Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting 9 After 2 Months of 2024 Season
The 2024 MLB season is two months old. Among other things, it's a good excuse to engage in some stock-taking exercises.
For instance, ranking all 30 starting lineups in the league.
First, understand that "lineup" is not the same as "offense." Though batting and baserunning are all that matter here, we're only talking about teams' go-to starting nines, as catalogued by RosterResource.
Second, we're talking about what teams have right now. Whether to credit teams for the contributions they've received from injured players—most notably Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mike Trout—was a tricky question, but it ultimately seemed best to consider what clubs actually have rather than what they should have.
In any case, let's count 'em down one at a time.
Note: All stats are current through play on Sunday, May 26.
30. Chicago White Sox
1 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Tommy Pham
- 2B Nicky Lopez
- DH Gavin Sheets
- 1B Andrew Vaughn
- LF Andrew Benintendi
- SS Paul DeJong
- RF Corey Julks
- C Korey Lee
- 3B Bryan Ramos
Collective Stats: 25 HR, 16 SB, .232 AVG, .295 OBP, .350 SLG, 84 wRC+
What's Good
Thank goodness for Pham, who's hit .315 with a trio of home runs and stolen bases since he joined the White Sox on April 26. It's also nice to see DeJong having a rebound year. His OPS is up 110 points from 2023, and he leads the team with seven homers.
What's Bad
The Benintendi signing just keeps looking worse, as he's now a .242/.301/.333 hitter as a White Sox. And sans Luis Robert Jr., Eloy Jiménez and Yoán Moncada, what was always going to be a weak lineup is now one that couldn't punch its way out of a wet paper bag.
29. Miami Marlins
2 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- DH Bryan De La Cruz
- 1B Josh Bell
- RF Jesús Sánchez
- 3B Jake Burger
- LF Nick Gordon
- SS Tim Anderson
- 2B Otto Lopez
- C Nick Fortes
Collective Stats: 38 HR, 24 SB, .231 AVG, .285 OBP, .356 SLG, 83 wRC+
What's Good
Chisholm and De La Cruz are having solid seasons, most notably in how they own 37 percent of the Marlins' 43 home runs. And keep an eye on Sánchez as a candidate to get hot. He doesn't have much to show for it, but he's crushing balls at a team-best average of 94.2 mph.
What's Bad
Let's not simply ignore that this lineup is missing Luis Arraez, nor that he's hit .391 since leaving Miami for San Diego. Anderson, meanwhile, seems cooked as a star. In 41 games, he's batting only .206 with three extra-base hits and six walks.
28. Colorado Rockies
3 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- RF Charlie Blackmon
- SS Ezequiel Tovar
- 3B Ryan McMahon
- C Elias Díaz
- DH Kris Bryant
- 2B Brendan Rodgers
- CF Brenton Doyle
- LF Sean Bouchard
- 1B Elehuris Montero
Collective Stats: 32 HR, 23 SB, .261 AVG, .324 OBP, .399 SLG, 92 wRC+
What's Good
McMahon is having a career year by way of an .877 OPS and 10 long balls. And along with Tovar and Díaz, he's one of three Rockies regulars who are hitting in the vicinity of .300. Tovar is also turning on the power with a .525 slugging percentage in May.
What's Bad
Because they're making a combined $41 million, manager Bud Black doesn't have much choice but to keep putting Blackmon and Bryant in the lineup. But those at-bats are largely going to waste, as the two veterans have a total of two homers and combined .616 OPS.
27. Washington Nationals
4 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS CJ Abrams
- RF Lane Thomas
- 2B Luis García Jr.
- LF Eddie Rosario
- C Keibert Ruiz
- DH Jesse Winker
- 3B Nick Senzel
- 1B Joey Gallo
- CF Jacob Young
Collective Stats: 40 HR, 56 SB, .220 AVG, .293 OBP, .372 SLG, 90 wRC+
What's Good
As four of these nine guys have at least five home runs and five stolen bases, there's a decent power-speed balance at play in the Nationals' lineup. With eight of each, Abrams has a shot at the team's first 25-25 season since 2006.
