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. For today's lineups, head to our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Atlanta Braves
– Jurickson Profar was reinstated from the suspended list last week and, aside from batting leadoff Sunday during an off day for Ronald Acuna, he has hit fifth twice and fourth twice for Atlanta. The 32-year-old went deep in each of his first two games. Profar could eventually slide up in the batting order, perhaps to the No. 2 spot, but Matt Olson has put up a .920 OPS since moving to the two hole, so manager Brian Snitker has decided to keep him there for now.
– Marcell Ozuna is scuffling, having slashed just .171/.261/.256 since the beginning of June, which includes a 1-for-20 stretch over his last six contests. The designated hitter has been playing through a nagging hip issue and was finally given a day off Sunday following 70 straight starts. In Saturday's game, Ozuna batted sixth, which is the lowest he's hit all season.
Miami Marlins
– Derek Hill returned from his wrist injury last week, but Dane Myers has remained the team's primary center
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. For today's lineups, head to our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Atlanta Braves
– Jurickson Profar was reinstated from the suspended list last week and, aside from batting leadoff Sunday during an off day for Ronald Acuna, he has hit fifth twice and fourth twice for Atlanta. The 32-year-old went deep in each of his first two games. Profar could eventually slide up in the batting order, perhaps to the No. 2 spot, but Matt Olson has put up a .920 OPS since moving to the two hole, so manager Brian Snitker has decided to keep him there for now.
– Marcell Ozuna is scuffling, having slashed just .171/.261/.256 since the beginning of June, which includes a 1-for-20 stretch over his last six contests. The designated hitter has been playing through a nagging hip issue and was finally given a day off Sunday following 70 straight starts. In Saturday's game, Ozuna batted sixth, which is the lowest he's hit all season.
Miami Marlins
– Derek Hill returned from his wrist injury last week, but Dane Myers has remained the team's primary center fielder, starting five of the last seven games. Myers has turned into a quality regular for the Marlins, slashing .280/.339/.412 with seven homers and 17 steals in 105 games since the beginning of last season while also grading out well defensively. Much of his production has come against left-handed pitching, though, as Myers sports a .921 versus lefties over that span as compared to just a .628 OPS against righties.
– Since the start of June, the left-handed-hitting Liam Hicks has started 19 of 25 tilts against right-handed pitching. Six of those starts have come at catcher, seven have been at first base and six have come out of the DH spot. He had started five straight and 10 of the last 11 from the No. 7 spot in the lineup before batting cleanup Monday. Hicks is slashing .295/.380/.455 against right-handed pitching.
New York Mets
– Starling Marte has batted leadoff each of the last three times the Mets have faced a lefty, with Francisco Lindor inching down to the two hole on those days and Brandon Nimmo dropping down to fifth. Marte made a rare start in left field in the third of those contests and, unfortunately, came out of the game with a sore knee. The 36-year-old has started just one of the last six games versus righties, and with Jesse Winker's (oblique) return imminent, that trend is unlikely to change, even if Marte's knee checks out OK.
– In nine games since coming off the IL, Mark Vientos has been in the lineup seven times. However, the right-handed-hitting Vientos has been absent from the lineup each of the last two occasions versus righties, and he's only 2-for-25 with a 9:0 K:BB since being activated. The 25-year-old is in real danger of falling into a short-side platoon role, if it hasn't happened already.
Philadelphia Phillies
– Since Bryce Harper returned from the IL, Otto Kemp has started just one of five games versus right-handers, getting that one start at first base when Harper got a breather. Kemp's role now is as a short-side platoon partner in left field for Max Kepler, who hasn't been in the lineup against a traditional left-handed starter since early April.
– Bryson Stott hasn't been in as strict of a platoon as Kepler, but Stott has started just one of the last seven games against traditional left-handed starters. Edmundo Sosa has handled second base on each of those days Stott has sat out. The left-handed-swinging Stott has just a .553 OPS versus left-handers in 2025, and his .679 OPS against righties isn't anything to write home about, either.
Washington Nationals
– The Nationals announced the firing of president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on Sunday, so it's possible we could see some changes to the lineup with interim skipper Miguel Cairo at the helm. Luis Garcia hasn't been deployed as a strict platoon bat at second base all season, but he has been lately, not starting any of the last five games against traditional lefty starters. Amed Rosario handled second base those days. The good news for Garcia is that he's batted third each of the last 14 times the Nationals have gone up against a right-hander.
