Top 15 MLB Lineups That Have Signficantly Changed Since Opening Day

There have been so many changes around baseball since Opening Day.

Whether it's due to injuries, prospect promotions or simple roster additions and subtractions, many MLB teams have been displaying an unusual offensive attack.

Granted lineups are going to change from week to week with top players and catchers receiving some rest, but how different are these lineups from the first game of the year?

It depends. 

Many teams look the same, like the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, but others have changed drastically, whether for better or worse.

With that said, compared to Opening Day and where they are now, here are the top 15 lineups that have flip-flopped the most since the beginning of the 2011 season.

15. Milwaukee Brewers

Opening Day Lineup

2B Rickie Weeks

CF Carlos Gomez

LF Ryan Braun

1B Prince Fielder

3B Casey McGehee

RF Mark Kotsay

SS Yuniesky Bentancourt

C Wil Nieves

Biggest Changes: Nyjer Morgan, Jonathan Lucroy and a healthy Corey Hart

Morgan has been a huge part of the Milwaukee Brewers success through the first half of the season.  With a .333 average, 31 runs and a great top-of-the-lineup presence, Morgan's been a huge part of the Brewers' offensive scoring as well as playing Gold Glove defense.

Another huge addition since Opening Day has been catcher Jonathan Lucroy.  It's always hard to find a good catcher who can offer solid defense and stability on the offensive side of things, but Lucroy's been that guy.  His seven home runs, 37 RBI and .281 average are great numbers for any catcher around the league, let alone one that has the chance to hit behind Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun.

Biggest Loss: Casey McGehee

McGehee has been nonexistent.  Not due to injury, but rather inconsistency admist a clear season-long slump.  The Brewers third baseman is hitting an abysmal .228 with only five home runs, which is significantly lower than his breakout numbers from last year (.285 with 23 HR and 104 RBI).

Outlook

Going forward, the Brewers have a great shot to take their weekly licks and still come out on top of the NL Central.  With solid pitching in Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum (sorry Zack Greinke, you've been a disappointment), the Brewers should be able to use those starters and their elite bats to shoulder some wins down the stretch.

Along with the recent acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee has a great chance to out perform Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Cincinnati for the next two-and-a-half months.

14. Cincinnati Reds

Opening Day Lineup

CF Drew Stubbs

2B Brandon Phillips

1B Joey Votto

3B Scott Rolen

RF Jay Bruce

LF Jonny Gomes

C Ramon Hernandez

SS Paul Hanish

Biggest Changes: Chris Heisey, Zack Cozart and a healthy Johnny Cueto

The additions of Heisey and Cozart have been huge for Cincinnati.

Heisey is currently hitting a home run every 15.3 at-bats and Cozart has been consistently producing atop the order over his first 10 games of his young career.

Considering Jonny Gomes has relatively been a disappointment in 2011, along with the fact that Scott Rolen and Drew Stubbs have had up-and-down seasons, the addition of both offensive threats has been huge.

However, the biggest addition since Opening Day has been getting Cueto back and healthy.  In a season in which the Reds starting pitching has been the team's Achilles, the 25-year-old has posted a 6-3 record with a 1.98 ERA through nearly 100 innings of work. 

Easily the biggest plus since the first game of the season.

Biggest Loss: Not much.  Just the irregular offensive contributions of Rolen, Stubbs and Gomes.

Outlook

Cincinnati's success over the next few months is going to hinge on their pitching.  Votto, Phillips and Bruce are all capable of producing significant runs on a nightly basis, but how far will that go when the pitching staff gives up five or six runs?

Cueto is a lock to continue his dominating standards, but a refreshed Dontrelle Willis and a questionable Bronson Arroyo are going to have to step it up and consistently pitch well down the stretch.

We all know the NL Central is the closest division in the league this year, so the Reds will have their work cut out for them.

13. Atlanta Braves

Opening Day Lineup

LF Martin Prado

CF Nate McLouth

3B Chipper Jones

C Brian McCann

2B Dan Uggla

RF Jason Heyward

SS Alex Gonzalez

1B Freddie Freeman

Biggest Change: Freddie Freeman moves up

The biggest change for the Atlanta Braves since Opening Day is a no-brainer.  It's been rookie Freddie Freeman moving up to hit as high as fourth behind Brian McCann.

Freeman has finally came on strong in his first MLB season, hitting .279 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI, as well as hitting nearly .300 through May and June.

It seems like a long time since the rookie first baseman was pegged as a No. 8 hitter.

