Fantasy Baseball: American League Playing Time Tracker
The purpose with Lineup Lowdown is easy: we’re searching for developments which may assist determine gamers that could be undervalued or overvalued. Who is enjoying extra/much less? Who is shifting up/down? This week, we shall be specializing in gamers from the American League which can be trending up.
Trending Up
Chandler SimpsonOF, Tampa Bay Rays
The left-handed-hitting Simpson was not within the Rays’ lineup on Opening Day towards lefty Matthew Liberatore. That felt a bit telling of how the group views him, particularly since lefties have fared higher towards Liberatore for the reason that starting of final season. Out of Simpson’s first seven begins of the season (six versus righties), he batted greater than sixth simply eleven (and he hit fifth that day). Since then, nonetheless, Simpson has not batted decrease than fifth towards a righty, and in his final two begins versus right-handed pitching he is been up within the leadoff spot. With a sturdy .407/.435/.475 batting line and 7 stolen bases, it is truthful to say Simpson has compelled the Rays’ hand.
Simpson is not like every other hitter in baseball. He has only a 16.9 p.c hard-hit price in his profession and remains to be seeking to join on his first dwelling run and his first barrel. He drew walks at a wholesome 9.4 p.c price within the minors, however that price has been simply 4.6 p.c thus far on the big-league degree. And but, he is sitting on a profession .309 batting common that is backed by a .297 xBA. His on-base share
The purpose with Lineup Lowdown is easy: we’re searching for developments which may assist determine gamers that could be undervalued or overvalued. Who is enjoying extra/much less? Who is shifting up/down? This week, we shall be specializing in gamers from the American League which can be trending up.
Trending Up
Chandler SimpsonOF,
Tampa Bay Rays
The left-handed-hitting Simpson was not within the Rays’ lineup on Opening Day towards lefty Matthew Liberatore. That felt a bit telling of how the group views him, particularly since lefties have fared higher towards Liberatore for the reason that starting of final season. Out of Simpson’s first seven begins of the season (six versus righties), he batted greater than sixth simply eleven (and he hit fifth that day). Since then, nonetheless, Simpson has not batted decrease than fifth towards a righty, and in his final two begins versus right-handed pitching he is been up within the leadoff spot. With a sturdy .407/.435/.475 batting line and 7 stolen bases, it is truthful to say Simpson has compelled the Rays’ hand.
Simpson is not like every other hitter in baseball. He has only a 16.9 p.c hard-hit price in his profession and remains to be seeking to join on his first dwelling run and his first barrel. He drew walks at a wholesome 9.4 p.c price within the minors, however that price has been simply 4.6 p.c thus far on the big-league degree. And but, he is sitting on a profession .309 batting common that is backed by a .297 xBA. His on-base share shall be virtually totally average-based, however Simpson ought to nonetheless get on at a wholesome clip and rating a bunch of runs whereas he is within the leadoff spot. The speedster’s defensive metrics are additionally much-improved in 2026, which ought to assist preserve him within the lineup.
Lawrence ButlerOF, 
Sacramento Athletics
The Athletics have been compelled to change their lineup since Brent Rooker (pressure) went down. One main beneficiary has been Butler, who has gone from hitting sixth to batting leadoff in every of the group’s final 4 contests versus righties.
I used to be relying on a bounceback to a point from Butler in 2026 after he performed via points with each knees in 2025. Unfortunately, the manufacturing hasn’t been there. He did swat his second dwelling run of the season Monday, however the 25-year-old is slashing solely .176/.250/.314 in his first 16 contests. Butler’s zone contact price fell off dramatically in 2025 to 76.3 p.c, and it is dipped additional to 75.9 p.c in 2026. That price was 80.4 p.c in 2024, which was already beneath the league common, so hopefully Butler can get nearer to that mark. He’ll must if he needs to keep away from being dropped again down within the batting order when Rooker returns (and perhaps even earlier than that). Butler has been out of the lineup for all 5 video games towards lefties this season, so his uptick in position has come solely towards right-handers.
It’s been Carlos Cortes taking up within the designated hitter slot for every of the 4 contests Rooker has missed towards righties (Shea Langeliers was at DH versus a lefty Tuesday). Cortes’ finest ability within the minors was his plate self-discipline, as he collected a 12.6 p.c stroll price and 18.3 p.c strikeout price on the Triple-A degree. In an exceedingly small pattern in 2026, Cortes has 4 walks and one strikeout, and he is paired with a 43.5 p.c hard-hit price and 13 p.c barrel price. There could be a bit one thing there with Cortes, however he may need only a brief window of standard enjoying time. In the primary 12 video games with Rooker wholesome, Cortes totaled solely 13 plate appearances.
Angel MartinezOF/2B, 
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians have been searching for an outfielder to go together with Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauterand these days that man has been Martinez. He has began solely one of many first 4 video games of the season, however since then Martinez has been within the lineup for seven of the final eight tilts and 12 of the previous 15 contests. He’s additionally batted both second (six instances) or first (eleven) in seven of his previous 9 begins.
Cleveland has confronted a slew of left-handers these days, which apparently has aided in Martinez’s ascension. It’s been the lefty-swinging DeLauter within the two gap every of the final six instances the Guardians have confronted a righty, with the switch-hitting Martinez both batting decrease within the order or being out of the lineup these days. However, whereas Martinez has historically been a greater hitter versus lefties, he has a 1.027 OPS in his first 35 plate appearances towards righties in 2026 and an OPS close to .900 total. Additionally, his high quality of contact has improved, as he is gone from a nicely below-average hard-hit price in 2025 (29.3 p.c) to an above-average price in 2026 (41.3 p.c). Martinez has additionally reduce his strikeout price from 22.7 p.c to 10.5 p.c and his pull-air price sits at a wholesome 26.1 p.c.
