Predicting the September Starting Lineups for Each out-of-Contention NL Team

With the addition of two new wild card playoff spots, more teams have postseason hopes at this point of the season than ever before. But a look at the standings makes it pretty clear who won't be playing late into October.

At least four teams are obviously out of contention this season. The Astros, Cubs, Padres and Rockies can get a head start on next year right now.

However, another three clubs aren't quite ready to call it quits, even though the standings say they probably should. Whether it's because of preseason expectations or recent success, the Brewers, Marlins and Phillies are still holding out hope that they won't be playing solely for pride by the end of the season. 

Realistically, chances aren't looking good for any of those seven teams. Most of them will be sellers at the trade deadline, and a couple of clubs will have revamped rosters. What will the lineups of these non-contenders look like in the final month of the season? Here is how we see it. 

Houston Astros

1B: Brett Wallace

2B: Jose Altuve

SS: Jed Lowrie

3B: Matt Dominguez

LF: J.D. Martinez

CF: Jordan Schafer

RF: Fernando Martinez

C: Jason Castro

P: Bud Norris

General manager Jeff Luhnow has tried to emphasize youth all season long, clearing older veterans off the roster to make way for the team's younger prospects. Wednesday's trade of Carlos Lee to the Miami Marlins was the latest example of that. So, the Astros' lineup in September doesn't figure to look much different than the current one. 

One of the players received in return for Lee, Matt Dominguez, should take over at third base by the end of the season. Dominguez hasn't shown he can hit, but Chris Johnson is no Silver Slugger at third base. Dominguez will be a significant upgrade defensively.

Brian Bogusevic provides good defense in right field, but the Astros need more than a .684 OPS at that position. So, Fernando Martinez should get an opportunity to show if the .915 OPS he's compiled with Triple-A Oklahoma City can translate to the majors. 

Milwaukee Brewers

1B: Corey Hart

2B: Rickie Weeks

SS: Cesar Izturis

3B: Aramis Ramirez

LF: Ryan Braun

CF: Nyjer Morgan

RF: Norichika Aoki

C: Jonathan Lucroy

P: Yovani Gallardo

The Brewers were expected to contend for the NL Central and a playoff spot this season. But injuries wiped out whatever chances they had at being competitive. So general manager Doug Melvin will likely keep most of his roster intact, cross his fingers that everyone stays healthy and try to make another run next year. 

Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Francisco Rodriguez will be dealt away by the trade deadline and that will replenish the organization's minor league depth. But Milwaukee doesn't figure to get anyone in those trades that will go right into the starting lineup by September. 

If Jonathan Lucroy hits as productively as he did before breaking his hand, he'll form a formidable trio with Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez. The Brewers could be significant spoilers in the NL Central during the last month of the season, compelling the team and their fans to wonder what could have been.

Chicago Cubs

1B: Anthony Rizzo

2B: Ian Stewart Luis Valbuena

SS: Starlin Castro

3B: Josh Vitters

LF: Alfonso Soriano

CF: Brett Jackson

RF: David DeJesus

C: Geovany Soto

P: Jeff Samardzija

If team president Theo Epstein had his way, the Cubs might have a completely different lineup on the field in September than what was out there on opening day.

But Epstein is probably stuck with Alfonso Soriano and his ridiculous contract unless the team eats the rest of his contract. That is one big salad.

Epstein will deal plenty of other players away, however. Pitchers Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza will likely be gone. The team will sell high on Bryan LaHair, shipping him to a club that needs first base or outfield help (Dodgers, Orioles, Indians or Pirates, to name a handful). And I think they'll trade Darwin Barney to a team like the Tigers or Rays that need second base help. 

I might be way off on the Josh Vitters prediction, but shouldn't the Cubs give him a try at third base instead of Joe Mather or Jeff Baker?

UPDATE: A couple of commenters informed me that Ian Stewart, my original pick to be the Cubs' second baseman in September, is out for the season with a wrist injury. I was aware Stewart was injured, but hadn't seen the report that he was done. I apologize for the mistake.