Biggest Loss: Jason Heyward's injury

The most significant loss for the Braves since the start of the season has to be the one-month absence of sophomore Jason Heyward.

Coming into 2011, Heyward was supposed to be the Braves' best hitter, but instead has posted a .229/.320/.412 stat line through nearly 250 at-bats.

Hardly the season he was looking for.

Outlook

The Braves are set up for a great season's end.  They probably aren't going to catch the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, but they're currently six games up in the wild-card race so the chance of them reaching the playoffs is relatively a lock.

Jair Jurrjens has been outstanding, which is also a reason he should be on this list because he was hurt at the start of the season, and the offense will have enough gusto down the stretch to make a serious run for an NL pennant.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers

Opening Day Lineup

SS Rafael Furcal

LF Tony Gwynn Jr.

RF Andre Either

CF Matt Kemp

1B James Loney

3B Juan Uribe

C Rod Barajas

2B Jamey Carroll

Biggest Disappointment: Rafael Furcal 

Considering the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is relatively the same at this point in the season, we're going to have to take a trip back to mid-April to find a significant change.

As it's been for the past few seasons, shortstop Rafael Furcal came down with another injury early in the season, missing more than a month from April to May.

What makes it even worse is the fact that after he made his return from the DL, Furcal eventual ended up getting hurt again in June, missing yet another month and on his way back to a July return.

As of now, the veteran shortstop is hitting a terrible .171 with only two extra-base hits through 111 at-bats.

With Furcal's up-and-down season leaving the Dodgers scratching their heads at many points in the year, the top of order has be a game of who's who.

Los Angeles has experimented with Jamey Carroll at the No. 2 spot, Tony Gwynn Jr. at the leadoff and an array of players trying to spark the team's lackluster offense (besides Matt Kemp, of course).

Outlook

The Dodgers' outlook for the rest of the season, let alone the rest of the month, is seemingly bleak.

With a potential fire sale in the near future, owner Frank McCourt could decide to dismantle the team and send its high-profile players packing.  There's no chance L.A. makes the playoffs and it's pretty safe to assume they aren't going to win 75 games in 2011.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

Opening Day Lineup

SS Willie Bloomquist

2B Kelly Johnson

RF Justin Upton

CF Chris Young

1B Juan Miranda

3B Melvin Mora

C Miguel Montero

LF Gerardo Parra

Biggest Changes: Nearly everything

Almost the entire Arizona lineup has changed since Opening Day, besides Justin Upton and Chris Young.

Miguel Montero has been moved up and down the order, but has found his home as a power-hitting catcher at the No. 5 spot.

Willie Bloomquist was moved from his leadoff ways and from shortstop after the return of Stephen Drew.  However, with a season-ending ankle injury to Drew, the veteran utility man could be back to his Opening Day ways as we speak.

The Juan Miranda experiment is currently over as the Diamondbacks recently called upon a young Brandon Allen to supply some much-needed power.

Melvin Mora has gone bye-bye and his replacement in Ryan Roberts has done everything for Arizona in 2011, hitting 13 home runs with 40 RBI and producing from all slots in the lineup.

Talk about an Opening Day prank.

Outlook

Surprisingly, the Diamondbacks have a lot of promise going forward into the later months of the season.

Starters Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter have all been awesome, and replacement closer David Hernandez has been one of the hottest relievers through the month of July.

If Arizona's offense can maintain some decent power numbers and get over Drew's season-ending absence, they could possibly catch San Francisco in the NL West or maybe even give the Atlanta Braves a run for their money in the wild-card race.

10. Oakland Athletics

Opening Day Lineup

CF Coco Crisp

1B Daric Barton

RF David DeJesus

LF Josh Willingham

DH Hideki Matsui

C Kurt Suzuki

2B Mark Ellis

3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

SS Cliff Pennington

Biggest Changes: Jemile Weeks and Kurt Suzuki

Catcher Kurt Suzuki was supposed to produce in 2011.  He came into the season as one of the better offensive options in the MLB at his position, but has fallen off considerably.

Despite Suzuki's demotion in the Oakland Athletics batting order, rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks has been the biggest change.

Since his call-up in early June, Weeks is hitting .308 with 11 extra-base hits, 10 stolen bases and 17 runs through only 143 at-bats.

His offensive presence has been greatly valued, which is the reason why he's the team's new leadoff option and has made the loss of Mark Ellis (via trade to the Colorado Rockies) worthwhile.

Biggest Loss: Kevin Kouzmanoff

Scott Sizemore has replaced a struggling Kevin Kouzmanoff at third base and rightfully so.