Also shifting to the forefront for the Guardians these days has been Juan Brito. Brito grabbed the roster spot of the injured Gabriel Arias (hamstring) final week and has since began seven of eight video games at second base (with Brayan Rocchio shifting over to shortstop). The change hitter would in all probability have spent a big chunk of 2025 within the majors if not for a plethora of accidents, however he is getting his probability now and it would not be a shock if he sticks round some time with Arias slated for an prolonged absence. Brito slashed .256/.365/.443 with 21 dwelling runs and 13 stolen bases at Triple-A Columbus in 2024 in his final full season.
Christian Walker1B, 
Houston Astros
The Astros are in the midst of a tough stretch, however the downturn is nearly totally associated to pitching and accidents and never their lineup. One of the largest drivers of the offense has been Walker, who’s hitting like Houston thought he would when the group signed him final offseason.
Walker started the marketing campaign down within the No. 7 spot within the Astros’ lineup for 3 of the primary 4 video games. He moved as much as fifth after that and extra lately has batted cleanup for 2 of the group’s final three contests. Walker’s disappointing 2025 season was led to largely by a spike in his strikeout price to a career-high 27.7 p.c, however he is received that mark down to fifteen.3 p.c in 2026, pairing it with an 11.1 p.c stroll price. In reality, Walker’s turnaround started within the second half of final season and he is carried that over with an excellent begin to 2026. It’s nonetheless early, however these apprehensive that the 35-year-old Walker could be reaching the cliff can breathe straightforward for now.
Daulton VarshoOF, 
Toronto Blue Jays
Varsho’s transfer up within the Blue Jays’ batting order is partly by necessity because the membership navigates the losses of George Springer (toe), Addison Barger (ankles) and Alexander Kirk (thumb). The 29-year-old Varsho was in all probability as a consequence of be elevated anyway, nonetheless, as he is in a five-game stretch that is seen him go 9-for-22 with three dwelling runs, two doubles, six RBI, a stolen base and a 1:2 BB:Okay.
In his first 9 begins to the season, Varsho batted sixth seven instances, fifth eleven and seventh eleven. Across the final six contests, he is been locked in because the group’s No. 2 hitter, and the primary 4 of these got here whereas leadoff man Springer was wholesome. The left-handed-hitting Varsho has additionally been within the lineup twice in three video games this season versus southpaws. Interestingly, Varsho’s high quality of contact is definitely down considerably from final yr, as his hard-hit price, barrel price and common exit velocity are all nicely beneath the league common. However, he is additionally putting out manner much less (28.4 p.c to 12.7 p.c year-over-year) and is buying and selling flyballs (37.5 p.c to 24.5 p.c) for line drives (20.5 p.c to 34.7 p.c). Additionally, after his bat pace spiked at 75.6 p.c in 2025, Varsho’s bat pace of 73.4 mph in 2026 has been again according to his profession norm.
I’m undecided whether or not this can be a aware change Varsho has made in his stroll yr or a small-sample fluke. If it is the previous, it alters his profile fairly drastically, as he is gone from a batting common drain to an asset. Varsho’s highest xBA previous to 2026 was .245. This season it at present sits at .292, which is 29 factors greater than his present common of .263.
Ernie Clement has additionally been bumped up in Toronto’s batting order, having hit leadoff in two straight contests after he batted between fifth and eighth in his first 14 begins. Varsho ought to have a a lot better shot than Clement of sustaining his present lineup spot, although, because the Blue Jays have been filtering via a number of guys within the two-hole. The leadoff spot will belong to Springer as soon as he returns, which might be subsequent week.
Trevor LarnachOF, 
Minnesota Twins
It was a little bit of a shock when the Twins selected to tender Larnach a contract over the offseason slightly than let him stroll. With Larnach off to an excellent begin and the Twins enjoying surprisingly nicely, the membership is unquestionably glad the 29-year-old remains to be round.
Larnach batted seventh 3 times and sixth eleven in his first 4 begins of the season. Since then, the one time he is batted that low was in his lone begin towards a left-hander. All 4 of the left-handed-hitting Larnach’s begins towards righties throughout that span have come from the No. 2 spot within the Minnesota batting order. Across his first 13 contests this season, Larnach is sporting a wholesome .267/.421/.433 batting line with one dwelling run and an 8:6 BB:Okay. He’s at all times been good at drawing walks, however Larnach has taken it to a different degree within the early going this yr with a 21.1 p.c stroll price, a mark that ranks within the 98th percentile. Also, whereas Larnach’s strikeout price has trended down over time, his 15.8 p.c strikeout price in 2026 is markedly decrease than final yr’s career-best 21.5 p.c mark. Larnach’s greater contact price hasn’t come on the expense of high quality of contact, both. His common exit velocity is down a bit, however the outfielder’s 45.8 p.c hard-hit price and 12.5 p.c barrel price would each be three-year highs.
Larnach’s spray chart can also be manner completely different up to now. His pull price has gone from 40.1 p.c to 29.2 p.c year-over-year, and his pulled groundball price has gone from an above-average 23.5 p.c to a miniscule 8.3 p.c. We’ve additionally seen his line-drive price climb from 25.8 p.c to 37.5 p.c. And lastly, just like the aforementioned Daulton VarshoLarnach’s bat pace is manner down from final yr (72.2 mph to 70.5 mph) and so are his strikeouts. It’s too quickly to know whether or not it is a sustainable change or early-season noise, however I’m to trace Larnach’s progress. Unfortunately, he not often performs towards lefties and the Twins have confronted whopping 10 of them already, holding down their counting stats.