What's Bad
Then again, Abrams is but one of seven guys who have really hit the skids in May. He, Gallo, Senzel and Ruiz are hitting just .212 with three home runs this month, and that lack of productivity has been especially felt as the Nats have lost 10 of their last 15 games.
26. Cincinnati Reds
5 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- LF Jacob Hurtubise
- SS Elly De La Cruz
- 3B Jeimer Candelario
- 1B Spencer Steer
- RF Jake Fraley
- C Tyler Stephenson
- DH Nick Martini
- 2B Jonathan India
- CF Will Benson
Collective Stats: 40 HR, 65 SB, .230 AVG, .319 OBP, .392 SLG, 100 wRC+
What's Good
As he has 31 just on his own, you can thank De La Cruz for about half of those stolen bases. Likewise, he leads the Reds with nine homers and is generally just super-duper exciting.
And for his part, Stephenson is bouncing back by hitting .323 over his last 17 games.
What's Bad
It's been a rough month for everyone here, and arguably De La Cruz most of all. He's gotten on base at a .292 clip and gone deep only once. This is a major issue for a lineup that was perilously shallow to begin with.
25. Detroit Tigers
6 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Wenceel Pérez
- RF Riley Greene
- LF Mark Canha
- DH Kerry Carpenter
- 3B Gio Urshela
- 2B Colt Keith
- 1B Spencer Torkelson
- SS Javier Báez
- C Carson Kelly
Collective Stats: 34 HR, 15 SB, .240 AVG, .313 OBP, .385 SLG, 99 wRC+
What's Good
That front four? It's pretty good. Not one of those guys has a wRC+ below 118, and Carpenter and Greene further account for half of this starting nine's 34 long balls. Pérez has been a pleasant surprise lately, putting up an .818 OPS in 23 games since April 28.
What's Bad
After seeming to find his stride amid a 31-homer breakout in 2023, Torkelson is back to struggling again. The 2020 No. 1 pick's OPS has dropped 114 points. It's otherwise time to consider moving on from Báez, who's been helpless with a .506 OPS and one homer.
24. Los Angeles Angels
7 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 1B Nolan Schanuel
- 3B Luis Rengifo
- LF Taylor Ward
- DH Willie Calhoun
- C Logan O'Hoppe
- RF Jo Adell
- CF Mickey Moniak
- SS Zach Neto
- 2B Kyren Paris
Collective Stats: 45 HR, 30 SB, .251 AVG, .307 OBP, .416 SLG, 103 wRC+
What's Good
Adell's post-hype breakout is ongoing and plenty of fun, though he still needs one more homer to match Ward for the team lead with 11. And hitters don't come much hotter than Rengifo, who's hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games.
What's Bad
With Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Brandon Drury sidelined with injuries, the Angels' lineup is well short of being at full capacity. And from looking at his .656 OPS, it's fair to question if they did right by Schanuel in promoting him so soon after the 2023 draft.
23. Tampa Bay Rays
8 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 1B Yandy Díaz
- 2B Brandon Lowe
- 3B Isaac Paredes
- DH Jonathan Aranda
- LF Randy Arozarena
- RF Richie Palacios
- SS José Caballero
- C Ben Rortvedt
- CF Jose Siri
Collective Stats: 32 HR, 41 SB, .234 AVG, .320 OBP, .360 SLG, 102 wRC+
What's Good
Paredes is having a dandy season, batting .301 with nine homers. And after both were ice-cold through April, Díaz and Arozarena have come around in May. The former has hit .286, while the latter has made his 14 hits count. Those include five homers and four doubles.
What's Bad
More power is always welcome, but Arozarena is still hitting only .156. Lowe is likewise batting in the .150s, and even guys who are having good years (i.e., Rortvedt and Palacios) don't scare anyone. Ultimately, it's a thinner lineup than the one the Rays had last year.
22. Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 3B Maikel Garcia
- SS Bobby Witt Jr.