Since starting on Opening Day, Kouzmanoff has not played in the majors since June 5th, leaving with a .221 average and four home runs through 46 games and making him the biggest disappointment for the team this season.

The loss of his bat has been fairly big for Oakland, forcing them to go out and trade for Sizemore who's been playing well of late.

Outlook

Bottom line, the Athletics have a very good starting five, but with the eventual departure of Josh Willingham some time before the July trade deadline, the offense will be left with nothing from their previous state of having just a little something.

9. Washington Nationals

Opening Day Lineup

SS Ian Desmond

RF Jayson Werth

3B Ryan Zimmerman

1B Adam LaRoche

LF Mike Morse

CF Rick Ankiel

2B Danny Espinosa

C Ivan Rodriguez

Biggest Changes: Roger Bernandina and Mike Morse

The replacement of Rick Ankiel in center field by Roger Bernadina has been the single-most influential move that the Washington Nationals have made in 2011.

Bernadina has led off in nearly 60 games thus far, hitting .260 with five home runs, three triples, 16 stolen bases and 34 runs.

His presence atop the order has allowed Washington to freely move players up and down the lineup.

Whether that's moving Mike Morse up the order and to first base after Adam LaRoche was lost for the season, or launching rookie Danny Espinosa all the way up to the No. 2 spot, the Nationals have done a lot since Opening Day.

Not to mention Ivan Rodriguez has been taken out of the equation, Ian Desmond has dropped from the leadoff spot all the way to No. 8 and Jayson Werth's lineup demotion, Washington has done a lot since March 31st.

Anytime a team features a new leadoff hitter at the All-Star break, a power-hitting rookie second baseman at the No. 2 hole and without a future HOF catcher, you have to consider that significant change.

Outlook

All in all, regardless of where they end up in the standings at the end of the season, 2011 has been a very productive year for the Washington Nationals.

They're a true long shot to earn a NL wild-card berth, but considering Ryan Zimmerman's early season injury, the loss of Stephen Strasburg from 2010 and a change in managers, the Nationals are setting themselves up for huge breakout season in 2012.

8. Kansas City Royals

Opening Day Lineup

3B Mike Aviles

CF Melky Cabrera

LF Alex Gordon

DH Billy Butler

1B Kila Ka'aihue

RF Jeff Francoeur

SS Alcides Escobar

C Matt Treanor

2B Chris Getz

Biggest Changes: Rookies Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas

Easily the two most-heralded prospects in the Kansas City Royals farm system, first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas have served as the team's two biggest changes since Opening Day.

Hosmer has had better success than Moustakas, but when a team calls up both of their top talents before the All-Star break, you have to consider than significant.

Both have combined for 10 home runs, 41 RBI and 15 doubles through nearly 400 at-bats.

While most of that is Hosmer, their presence in the Royals lineup has been game-changing, making them more successful this year than in recent memory.

Outlook

Consider this year a scratch.  Despite breakout years from Alex Gordon, Melky Cabrera and even a resurgence from Jeff Francoeur, the Royals simply don't have the starting pitching to contend.

However, after a maturation in 2011 from their two young rookies, with a few new pitchers this offseason, Kansas City could become the Pittsburgh Pirates of this year in 2012.

7. Cleveland Indians

Opening Day Lineup

CF Michael Brantley

SS Asdrubal Cabrera

RF Shin Soo-Choo

C Carlos Santana

DH Travis Hafner

2B Orlando Cabrera

LF Austin Kearns

1B Matt LaPorta

3B Jack Hannahan

Biggest Changes: Shin Soo-Choo, Austin Kearns and a previously healthy Grady Sizemore

While the Cleveland Indians have experimented with moving Travis Hafner to the No. 3 hole, Asrubdal Cabrera to the No. 3 hole when Hafner is out from injury or rest, Santana in the No. 5 and 6 spots and getting a once-healthy Grady Sizemore back in the lineup, the biggest change is the loss of Shin Soo-Choo.

Choo was easily the most productive hitter for the Indians coming into the season, but after a rough 72 games, the elite outfielder was placed on the DL back on June 24th.

He hasn't returned since.

Taking his place in the batting order over the last month-and-a-half has sometimes been the aforementioned Hafner and Cabrera, but the main guy to pick up his offensive production has been Grady Sizemore.

Sizemore has been the face of the franchise over the past couple of seasons, but injuries have slowed him down.

His re-appearance this year is one of the best stories of the season, but unfortunately, after 10 home runs and 21 doubles in 61 games, Sizemore is back on the DL and could be lost for the rest of the season.

