Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis: AL 08/30

Sport: MLB

We are just a couple of days away from September. September could bring changing lineups, more prospect promotions, and lots of change. It also means that the fantasy baseball playoffs are here. Now is the time for fantasy baseball managers to lock in and make one final push toward glory. Staying up to date on the latest lineup changes is one important factor in helping take your team to the next level. This article assists with that.

The five hottest hitters over the past two weeks in the AL have been: George Springer, Nick Kurtz, Ben Rice, Alejandro Kirk, and Wyatt Langford. The five coldest hitters over the past two weeks have been: Anthony Volpe, Gabriel Arias, Jose Ramirez, Bryce Teodosio, and Kyle Manzardo. Keep reading for the latest news and notes from all 15 lineups around the American League.

Fantasy Baseball Lineup Takeaways

Please note that this article was written the day before publication. I will do my best to update the article with any relevant information from the previous night’s games.

AL East

New York Yankees

• Anthony Volpe got a reset this week
  • Volpe has been the ire of many angry Yankees’ fans this year and was held out of the lineup on Sunday and Monday
  • The 2025 season has been a disappointing one for Volpe who is batting just .204 on the season. He has just one hit in his last 38 plate appearances
  • For fantasy managers, Volpe is still managing to produce with 18 homers and 15 steals. However, he could continue to lose playing time to Jose Caballero down the stretch
• Austin Wells is seeing more playing time again
  • Wells is still not catching every day like he was earlier in the season, but his playing time has increased again, with Ben Rice seeing more time at first base
  • The team clearly favors Wells’ framing ability behind the dish and the pop his bat can provide
  • He has hit three homers since August 20 and is now up to 18 on the season. He has primarily been batting ninth in the lineup

Boston Red Sox

• Jhostynxon Garcia is up from Triple-A
  • Garcia was promoted from Triple-A last week, but is not getting consistent playing time
  • Garcia is really only entering the lineup for Masataka Yoshida against lefties and is batting ninth in the lineup
  • He was batting .289 with 20 homers in the Minor Leagues this season, but is not worth adding in fantasy without consistent playing time
• Wilyer Abreu is on the IL
  • Abreu suffered a calf injury that will keep him out of the lineup
  • With Abreu out, Ceddanne Rafaela has shifted back to center field, and David Hamilton has entered the lineup at second base
  • Hamilton is primarily batting eighth in the lineup and sitting against lefties. He is batting .207 with 18 stolen bases in 75 games this season
• Nathaniel Lowe is playing first base every day
  • Lowe is currently on the paternity list, but was serving as the team’s primary first baseman before that
  • Signed after being released by Washington, Lowe has primarily been batting fifth in the lineup. He is batting .296 since being acquired
  • Lowe is not the flashiest player, but he has 17 homers and 75 RBIs on the season. Historically, his batting average has been much better than the .221 number he owns this season, and he could be a strong add for the stretch run of 2025

Tampa Bay Rays

• Carson Williams is up from Triple-A
  • The highly ranked shortstop prospect made his Major League debut last Friday. He has been batting eighth in the lineup in most games
  • In dynasty formats, Williams is known for his upside. He has an elite glove, excellent speed, and truly plus raw power. The issue is strikeouts, as he was striking out 34% of the time in Triple-A this season
  • In a small five-game sample, Williams has hit a home run and stolen a base with a .316 batting average. However, proceed with caution as his contact skills continue to look suspect
• Bob Seymour is the primary first baseman
  • Seymour is getting a lot of time against righties, but is far from an everyday player as he continues to rotate in and out of the lineup
  • The big first baseman got to make his Major League debut at 26 years old after hitting 30 homers in Triple-A this season
  • There are obvious platoon concerns, and his contact skills are way below average. He does not profile to be a consistent fantasy asset
• Junior Caminero is becoming an MVP candidate
  • Caminero continues to elevate his game to the next level and is now up to 39 homers on the season
  • Elevate is really the key word, as Caminero’s breakout coincided with a change in his launch angle distribution
  • There is even a case to say that Caminero has been unlucky this season with a .249 BABIP. He is one of the game’s brightest stars and a staple in the middle of Tampa’s lineup

Toronto Blue Jays

• Addison Barger got a mini reset this week
  • The Jays held Barger out of the lineup against righties in back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday to try and give him a bit of a mental break
  • One of the best stories for Toronto has been scuffling at the plate recently. Since the start of August, he is slashing just .200/.235/.338
  • Under the hood, there is really no reason to be concerned. Barger’s batted ball data is down slightly, but nothing significant, and his BABIP has tanked to .220 during this cold spell. He remains a strong asset this season
• Nathan Lukes is shuffling around in the lineup
  • Since moving George Springer back into the leadoff spot, Lukes has been hitting all over the lineup, rotating between seventh and second
  • The main takeaway is that even with a healthy outfield, Lukes is still playing every day against righties
  • On the season, Lukes is batting .259 with 10 homers. He is batting .292 since August 4 and represents a high-floor, low ceiling option for fantasy baseball managers
• George Springer continues to outperform expectations
  • After entering the season with very little optimism, Springer has been one of the best draft-day values in baseball
  • In 112 games this season, Springer is batting .303 with 24 homers and 15 stolen bases. He currently owns the highest wRC+ of his career
  • Springer’s success has been amplified as of late. Since returning from the IL on August 16, Springer is slashing .391/.451/.804 with six home runs