– Paul DeJong returned to the active roster last week after being sidelined since mid-April with an orbital fracture. He was serving as the everyday third baseman before getting hurt, but in six games since returning, DeJong has started only three games. Two of those were against southpaws, and he was at a different position each time (third base, shortstop, DH). DeJong's best chance at regular reps again would likely be if the Nats decide Brady House needs more seasoning. House has just a .570 OPS in 18 contests since coming up to take over at third base.
Chicago Cubs
– Carson Kelly looks to be getting back into a groove offensively, homering in two straight games and producing a 1.224 OPS across his last 11 tilts. He's started seven of the last 10 contests, which is a bump up in playing time after he yielded to Reese McGuire at catcher in nine of the 20 games before that. After batting fourth or fifth regularly from late April to early June, Kelly hasn't hit higher than seventh versus a righty in a month.
– The scorching-hot, left-handed-swinging Michael Busch has made two straight starts against southpaw hurlers, marking the first time all season he's made consecutive starts versus traditional lefty starters. He also inched up from the sixth to the fifth spot in the Cubs' lineup against a righty Sunday, flip-flopping with Dansby Swanson. Busch is slashing a ridiculous .365/.436/.740 with 11 home runs in 30 games since the beginning of June.
Cincinnati Reds
– The Reds got Noelvi Marte (oblique) back from the IL this past weekend and have started him at third base in three of four games since. After batting seventh once and sixth once against lefties in his first two games back, the right-handed-hitting Marte hit ninth Monday versus a righty. Christian Encarnacion-Strand has started just one of four tilts since Marte returned to action.
– Eight of Spencer Steer's last nine starts have been at first base. He's still in the mix in left field and in the DH spot on occasion, but when the Reds are operating at full strength or close to it, it seems the preference is to use Steer at first base. He's collected a 1.071 OPS with six home runs and three stolen bases over his last 20 contests.
Milwaukee Brewers
– The Brewers lost Rhys Hoskins to a sprained thumb and summoned recent trade acquisition Andrew Vaughn as a replacement. Vaughn was inserted into the lineup at first base and in the five spot Monday and immediately paid dividends, cranking a three-run homer in his first plate appearance. Jake Bauers should also be in the mix for starts a first base while Hoskins is out, but it's notable that the right-handed-hitting Vaughn drew the first opportunity against Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
– Anthony Seigler started back-to-back games at third base upon his promotion last week, but Caleb Durbin has since reclaimed that job with five straight starts. Durbin has mostly settled in as the No. 8 hitter, although he did move up to the six spot a couple times last week. The diminutive Durbin is slashing .289/.375/.402 with three homers and three steals since the start of June.
Pittsburgh Pirates
– Spencer Horwitz has been the Pirates' leadoff man for each of their last six games against right-handed pitching. Former leadoff man Oneil Cruz has batted fifth in each of those contests. The move does not seem to have sparked either player, unfortunately, as Horwitz is 3-for-19 with a 7:0 K:BB in July while Cruz is 1-for-17 with a 5:1 K:BB this month.
– It's been a virtually even split at catcher since Joey Bart returned from a concussion last month, as Bart has started 10 of 19 behind the dish while Henry Davis has drawn nine starts. Bart has been unable to find a groove offensively in 2025 after his surprising showing in 2024, and he has a sub-.500 OPS and is homerless since being activated.
St. Louis Cardinals
– Nolan Gorman was absent from the lineup Sunday for the first time in the Cardinals' last 13 games. The Cards were facing a lefty in Matthew Boyd that day, but the left-handed-hitting Gorman had started each of the previous five contests against southpaws, and he's started all but two tilts versus righties since June 1. Gorman sports an .847 OPS with seven home runs since the beginning of June, although he's posted just a .630 OPS against lefties during that span.
– Pedro Pages has carried a heavy workload at catcher since Ivan Herrera (hamstring) went down, starting each of the last seven and 13 of 16 contests. Unfortunately, he's been even more inept than usual with the bat during that stretch, putting up a .524 OPS. No. 2 catcher Yohel Pozo has proved to be an offensive weapon but has been used mainly in a pinch-hitting role.
