Fantasy Baseball Lineup Notes: Batting Order, Platoons, and Playing Time Changes - Week 10

We're onto Week 10 in the fantasy baseball world. Wild things continue to happen in baseball, including my Rockies winning back-to-back series against two of the best teams in the majors. Condolences to Guardians and Phillies fans, but due to losing a series to the 2024 Colorado Rockies, your teams are now up for relegation to the KBO. Sorry, I don't make the rules. If your team has the legendary David Fry, who I recommended you to pick up last week, and you can't get past the purple pinstripes, then there may be bigger questions your franchise needs to answer. But I digress.

In this article, as usual, we'll go over some of the trends we're seeing with platoon hitters, notable playing time changes, and batting order notes. We'll focus on a couple of players for each section and provide some added depth and insight to help you build your lineup.

If there are players that you'd like to see covered or discussed that fit any of the criteria below, feel free to hit me up! Now, let's get to it.

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Platoon Player Updates for Fantasy Baseball

Ben Rortvedt - C, Tampa Bay Rays

Let's just start off with the name Rortvedt. I love it. It's so fun to say. It's like something Gollum would mutter over and over on his way to Mordor. When he's not on a quest to find the one ring to rule them all, Rortvedt platoons for the Rays from the left side of the plate and does so pretty decently with a 106 wRC+ on the season.

Ben Rortvedt comes through again and we are tied! #Rays pic.twitter.com/pVqNRfFmhk

— Rays Radio (@RaysRadio) April 25, 2024

Rortvedt's not a guy you're expecting to hit with a ton of power, but he's finding his way on. At a .301 xwOBA, it's not overwhelming, but it's decent. And while he's had a subpar May, he can always turn it around. If you're in a struggle at the catcher position, there are worse options you could roll with than Rortvedt. DFS managers should consider targeting him on the road against righties, a situation where he's hitting for a .293 average and a 115 wRC+.

Adam Frazier - 2B, Kansas City Royals

A little bit less of a name you'd expect to hear while roaming Middle Earth, Frazier has been platooning alongside Michael Massey. However, with Massey hitting the IL on Sunday, it's resulted in Frazier becoming a little more of a focus. His season-long numbers are uninspiring, but he's hit for a .722 OPS over the last seven days. That includes a three-hit performance in Tampa Bay over the weekend.

How about a 3 hit day for Adam Frazier😮‍💨😮‍💨pic.twitter.com/AFVbXebbih

— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) May 25, 2024

Massey may not be on the IL for long, but Frazier may not be a bad player to stash regardless. He sports a subpar .268 wOBA, but that's paired with a .312 xwOBA. He's due for positive regression and that's always a great thing to find with players. If you need a quick fix at 2B, then Frazier may be good to plug in. Other fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Frazier and waiting for that positive regression to come before inserting him into your lineup.

Other platoon names to keep an eye on:

Matt Carpenter - DH, St. Louis Cardinals
Kerry Carpenter - OF, Detroit Tigers

Playing Time Updates for Fantasy Baseball

Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall - OF, Atlanta Braves

It's a hard ask to fill the shoes of an NL MVP but Kelenic and Duvall are being asked that after Ronald Acuña Jr. was diagnosed with a torn ACL. Kelenic has been platooning against righties while Duvall has been less of a platoon matchup but is significantly better against lefties (.326 OPS vs. righties, .975 OPS vs. lefties). Both Kelenic (.675) and Duvall (.690) sport similar a similar OPS while Duvall brings a touch more power.

Jarred Kelenic LOVES hitting dingers at Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/b7SAeitTpf

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 23, 2024

Three home runs in the past four starts for Adam Duvall.

Heating up. pic.twitter.com/22Z3pnWTYU

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 27, 2024

If you're looking for just one Brave to replace Acuña, all signs point toward Duvall. Kelenic is currently showing signs of getting lucky results (.298 wOBA, .280 xwOBA) while Duvall is due for positive regression (.306 wOBA, .342 xwOBA). Duvall also can't continue to perform this poorly against righties and should bounce back to him norms eventually. Either would be a fine pickup but Duvall should take priority if available in your league.

Miguel Andujar - OF, Oakland Athletics

It's been a strange journey for Andujar since his breakout season with the Yankees in 2018, a career riddled with injuries which have held him back from the right opportunities. Playing for an A's team that's not exactly in the spotlight may just be what he needs to get his career back on track. He's only played in five games for the A's since returning from injury but he's notched eight RBI while going 7-for-20 at the plate with one homer. He's coming out of the gates firing.

Miguel Andújar continues making his mark on this Oakland offense! #Athletics pic.twitter.com/pKv2o1wrUk

— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) May 30, 2024

Andujar should be a sneaky under-the-radar pickup for fantasy managers given his low-key activation from the IL mixed with playing with an overlooked Oakland A's franchise. Snag him while he's hot. If his production keeps up, it'll be like found money for your roster.

Other names to keep an eye on who are now receiving more playing time:

Jake Bauers - 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
Edmundo Sosa - SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Batting Order Changes for Fantasy Baseball

Luis Rengifo - 2B, Los Angeles Angels

You may not be paying attention to the Angels without Mike Trout, but they've got some things cooking out there in Anaheim. Rengifo is smashing for a ridiculous 1.024 OPS in May, most of which has come after the Angels moved him into the two-hole near the beginning of the month.

This is the 999,999,999th time that I’ll say it. EVERY MLB team wishes they had Luis Rengifo pic.twitter.com/ZGfjOBQ1Un

— 🏴‍☠️Perry The Pirate🏴‍☠️ (@PerryBurner) May 25, 2024

If Rengifo is on your roster, ride his hot streak for a little longer and then aim to sell high to someone who's desperate for help at 2B. Don't tell them that Rengifo is due for a ton of negative regression as his .393 wOBA is paired with a .293 xwOBA. It may not happen soon, but it's coming.

Dansby Swanson - SS, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have been struggling on offense over the last couple weeks as their lineup works its way back to full health. Swanson, after dealing with his own knee injury, came back to the starting lineup recently and has yet to make a positive impact. The Cubs have moved him from his traditional six spot to the seven and eight hole as he's hitting for just a .472 OPS since returning on May 21.

Swanson is due for some positive regression, though. His .271 wOBA is paired with a .329 xwOBA, a pretty sizable gap. Fantasy managers will want to be patient while waiting for Swanson to rebound and he may be best stashed on the bench until he gets it turned around.

Other players to keep an eye on for batting order changes:

Josh Rojas - 3B, Seattle Mariners
Brenton Doyle - OF, Colorado Rockies

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