Miami Marlins

1B: Carlos Lee

2B: Omar Infante

SS: Jose Reyes

3B: Hanley Ramirez

LF: Logan Morrison

CF: Emilio Bonifacio

RF: Giancarlo Stanton

C: John Buck

P: Josh Johnson

As with the Brewers, the Marlins expected bigger and better things for themselves this season. 

Of the seven teams listed in this slideshow, perhaps Miami is closest to still contending for a playoff spot this year. Trading for Carlos Lee seems to indicate the Marlins feel they can make a run. But they have a long climb ahead of them and seem more likely to run out of gas while making the effort.

So the current roster isn't likely to change very much by September. Most of this lineup will likely be back next year.

However, if the Marlins do decide they're out of the race over the next couple of weeks, perhaps general manager Michael Hill and president David Samson will see what a contender might be willing to trade for Logan Morrison or Emilio Bonifacio. Then, in the offseason, Jeffrey Loria will throw some money at a first baseman or outfielder. 

San Diego Padres

1B: Yonder Alonso

2B: Alexi Amarista

SS: Everth Cabrera

3B: Jedd Gyorko

LF: Jesus Guzman

CF: Cameron Maybin

RF: Will Venable

C: Yasmani Grandal

P: Edinson Volquez

The Padres started the clock toward 2013 in mid-May when they released Orlando Hudson, put Jason Bartlett on the disabled list and called up Alexi Amarista and Everth Cabrera to be their middle infielders. Along with Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal and Cameron Maybin, those players are the core of the rebuilding effort at Petco Park.

General manager Josh Byrnes probably isn't done yet either. Outfielder Carlos Quentin, third baseman Chase Headley and Huston Street will draw plenty of interest from playoff contenders, and Byrnes will surely deal them off to get more young talent. Jedd Gyorko is ready to take Headley's spot and the Padres will replace Quentin with the outfielders are already on hand. 

But will Byrnes find more of a market for Street or Luke Gregerson among contending teams looking for a reliever? This might follow the same path as last year when closer Heath Bell looked like the sure trade chip, but teams were more interested in setup man Mike Adams. 

Philadelphia Phillies

1B: Ryan Howard

2B: Chase Utley

SS: Jimmy Rollins

3B: Placido Polanco

LF: Domonic Brown

CF: Juan Pierre

RF: Hunter Pence

C: Carlos Ruiz

P: Roy Halladay

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. denies that his team will be sellers at the trade deadline. But with the Phillies in last place, 12 games behind the Nationals, this season looks increasingly lost each day. 

Obviously, that wasn't the expectation. The core of a playoff contender—albeit an aging one—is still in place, and the Phillies will make a run at the playoffs again next year. 

Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino are drawing interest among contenders, and Amaro should trade those players before losing them as free agents. The Phillies also need to find out what they have in Domonic Brown and give him one month to at least showcase himself for potential suitors. 

If Freddy Galvis returns this season, where he might play? Will he see the field at shortstop or second base? Or might Galvis be tried at third base? Do the Phillies dare try anyone else, like Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins, at that position?

Colorado Rockies

1B: Todd Helton

2B: Jonathan Herrera

SS: Troy Tulowitzki

3B: Jordan Pacheco

LF: Carlos Gonzalez

CF: Dexter Fowler

RF: Michael Cuddyer

C: Wilin Rosario

P: Drew Pomeranz

The Rockies are currently tied for the worst record in baseball and will likely finish among the bottom three or four teams by the end of the season. Despite that, their lineup shouldn't look much different from what it's been all year.

One notable difference will be the absence of Marco Scutaro, who should be dealt to a team looking for infield help like the Dodgers, Tigers, Indians or Pirates. But the Rockies have Jonathan Herrera and Eric Young, Jr. ready to get a look at second base. And Troy Tulowitzki should be recovered from groin surgery by September.

The major work for the Rockies will take place on the pitching staff. If Jim Tracy can piece together a five-man rotation for the final month of the season, that should be considered a small victory. The question is whether or not Drew Pomeranz will look like an ace in the making by then.

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