Another worthwhile change has been rookie Lonnie Chisenhall taking over at third for Jack Hannahan.

Outlook

Despite a slew of injuries and an up-and-down pitching staff, the Indians have hung around to be part of a division race down the stretch with Detroit.

They're currently tied with the Tigers for first place and could end up taking the division in dramatic fashion.

The biggest piece in that scenario is the pitching and the loss of Sizemore.  If Cleveland can filter out three go-to starters and get their outfielder back before season's end, I'd bet they pull it off.

6. Seattle Mariners

Opening Day Lineup

RF Ichiro Suzuki

3B Chone Figgins

LF Milton Bradley

DH Jack Cust

1B Justin Smoak

C Miguel Olivo

CF Ryan Langerhans

SS Brendan Ryan

2B Jack Wilson

Biggest Changes: A whole lot

The Seattle Mariners have had different guys in and out of their lineup for the majority of the season.

Brendan Ryan has been moved from the No. 8 spot to hitting second behind a struggling Ichiro Suzuki.

Rookie second baseman Dustin Ackley has taken over for Jack Wilson and has been pegged the team's No. 3 hitter.  Ackley is currently hitting .284 with four home runs, 13 RBI and two triples through his first 26 career games.

Adam Kennedy has filled in nicely for Jack Cust at DH, hitting seven home runs and 31 RBI.

Milton Bradley is out of commission, Chone Figgins has skidded all the way down the order, Franklin Gutierrez has taken over in center field, and Ryan Langerhans is no longer a starter.

This is just more proof as to how bad and unproven the Mariners offense continues to be.

Outlook

The only thing Seattle has to look forward to is Michael Pineda winning ROY.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

Opening Day Lineup

2B Ben Zobrist

LF Johnny Damon

3B Evan Longoria

DH Manny Ramirez

1B Dan Johnson

CF B.J. Upton

RF Matt Joyce

SS Reid Brignac

C John Jaso

Biggest Changes: Manny Ramirez, Casey Kotchman and multiple position changes

Does anybody remember that Manny Ramirez started and batted cleanup for the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day?

I barely did and still can't believe Tampa Bay truly thought he could consistently produce in 2011.

With that said, Ramirez has accomplished one thing this year, he's the biggest lineup change that the Rays have made.

With Manny out of the picture, the team has been able to move Johnny Damon to DH, a defensive mastermind in Sam Fuld to left field, Ben Zobrist to right and Sean Rodriguez to take over at second.

Seems like a lot of moves following the departure of one player.

Alongside those changes, Casey Kotchman's take over at first has been huge.  He's batting .337 with 25 extra-base hits through 270 at-bats and easily having a bounce-back career year.

My question is, what were the Rays thinking when they slotted Dan Johnson as their everyday first baseman?

Outlook

With a three-headed monster in James Shields, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay has enough pitching to win the Wild Card and make some noise in the playoffs.

Alongside their pitching, a healthy and productive Evan Longoria couldn't hurt.  Let's just hope either Matt Joyce or Sam Fuld catch fire at the plate in the near future and give the team some weekly stability.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

Opening Day Lineup

LF Jose Tabata

2B Neil Walker

CF Andrew McCutchen

1B Lyle Overbay

3B Pedro Alvarez

C Ryan Doumit

RF Garrett Jones

SS Ronny Cedeno

Biggest Changes: Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Doumit 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are surprising everyone this year with a division-contending 51-45 record, but they aren't surprising anybody in regards to their lineup.

Whether it's been injuries, demotions, defensive replacements or just the plain, old lineup change, the Pirates have done it all.

Jose Tabata has been on the DL and has been replaced in the leadoff spot by surging rookie Alex Presley.

Ryan Doumit hasn't played since the end of May and is a few weeks away from a potential MLB comeback.

Pedro Alvarez, who was ready to bust out this year and make the Pirates even more relevant than they are now, has only logged 36 games in 2011 while batting a disappointing .208.  He too is currently on a minor league rehab stint after landing on the DL back in late May.

Chase d'Arnaud, Ronny Cedeno and Brandon Wood have played "ring around the rosy" at shortstop, and Garrett Jones could be on the move before the trade deadline.

Despite all of these changes, the Pirates are having one of their best seasons in over a decade.

Outlook

If Pittsburgh can maintain their unmatchable starting pitching, as well as keeping Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen healthy, a trade for a big bat like Josh Willingham could put the team over the top.

Come October, the Pirates could be NL Central winners.