- 1B Vinnie Pasquantino
- C Salvador Perez
- DH Nelson Velázquez
- 2B Adam Frazier
- RF Hunter Renfroe
- LF MJ Melendez
- CF Kyle Isbel
Collective Stats: 46 HR, 38 SB, .243 AVG, .310 OBP, .409 SLG, 99 wRC+
What's Good
Witt and Perez are among the most productive batsmen in MLB right now, as both are hitting over .300 with nine homers apiece. As Witt also has 16 stolen bases, he has a real shot at a second straight 30-30 season. Garcia, meanwhile, is hitting .313 in May.
What's Bad
A couple of good individual pieces does not make a good lineup. And this one has more than its share of nothing hitters. Melendez and Renfroe are both batting under .200, and Pasquantino, Velázquez, Frazier and Isbel aren't far above that mark.
21. St. Louis Cardinals
10 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- LF Brendan Donovan
- CF Lars Nootbaar
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt
- 3B Nolan Arenado
- DH Alec Burleson
- 2B Nolan Gorman
- C Iván Herrera
- SS Masyn Winn
- CF Michael Siani
Collective Stats: 37 HR, 23 SB, .249 AVG, .319 OBP, .382 SLG, 104 wRC+
What's Good
That Burleson, who's only 25, and Winn, who's only 22, are both batting over .300 is a great sign for the Cardinals. They're also seeing signs of life from Nootbaar and Gorman in May, wherein they've teamed up for an .899 OPS after posting a .618 OPS in April.
What's Bad
Age has come for Goldschmidt (36) and Arenado (33), and it's come hard. Whereas it was .937 just two years ago, their collective OPS is now just .659. It also really hurt to lose Willson Contreras to that broken arm, as he had been St. Louis' best hitter to the tune of a .950 OPS.
20. Seattle Mariners
11 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS J.P. Crawford
- LF Dylan Moore
- RF Luke Raley
- C Cal Raleigh
- DH Dominic Canzone
- CF Julio Rodríguez
- 1B Ty France
- 2B Jorge Polanco
- 3B Josh Rojas
Collective Stats: 46 HR, 27 SB, .239 AVG, .311 OBP, .390 SLG, 105 wRC+
What's Good
Moore has been thoroughly on one lately, batting .310 with a 1.095 OPS over his last 18 games. Which is good, because Seattle needed another hitter to step up and help Raleigh carry the lineup. Albeit with only a .729 OPS, he's done so with 11 homers.
What's Bad
Rodríguez is no stranger to slow starts, but even homers in back-to-back games only raised his OPS to .645. The Mariners need more from him, but also from Crawford, Polanco and Mitch Garver. And as nice as the homers are, Raleigh's 35.5 strikeout rate is not so nice.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
12 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- DH Andrew McCutchen
- LF Bryan Reynolds
- 1B Connor Joe
- SS Oneil Cruz
- 2B Nick Gonzales
- RF Edward Olivares
- C Yasmani Grandal
- 3B Jared Triolo
- CF Ji Hwan Bae
Collective Stats: 39 HR, 20 SB, .244 AVG, .318 OBP, .397 SLG, 104 wRC+
What's Good
Two-thirds of these guys are rocking a wRC+ above the league-average delimiter of 100, with five of them also boasting at least five homers. Cruz has been going off in May, gathering four of his seven homers while scorching the ball at an average of 99.0 mph.
What's Bad
Of course, Cruz is also sporting a 35.1 strikeout percentage. The Bucs are also without Ke'Bryan Hayes because of back inflammation, and this is the second year in a row that Reynolds hasn't been a difference-maker. Not counting 2020, his .763 OPS is a career low.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
13 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Corbin Carroll
- 2B Ketel Marte
- DH Joc Pederson
- 1B Christian Walker
- LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- RF Jake McCarthy
- 3B Eugenio Suárez
- C Gabriel Moreno
- SS Kevin Newman
Collective Stats: 42 HR, 21 SB, .246 AVG, .317 OBP, .396 SLG, 104 wRC+
What's Good
Marte's knack for hitting streaks is very much alive, as he followed last year's 18-game sequence in the playoffs with a 21-game run this year. He and Walker also have 10 homers apiece, while Pederson has been a righty masher with an .897 OPS against them.
