We’re 10 days removed from MLB’s trade deadline, which means trends have begun to emerge after a hectic stretch of transactions. At this time last week we only had a few games to analyze each team’s immediate usage, but the picture has since become clearer. Another wave of prospect promotions has arrived, and there could even be more on the way.
Let’s get into it.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Lars Nootbaar has started against every RHP (mostly hitting fifth) since being acquired but sat in his only opportunity against a left-handed starter. Tim Tawa and Ryan Waldschmidt have been everyday players since the deadline. Jordan Lawlar could be activated from the IL next week.
Athletics
This lineup is hurting with so many impact bats out injured. Jonah Heim has started all but one game since July 25. Zack Gelof has started every game this week since returning from the IL, and at three different positions. The injuries have opened up near everyday playing time for Lawrence Butler, including against lefties.
Atlanta Braves
Austin Riley keeps hitting in the bottom third of the order but has only sat three games this season. Lane Thomas’ playing time has cratered since leaving Kansas City, starting only three games, two against LHP. Jim Jarvis is still getting most of the starts at shortstop, with Ha-Seong Kim a strict bench player.
Baltimore Orioles
Jackson Holliday has been hitting third against right-handers over the past week. Christian Encarnacion-Strand isn’t an everyday player after all, splitting the hot corner with Coby Mayo. Dylan Beavers recently shifted from leadoff to fifth against RHP.
Boston Red Sox
The leadoff role continues to be a revolving door between Nick Sogard, Masataka Yoshida and (versus lefties) Jahmai Jones. One figures that spot will eventually go to Roman Anthony, who is reportedly getting closer to a rehab assignment. Meanwhile, Adley Rutschman hit third in his first two starts with his new club, bumping the red-hot Wilyer Abreu down to fifth. Andruw Monasterio continues to serve as the everyday shortstop.
Chicago Cubs
They continue to roll out the same primary starting nine. The only other note is they’ve been on fire lately and are up to the second-highest scoring lineup in MLB, having surpassed Pittsburgh.
Chicago White Sox
Sam Antonacci has started against three straight lefties after sitting versus the previous five, though Chase Meidroth’s minor injury likely contributed. There’s some defensive shuffling to make it work but Luisangel Acuña and Randal Grichuk essentially platoon with Andrew Benintendi and Tristan Peters. Brenton Doyle is part of the weak-side platooning too, which is why Antonacci has recently been squeezed.
Cincinnati Reds
Héctor Rodríguez has been starting against righties and sitting vs. LHP since being called up on August 4. He’s taking playing time away from Noelvi Marte in right field. Matt McLain is back to starting at second base every game. JJ Bleday has struggled lately but has only sat once since July 2.
Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan has hit leadoff in all but one of his starts since July 19. Jo Adell has started eight of nine since coming over from the Angels, easing concerns about his playing time after he sat against the second RHP he had a chance to face with his new club. Angel Genao has started seven of eight since being recalled, pushing Travis Bazzana to sit against some lefties and DH on other days. Lastly, Nathaniel Lowe is hitting cleanup vs. RHP and sitting against lefties since coming over from the Reds.
Colorado Rockies
Jake McCarthy has started every game since June 29, mostly at leadoff, and is having a very strong season. Cole Carrigg is hitting in the top third of the lineup and is up to six games (three starts) at shortstop, which is a fun eligibility to track. Zac Veen just came up from Triple-A and could platoon with Jordan Beck in right field. Connor Norby is playing second base with Kyle Karros injured, shifting Willi Castro to third.
Detroit Tigers
Max Clark has started in center field and hit seventh in every game since being called up on July 31. Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry are strict platoon hitters in the second half.
MLB: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Zac Veen is up, Cam Smith may be putting it together
Eric Samulski and James Schiano discuss their favorite fantasy baseball waiver wire adds for the weekend.
Houston Astros
Yordan Alvarez has sat twice all season, which remains a remarkable fact based on how last year went. Daulton Varsho has started every game since being acquired, including against two LHP. He, Taylor Trammell, and Cam Smith are the regular starting outfield.
Kansas City Royals
Nick Loftin leads off against southpaws while Carter Jensen still has the role vs. right-handers. Kyle Isbel has absorbed most of the center field playing time since he came off the IL when Lane Thomas was traded.
Los Angeles Angels
Moisés Ballesteros has started all 10 games since being acquired from the Cubs, including four behind the plate. Zach Neto is leading off vs. lefties and hitting cleanup against righties while stuck in a brutal slump. Vaughn Grissom’s playing time faded in late June but he’s back to playing everyday.
Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s an aging lineup, but there’s still a core eight who play most every day. Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia are sharing catching duties as Will Smith is still working his way back to full health.
Miami Marlins
Griffin Conine has started against every RHP in the second half while batting no lower than fifth since the start of August. He’s also begun mixing in at first base with Kyle Stowers on the IL. Esteury Ruiz has 28 steals (tied for 7th in MLB) and his six homers already represent a career high, but he has only started six of 11 this month.
Milwaukee Brewers
All eyes on Brice Turang’s knee after he wasn’t in Thursday’s lineup. Christian Yelich and William Contreras have each hit as low as seventh in recent games. Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell are the beneficiaries, hitting higher in the order as a result.
Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis is up to 44 starts at first base, nine at second base, and 26 at third base. It’ll be fun to see where his 2027 eligibility lands. Kaelen Culpepper has started five of eight, all at shortstop, since making his debut.
New York Mets
They’ve been hot offensively lately, but it hasn’t come with any significant lineup changes. Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco continue to sit at least once every few days. Jared Young and Brett Baty are in strong-side platoon roles.
New York Yankees
George Lombard Jr. has started every game at shortstop since debuting on August 4. Luis García Jr. has hit third or fourth against RHP since being acquired. Heliot Ramos has been hitting 2-5. Spencer Jones has hit third in each of their past two games. Clearly this unit continues to miss Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger.
Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Schwarber is up to four games (three starts) at first base. Bryce Harper has said his knee is bothering him a little as he transitions back to the outfield, but he hasn’t missed a game and is up to eight starts in right field. Bryson Stott has reached 10 starts at third base as the post-deadline defensive shuffling plays out.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Esmerlyn Valdez’s struggles have bumped him from the cleanup role to lower in the order, but he’s still playing most every day. Jacob Gonzalez is platooning at shortstop with Jared Triolo with Konnor Griffin still sidelined. Jake Mangum had been leading off, but Spencer Horwitz got the opportunity on Thursday as this offense looks to turn around their recent slide.
San Diego Padres
Ty France has been the cleanup-hitting first baseman in the second half. Luis Rengifo has started every game since July 25.
San Francisco Giants
Matt Chapman is out for the season, which gives Christian Koss plenty of runway at the hot corner down the stretch. Willy Adames is banged up but might not land on the IL. Bryce Eldridge has struggled in the second half but continues to hit high in the order out of necessity. Expect to see Marcelo Mayer get as much playing time as he can physically handle once he’s healthy.
Seattle Mariners
Cal Raleigh has been hitting as low as eighth over the past week, which wasn’t on my bingo card for 2026 fantasy storylines. Taylor Ward hit eighth in each of his first two Mariner games, but has since moved up to leadoff. Cole Young was out of the lineup for the first time all season Thursday due to dizziness. Dominic Canzone continues to be an everyday player, a very different role than he opened the season with.
St. Louis Cardinals
Alec Burleson hasn’t started in the outfield this year, so he’ll lose that eligibility in 2027, but it’s a small price for fantasy managers to pay for what has been a tremendous season offensively. Joshua Baez is up to 34 homers at Triple-A.
Tampa Bay Rays
Liam Hicks has started six of eight since coming over from Miami, all behind the plate. Chandler Simpson has only sat three times in the second half. Victor Mesa Jr., Cedric Mullins, and Richie Palacios remain in strong-side platoon roles.
Texas Rangers
Corey Seager has started all but one game since returning from the IL on July 31. Joc Pederson’s strong campaign has included leadoff duties vs. RHP since late May.
Toronto Blue Jays
Brett Bateman is the latest unheralded player to suddenly hit in the top two lineup spots for the defending AL champs. Nathan Lukes is still leading off vs. RHP while Charles McAdoo has been given three leadoff starts against LHP this week. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and Kazuma Okamoto have all battled minor injuries in recent weeks, contributing to this lineup’s season-long malaise.
Washington Nationals
Abimelec Ortiz has taken Luis García Jr.’s exact role as a strong-side platoon first baseman. He splits duties with Andrés Chaparro. Jacob Young is red-hot but not playing every single day. CJ Abrams hits leadoff vs. RHP and cleanup against LHP with James Wood hurt. Outside of those two superstars they continue to rotate players in and out of the lineup, including their “regulars.”
Read the full article here
