He's also got his flyball rate above the league average in 2025. Unfortunately, Schanuel's quality of contact remains lackluster, with a hard-hit rate, average exit velocity and barrel rate all in the 16th percentile or worse.
Sacramento Athletics
– Lawrence Butler has become the everyday center fielder since Denzel Clarke (adductor) was injured, opening up right field for the Athletics. The left-handed-hitting Carlos Cortes has handled right field each of the last four times the A's have faced a righty. He's hit seventh in three of those starts and moved up to the leadoff spot once. Colby Thomas has received only three starts in seven contests since being recalled, with two of those coming versus southpaws.
– Max Schuemann handled shortstop and batted eighth in three games when Jacob Wilson was banged up, and he now stands to see everyday reps there indefinitely with Wilson landing on the IL with a fractured forearm. Schuemann has some modest stolen-base chops and draws lots of walks, but he's limited to AL-only leagues even with regular playing time.
Seattle Mariners
– Switch hitter Jorge Polanco has been used at second base each of the last three times the Mariners have gone up against a left-handed pitcher, while the left-handed-hitting Cole Young has remained the primary guy at the keystone versus righties, with Polanco serving as the DH those days. Young could be the long-term answer at the position, but he has rated poorly defensively and hasn't done much offensively, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Mariners trade for a second baseman or DH and use Polanco at the other spot.
– Dominic Canzone has served as the Mariners' primary right fielder since mid-June, and the left-handed hitter has also remained in the lineup each of the last two times the M's have faced southpaws. That's probably mostly the result of his former platoon mate, Dylan Moore, being so inept. Moore is an unfathomable 2-for-54 with 31 strikeouts since June 1.
Texas Rangers
– Josh Jung is back with the big club after a few weeks in the minors to regroup. He's started all seven games at third base since being recalled, batting eighth five times and fifth a couple times versus lefties. The 27-year-old looks like he might have rediscovered his swing, having gone 9-for-22 with a couple long balls over those seven contests.
– Joc Pederson finally returned from a two-plus month absence, sliding into the DH slot and the No. 5 spot in the lineup for both games since being activated. Pederson has had a dreadful first season in Texas, but the track record says he should be a useful power bat in deeper fantasy leagues over the final two months. That is, if you can afford to roster someone who is utility-only eligible.