What's Bad
Those three guys need more help carrying Arizona's lineup, and they're just not getting it from Carroll, Gurriel or Suárez. The latter two have been ice-cold in May, while Carroll has basically failed to launch in hitting .188 with two homers.
17. Oakland Athletics
14 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 3B Abraham Toro
- CF JJ Bleday
- DH Brent Rooker
- LF Miguel Andujar
- C Shea Langeliers
- 1B J.D. Davis
- RF Seth Brown
- 2B Zack Gelof
- SS Max Schuemann
Collective Stats: 50 HR, 16 SB, .239 AVG, .303 OBP, .426 SLG, 111 wRC+
What's Good
If these numbers took you by surprise, well, you're likely not alone in just now learning Oakland's lineup was this solid. Rooker and Langeliers can each claim credit for 11 of those 50 homers, while Bleday is enjoying a breakout with an .844 OPS and five long balls in May.
What's Bad
Rooker, Gelof and Brown are all striking out in more than 30 percent of their plate appearances. As there are also four OBPs under .300 among this lot, it's fair to say volatility is the name of the game when the A's are at bat.
16. San Francisco Giants
15 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Luis Matos
- 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
- 2B Thairo Estrada
- 3B Matt Chapman
- C Patrick Bailey
- DH Jorge Soler
- RF Mike Yastrzemski
- LF Heliot Ramos
- SS Brett Wisely
Collective Stats: 38 HR, 11 SB, .256 AVG, .326 OBP, .420 SLG, 117 wRC+
What's Good
This lineup may not read like the next coming of the Murderers' Row, but it has a 127 wRC+ in May. Wade and Chapman have been hot, and the Giants have also gotten boosts from Wisely, who's hitting .438, and Matos, who got NL Player of the Week honors last week.
What's Bad
With Jung Hoo Lee and Michael Conforto out with injuries, the success this lineup is enjoying doesn't feel sustainable. The Giants especially need more from Soler, but that's contingent on him conquering Oracle Park. He has a .539 OPS and two homers there.
15. Cleveland Guardians
16 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- CF Tyler Freeman
- 2B Andrés Giménez
- 3B José Ramírez
- 1B Josh Naylor
- LF David Fry
- DH Kyle Manzardo
- RF Will Brennan
- C Bo Naylor
- SS Brayan Rocchio
Collective Stats: 50 HR, 39 SB, .238 AVG, .319 OBP, .407 SLG, 108 wRC+
What's Good
Ramírez had been cool, but not anymore now that he boasts a 1.154 OPS and 10 homers over his last 20 games. And the Guardians may have something in Fry, whose 1.087 OPS is supported by an 18.5 walk rate and 90.1 mph average exit velocity.
What's Bad
14. Chicago Cubs
17 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- RF Mike Tauchman
- DH Seiya Suzuki
- CF Cody Bellinger
- 3B Christopher Morel
- LF Ian Happ
- 2B Nico Hoerner
- 1B Michael Busch
- SS Dansby Swanson
- C Miguel Amaya
Collective Stats: 43 HR, 22 SB, .233 AVG, .321 OBP, .384 SLG, 104 wRC+
What's Good
Only three members of this lineup are below the 100 wRC+ threshold, and that list includes the team leader for home runs (Morel) and a two-time All-Star (Swanson). And keep an eye on Hoerner, who has an .831 OPS with more walks than strikeouts in May.
What's Bad
That Tauchman has been the Cubs' best hitter is a nice surprise, but not exactly the plan. This is generally a lineup still searching for its peak, and it likely won't come until Bellinger and Suzuki join Swanson in living up to their full potential.