3. Minnesota Twins

Opening Day Lineup

CF Denard Span

2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka

C Joe Mauer

1B Justin Morneau

LF Demon Young

RF Michael Cuddyer

DH Jason Kubel

3B Danny Valencia

SS Alexi Casilla

Biggest Changes: Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel and Denard Span

Where do I start?

After losing Joe Mauer and Delmon Young to long DL stints before the All-Star break, unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins' luck hasn't changed.

Justin Morneau, who started Opening Day as the Twins cleanup hitter and is their most consistent power threat, has been sidelined since early June after batting .225 through 55 games.

Denard Span's spot is in serious question as his replacement, Ben Revere, has played very well as the team's leadoff hitter despite possessing little-to-no home run pop.

Jason Kubel's been out since late May, Danny Valencia has moved up the order since showing some home run potential, and Michael Cuddyer looks like the Twins' cleanup guy for the remainder of the season.

If the Opening Day lineup held up through thick and thin, Minnesota might be in the running for a division title.

But as it stands right now, at least Jim Thome is getting some at-bats.

Outlook

Despite some consistent starters—and I'm not talking about Francisco Liriano—the Twins have some potential to win games down the stretch.

However, without Morneau's power, Mauer's usual dominance (even though he's been good of late), Span's extra-base wizardry and Kubel's consistent production in the No. 5 hole, Minnesota is dead in the water.

2. New York Mets

Opening Day Lineup

SS Jose Reyes

LF Willie Harris

3B David Wright

RF Carlos Beltran

CF Angel Pagan

1B Ike Davis

2B Brad Emaus

C Josh Thole

Biggest Changes: David Wright, Jason Bay and Ike Davis

The Big Apple has seen some big changes.

Huge injuries to David Wright and Ike Davis have crippled the Mets, despite resurgent years from Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran.

When you consider that Wright is a top-five third baseman in the MLB and Davis was producing like an elite first baseman before he went down in mid-May, the absence of these two players is the sole reason why the New York Mets come in at No. 2.

I can't even start to imagine why New York would start Willie Harris on Opening Day in left field, but despite my confusion, he's out anyways.

His replacement, a healthy Jason Bay—disregarding his slow start out the gate—has been a relatively solid option and offers much more offensive potential than Harris ever could.

Maybe the most undervalued move this year for the Mets is taking Brad Emaus out of the lineup at second and starting rookie Justin Turner in his place.

Turner has recorded 16 doubles with 36 RBI, 27 runs and only 32 K's through 254 at-bats this season.

When you consider the Mets' No. 2 and 3 hole hitters have been missing or replaced over the past two months, it's easy to peg New York as one of the most lineup-changed teams since Opening Day.

Outlook

Let's be honest.  Without Wright and Davis, along with the eventual dealing of Carlos Beltran, the Mets simply don't have enough pitching and hitting depth to be relevant for the remainder of the season.

If I were a Mets fan, I'd be happy if they finished better than the Washington Nationals.

1. San Francisco Giants

Opening Day Lineup

CF Andres Torres

2B Freddy Sanchez

RF Aubrey Huff

C Buster Posey

LF Pat Burrell

SS Miguel Tejada

1B Brandon Belt

3B Pablo Sandoval

Biggest Changes: Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Miguel Tejada

Some would consider Buster Posey's season-ending injury a good enough reason to consider the San Francisco Giants the No. 1 team on this list.

Now while I completely agree, there are many more changes that have prompted the Giants' offensive spirals.

Andres Torres has been moved around, Brandon Belt's early season disappointments led to his demotion until his recent recall three days ago and Miguel Tejada has been overtaken at shortstop by rookie Brandon Crawford.

As for Posey's production, it's clearly being missed considering his replacements, Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart, have both combined to hit .222 with three home runs and only 16 RBI in nearly 200 at-bats.

The changes have kept coming for the Giants who have tried to create a spark up and down their lineup and turn over a new leaf on offense.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez has been out since early June and Nate Schierholtz, who has taken over in right for Aubrey Huff, has been a major surprise this season (7 HR 34 RBI 7 SB) and has helped the offense stay afloat.

Along with Schierholtz, Pablo Sandoval's bounce-back season and inevitable move to the No. 3 hole has allowed San Francisco to safely save any offensive face they have left.

Outlook

The first-place Giants obviously have a lot of promise going forward.

It would be unfair to their elite pitching staff and two primary offensive weapons to sit here and say Posey's absence is eventually going to lead to their demise.

Now while his bat is surely going to be missed come playoff time, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong are four reasons why despite all these lineup changes since Opening Day, San Francisco remains one of the best clubs in baseball.