Arizona Diamondbacks
– The Diamondbacks lost Pavin Smith to an oblique strain, and in two games since then (both against right-handers), Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel have each netted a start at DH. Jake McCarthy has started in left field and batted sixth in both of those contests, and he might be the player to benefit most from Smith's absence. McCarthy has been solid since being recalled from Triple-A Reno in late June, sporting a .768 OPS with two homers and two steals in 10 contests.
– Alek Thomas had a nice April at the plate (.748 OPS), but since then he's produced a lowly .614 OPS. However, that hasn't deterred manager Torey Lovullo from using Thomas as the club's primary center fielder. You have to go back to April 18 to find the last time Thomas didn't start in center field against a traditional right-handed starter. The left-handed hitter does sit more often than not versus southpaws, making just five starts this season against lefties. Tim Tawa has been the team's regular center fielder versus lefties since mid-May, but he was optioned to Triple-A Reno over the weekend. McCarthy could pick up those starts now.
Colorado Rockies
– Brenton Doyle has been put through the wringer this season. Following a breakout 2024 campaign, the 27-year-old was the Rockies' leadoff man through mid-May before being demoted to the No. 5 spot. More recently, he was absent from the lineup for all three games against the White Sox this past weekend as he cleared hit head, and when he returned Monday it was as the Rockies' No. 7 hitter. The quality of contact for Doyle is actually up across the board from last season, and he's also striking out a tick less, so he should have more luck coming his way. Doyle's BABIP has dropped 60 points year-over-year (.316 to .256).
– The Rockies summoned 22-year-old Yanquiel Fernandez from Triple-A Albuquerque last week and have started the left-handed hitter all five times they've faced a righty since then, though he sat in their lone game against a lefty. He's split time between right field (three starts) and DH (two starts), batting eighth three times and ninth twice. Three of those starts came when Doyle was receiving his mental break, though, and it could be difficult for Fernandez to continue seeing regular reps in right field and at DH since Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman are playing well in those slots.
Los Angeles Dodgers
– Max Muncy suffered a bone bruise in his left knee last week and is expected to be shelved until mid-August. The Dodgers have used Miguel Rojas four times and Enrique Hernandez once at third base since Muncy went down, but the plan is for Tommy Edman to take over as the everyday third baseman while Muncy is out. Edman is banged up himself with a toe injury, but he's expected to avoid the IL. Sticking Edman at the hot corner should allow Hyeseong Kim everyday reps at second base.
For all the latest injury updates, check out RotoWire's MLB Injury News page.
– Michael Conforto went deep in back-to-back games in late June and has homered three times across his last 10 contests, offering hope that perhaps he's coming out of his season-long slump. Between Muncy being out, Teoscar Hernandez (foot) banged up and Conforto's mini hot streak, he was up in the No. 5 spot in the lineup Sunday, which is the highest he's batted since April.
San Diego Padres
– Lefty swinger Trenton Brooks has garnered four straight starts and five starts over the last six games at the DH spot against right-handed pitching. The 30-year-old journeyman has a .585 OPS and 10:1 K:BB in 28 plate appearances, so his run of playing time could be short-lived. The Padres desperately need to find a left fielder so that they can return Gavin Sheets to the DH slot. Frankly, they could use a DH, too, as Sheets' production has trailed off since June 1 (.688 OPS).
– Speaking of needing upgrades, Martin Maldonado has drawn 13 starts at catcher over the Padres' last 20 games, which is a big workload for a 38-year-old with a .528 OPS. Maldonado doesn't even rate well in terms of defensive metrics anymore, with Statcast ranking him well below average for the third straight year.
San Francisco Giants
– Manager Bob Melvin said in mid-June after the Giants acquired Rafael Devers in a trade that the slugger would see some action at first base for his new team. That has not happened beyond pregame reps, though, with all 20 of Devers' starts coming at DH. Devers has batted either second or third in all 20 of those contests. Wilmer Flores has drawn 11 starts (seven versus righties) at first base and Dominic Smith has started there nine times (all against righties) since Devers arrived. Flores received one additional start at third base during that span.
– Matt Chapman returned from the IL over the weekend to reclaim his third base job and cleanup spot. Casey Schmitt — who had been filling in at third for Chapman before he got hurt himself — returned from the IL Monday and was installed at second base, as expected. Tyler Fitzgerald was sent back to Triple-A Sacramento.