13. New York Mets
18 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS Francisco Lindor
- 1B Pete Alonso
- LF Brandon Nimmo
- DH J.D. Martinez
- RF Starling Marte
- 2B Jeff McNeil
- CF Harrison Bader
- 3B Brett Baty
- C Tomás Nido
Collective Stats: 46 HR, 30 SB, .238 AVG, .310 OBP, .383 SLG, 104 wRC+
What's Good
With five of the nine landing above the 100 wRC+ mark, there are more good hitters than bad hitters in this lineup. Nimmo's .356 OBP is enough to make up for his .217 average, while Alonso has unsurprisingly supplied the power. He's hit five more homers than any other Met.
What's Bad
Lindor has threatened to break out, but he's yet to sustain anything in running his OPS to a career-low .646. This is also shaping up to be another post-prime year for McNeil, and Baty is only making incremental progress in living up to his former status as an elite prospect.
12. Boston Red Sox
19 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- LF Jarren Duran
- RF Wilyer Abreu
- C Connor Wong
- 3B Rafael Devers
- DH Tyler O'Neill
- 1B Dominic Smith
- 2B Vaughn Grissom
- SS David Hamilton
- CF Ceddanne Rafaela
Collective Stats: 42 HR, 34 SB, .254 AVG, .321 OBP, .439 SLG, 109 wRC+
What's Good
The top half of the Red Sox lineup is rock-solid. Wong is hitting .333, while Duran, Abreu and Devers have a combined .876 OPS with 12 homers (seven of which belong to Devers) in May. And a fun fact about Rafaela: His 18 RBI from the No. 9 spot are the most in MLB.
What's Bad
Triston Casas, who's out with a rib injury, is sorely missed in the middle of this lineup. His absence is especially apparent while O'Neill struggles in May, hitting only .151 with a 43.9 strikeout percentage. Until he breaks out, things are rough in those Nos. 5-8 spots.
11. Toronto Blue Jays
20 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 2B Davis Schneider
- C Danny Jansen
- 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- SS Bo Bichette
- DH Justin Turner
- LF Daulton Varsho
- RF George Springer
- 3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
- CF Kevin Kiermaier
Collective Stats: 40 HR, 25 SB, .244 AVG, .320 OBP, .396 SLG, 107 wRC+
What's Good
With a .314 average and .999 OPS, Jansen has low-key been one of MLB's top hitters since he came off the IL in mid-April. And now Bichette and especially Guerrero are coming around in May. The former is hitting .293 this month, while the latter's average is a sparkling .407.
What's Bad
On the other hand, Turner, Varsho and Springer are all batting in the .100s this month. And after beginning his career hitting like Babe Ruth, Schneider has also cooled with a .232 average and .739 OPS since April 14. The big picture is of a lineup that's struggling to click.
10. Atlanta
21 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 2B Ozzie Albies
- 3B Austin Riley
- DH Marcell Ozuna
- 1B Matt Olson
- SS Orlando Arcia
- CF Michael Harris II
- C Sean Murphy
- RF Adam Duvall
- LF Jarred Kelenic
Collective Stats: 46 HR, 10 SB, .256 AVG, .319 OBP, .425 SLG, 111 wRC+
What's Good
Ozuna, at least, is still swinging like it's 2023. He's hitting .311 with 15 home runs. Olson has the exact same hard-hit rate as Ozuna, and it's beginning to show by way of an .800 OPS for the month of May.
What's Bad
Disappointment was hanging over this lineup even before Sunday. And now that Ronald Acuña Jr. is out with a torn ACL, it'll take a lot for the vibes to get better. Riley especially needs to get his bat going, but Albies and Harris deserve just as much scrutiny.
9. Texas Rangers
22 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 2B Marcus Semien
- SS Corey Seager
- 3B Josh Smith
- DH Adolis García
- CF Leody Taveras
- 1B Nathaniel Lowe
- C Jonah Heim
- LF Ezequiel Duran
- RF Evan Carter
Collective Stats: 51 HR, 17 SB, .250 AVG, .322 OBP, .404 SLG, 105 wRC+
What's Good
With 12 homers and 37 RBI, García is still a run-production machine. And now Seager is again as well, as his OPS is 372 points higher in May than it was in April. Yet even his OBP still hasn't caught up to those of Smith and Lowe, who lead the Rangers at .376 and .371.
What's Bad
The Carter breakout that was promised in 2023 hasn't come to fruition, as he only has a .633 OPS. And after a warm April, Semien has come back down to earth in getting on base at just a .292 clip in May. These are but two aspects of the team's offensive sputter this month.
8. Minnesota Twins
23 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- DH Trevor Larnach
- SS Carlos Correa
- RF Max Kepler
- C Ryan Jeffers
- 1B Alex Kirilloff
- CF Byron Buxton
- LF Willi Castro
- 2B Edouard Julien
- 3B Jose Miranda
Collective Stats: 44 HR, 17 SB, .252 AVG, .325 OBP, .443 SLG, 120 wRC+
What's Good
There are six regulars in this lineup who boast at least a 110 wRC+, and the best doesn't even belong to Jeffers despite his .868 OPS and 10 homers. It belongs to Kepler, who's been hotter (1.026 OPS) than even Correa (.879 OPS) amid an otherwise cool May for this lineup.
What's Bad
The Twins have been without Royce Lewis, who boasts a .313 average and .933 OPS in 71 career games, since Opening Day because of a quad strain. And poor Julien is in a dreadful slump in which he's hit only .143 with one extra-base hit in 25 games since April 28.
7. San Diego Padres
24 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 1B Luis Arraez
- RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
- LF Jurickson Profar
- 2B Jake Cronenworth
- 3B Manny Machado
- DH David Peralta
- CF Jackson Merrill
- C Luis Campusano
- SS Ha-Seong Kim
Collective Stats: 43 HR, 35 SB, .266 AVG, .337 OBP, .405 SLG, 120 wRC+
What's Good
Arraez has been as advertised as he's hit .391 as a Padre. They also have another .300 hitter in Profar, who's pitched in seven homers to go with the 17 that have come from Tatis and Cronenworth. The latter notably needs only two more homers to match his 2023 total.
What's Bad
Xander Bogaerts wasn't doing much before he fractured his shoulder, but it's another reason why Machado needs to pick it up. He's batting just .235 with a .653 OPS. The shine has otherwise worn off Merrill, who's hit only .225 since getting his average to .329 on April 23.
6. Milwaukee Brewers
25 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 2B Brice Turang
- C William Contreras
- DH Christian Yelich
- SS Willy Adames
- 1B Jake Bauers
- 3B Joey Ortiz
- LF Sal Frelick
- RF Jackson Chourio
- CF Blake Perkins
Collective Stats: 44 HR, 61 SB, .266 AVG, .343 OBP, .427 SLG, 121 wRC+
What's Good
Between Turang, Contreras and Yelich, the Brewers are the only team in MLB with three regulars batting over .300. There's also a considerable amount of speed in this lineup, as Contreras and Ortiz are the only ones who don't have at least five stolen bases.
What's Bad
The only true weaknesses here are in the bottom three spots. That's especially a shame regarding Frelich and Chourio, who are both former top prospects. Though Chourio has done well to cut down on strikeouts in May, it hasn't resulted in a boost in production.
5. Houston Astros
26 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- 2B Jose Altuve
- RF Kyle Tucker
- DH Yordan Alvarez
- 3B Alex Bregman
- SS Jeremy Peña
- 1B Jon Singleton
- CF Jake Meyers
- C Yainer Diaz
- LF Chas McCormick
Collective Stats: 59 HR, 31 SB, .269 AVG, .340 OBP, .438 SLG, 123 wRC+
What's Good
It's an oddity that the Astros are scoring only 4.6 runs per game. This lineup has a bit of everything, from the MLB home run leader (Tucker) to two more hot-hitting established stars (Altuve and Alvarez) to a .320 hitter (Peña). In fact, it's not missing much.
What's Bad
Except, of course, for the vintage version of Bregman. He's been better in May, but his OPS is still down 203 points from 2023. This year has also been a step back for Diaz and McCormick, and the downfall of José Abreu has opened a gaping hole at first base.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
27 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- DH Kyle Schwarber
- C J.T. Realmuto
- 1B Bryce Harper
- 3B Alec Bohm
- SS Bryson Stott
- RF Nick Castellanos
- LF Brandon Marsh
- SS Edmundo Sosa
- CF Johan Rojas
Collective Stats: 56 HR, 43 SB, .259 AVG, .338 OBP, .426 SLG, 118 wRC+
What's Good
With a .923 OPS and 13 homers, Harper is having another spectacular season for the Phillies. Yet he's also but one of seven regulars with at least a 116 wRC+. Bohm and Sosa are batting over .300, while Stott and Rojas have been pests on the bases with 24 total steals.
What's Bad
Trea Turner is still out with a strained hamstring, but really the only other pain point for the Phillies concerns Castellanos' enduring slump. He's been better in May than he was in April, but we're only talking a .665 OPS vs. a .521 OPS.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
28 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS Mookie Betts
- DH Shohei Ohtani
- 1B Freddie Freeman
- C Will Smith
- LF Teoscar Hernández
- 2B Gavin Lux
- CF Andy Pages
- RF Jason Heyward
- 3B Enrique Hernández
Collective Stats: 54 HR, 29 SB, .275 AVG, .350 OBP, .458 SLG, 133 wRC+
What's Good
As each is hitting over .330 and their combined OPS is one point shy of 1.000, the Betts-Ohtani duo is the best in the National League. Freeman, Smith and Teoscar Hernández are in the .800 OPS range, and the latter is just one homer short of Ohtani for the team lead.
What's Bad
This is undeniably a top-heavy lineup, as not one of the four hitters in the back half is even close to a 100 wRC+. And even Betts and Ohtani are slumping right now, with the latter going just 7-for-32 in eight games amid a battle with a bruised hamstring.
2. New York Yankees
29 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS Anthony Volpe
- RF Juan Soto
- CF Aaron Judge
- LF Alex Verdugo
- DH Giancarlo Stanton
- 1B Anthony Rizzo
- 2B Gleyber Torres
- C Austin Wells
- 3B Oswaldo Cabrera
Collective Stats: 73 HR, 25 SB, .259 AVG, .338 OBP, .447 SLG, 125 wRC+
What's Good
We all figured Soto and Judge would be dangerous, but seeing them with a combined 1.008 OPS and 31 homers still boggles the mind. Stanton is a third power source with 13 homers, while Torres (speed) and Verdugo (contact) balance the general skill set of this starting nine
What's Bad
The top third of this lineup is basically above reproach, but not the other two-thirds. Stanton has nothing besides power to offer, and anything the Yankees get from the bottom four slots is a bonus. The best wRC+ for that bunch is a mere 102 belonging to Rizzo.
1. Baltimore Orioles
30 of 30
Go-To Lineup
- SS Gunnar Henderson
- C Adley Rutschman
- DH Ryan O'Hearn
- 1B Ryan Mountcastle
- RF Anthony Santander
- LF Colton Cowser
- 3B Jordan Westburg
- CF Cedric Mullins
- 2B Jorge Mateo
Collective Stats: 73 HR, 39 SB, .256 AVG, .320 OBP, .473 SLG, 125 wRC+
What's Good
Here's a lineup in which only Mateo doesn't have at least six homers and only Mullins has a wRC+ below 100, and they at least have 21 total steals. There are otherwise five guys above the 130 wRC+ threshold, including Henderson with his 17 homers. "Loaded" comes to mind.
What's Bad
As he's only a .222 hitter over the last two seasons, the version of Mullins who went for a 30-30 season in 2022 is nowhere to be found. It's also been a tough year for Santander, and especially lately as he's hit only .183 in May.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
.jpg?w=600 "Grading every NFL team's draft")
.JPEG?w=600 "Best Late-Round Draft Steals ‼️")
.jpg?w=600 "Undrafted Free Agent Tracker ✍️")
.jpg?w=600 "Day 3 Grades 🔠")
.jpg?w=600 "Mel Kiper's Top Draft Grades ✍️")
.jpg?w=600 "Mel Kiper's Lowest Draft Grades ❌")