Baltimore Orioles

• Dylan Beavers is only in the lineup against righties
  • Beavers has primarily been batting in the bottom third of Baltimore’s lineup since being recalled from Triple-A, but is sitting against lefties
  • The offensive production from Beavers has not missed a beat since the promotion. In 10 games, he is batting .344 with one homer and one stolen base
  • Beavers has all of the tools necessary to be an excellent fantasy asset for managers. He has speed, power, contact skills, and plate discipline. He should be added where available
• Jordan Westburg is on the IL
  • Westburg is dealing with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for more than the 10-day minimum
  • With Westburg out of the lineup, Jeremiah Jackson is getting a chance to play every day. He is batting second in the lineup
  • In 22 games this season, Jackson is batting .324. His super-aggressive approach makes sustained success unlikely, and there is not a ton of upside for fantasy managers here
• Adley Rutschman is back on the IL
  • Rutschman landing on the IL opened up the door for the team to promote top prospect Samuel Basallo
  • Basallo has been serving as the primary catcher while also drawing starts at first base and DH. He has been batting between fifth and seventh in the lineup
  • In the Minor Leagues, Basallo had shown a tendency to be a bit aggressive at the plate, but his power is an elite tool. He should be a useful fantasy asset for years to come, regardless of his position

AL West

Houston Astros

• Yordan Alvarez is finally back from the IL
  • At a certain point, it seemed like we may not see Alvarez play another game in 2025. Well, he returned to the lineup on Tuesday
  • He has hit second in one game and fourth in the other in two games since returning
  • Alvarez got off to a slow start this season but remains one of the game’s best pure hitters. His season metrics of a .214 BABIP and an 8.9 HR/FB% should see significant improvement over the final month of the season
• Victor Caratini is on the IL
  • Caratini is on the IL with a concussion and does not have a firm timetable to return to the lineup
  • With Caratini out, Mauricio Dubon has jumped back into the starting lineup. He has been rotating between second base and left field and primarily batting seventh
  • Dubon is the definition of a high-floor, low-ceiling play. He does not offer much in upside, but he will not be a negative to your team while he is playing
• The outfield playing time continues to be messy
  • With Yordan Alvarez returning, Jesus Sanchez has slid down to sixth in the lineup and continues to sit against lefties
  • Jacob Melton is also sitting against lefties, while Cam Smith is entering the lineup against lefties and some righties
  • With playing time being divided, none of the three players should be viewed as reliable fantasy assets

Los Angeles Angels

• Nolan Schanuel is on the IL
  • Schanuel landed on the IL with a wrist injury that will keep him out of the lineup
  • With Schanuel gone, Niko Kavadas is drawing the majority of starts at first base. He has been batting eighth in the lineup
  • Kavadas was batting just .228 in Triple-A this year and is hitting .143 in seven Major League games this season. He is not worth adding in fantasy
• Logan O’Hoppe is losing more playing time
  • O’Hoppe’s offensive struggles have continued. He continues to see a decrease in his playing time as Travis d’Arnaud enters the lineup more frequently
  • O’Hoppe is batting .224 on the season, but is batting just .127 since the start of August. He has just one home run this month
  • d’Arnaud started three straight games Sunday-Tuesday. He is not worth rostering in fantasy, but is eating into enough of O’Hoppe’s playing time to make both irrelevant for fantasy
• Jo Adell has moved up to fourth in the lineup
  • After a slow start, Adell is quietly up to 30 home runs on the season, shattering his previous career high
  • The Angels have recognized his strong offensive performance and have moved him up from sixth to fourth in the lineup
  • Adell profiles to be a streaky hitter for fantasy managers. He is hot right now, batting .361 with five homers since August 17

Texas Rangers

• Marcus Semien is on the IL
  • The iron man has finally seen his durability take a hit this season. Semien is on the IL with a fractured foot and could miss the remainder of the season
  • 2025 has been a largely disappointing year for Semien and fantasy managers. He is batting just .230 with 15 homers and 11 steals in 127 games
  • Semien’s best attribute was his durability, and that is no longer a guarantee. He turns 35 in September, and this could mark the beginning of the end
• Evan Carter is back on the IL
  • Carter has been unable to stay healthy all season and is now back on the IL with a fractured wrist
  • Yet another IL stint for Carter, who has played in just 63 Major League games this season. He is batting .247 with five homers and 14 stolen bases
  • Carter’s speed has shone as a definite plus, but it is fair to question the true upside of his power. He is also batting only .235 through 457 Major League plate appearances in his career
• Adolis Garcia has returned to the lineup
  • Garcia spent the minimum amount of time on the IL and returned to the Rangers’ lineup last Saturday
  • Garcia started out hitting sixth in his return but has quickly moved back up to the cleanup spot in the Rangers’ lineup
  • Offensively, Garcia picked up right where he left off. In 60 August plate appearances, he is slashing .316/.250/.614. He has hit safely in each game since returning to the lineup

Athletics

• Zack Gelof is back for another stint in the Major Leagues
  • With the season winding down, Gelof is back with the Major League team for another chance to prove he belongs
  • Gelof has been in the lineup for all three games since returning and is batting ninth. He was batting .256 in Triple-A and strikeouts continue to be a major concern in his profile
  • With Gelof joining the A’s, Luis Urias was DFA’d
• Jacob Wilson has returned from the IL
  • Wilson is back from the IL and is batting in a new spot in the lineup
  • With Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers locked into the top two spots, Wilson is batting fifth in the lineup. Wilson has hit two home runs since returning from the IL, as his game power continues to outperform the expected metrics
  • On the season, Wilson is batting .311 with 12 homers and five steals. He does not contribute to every category, but should continue producing elite batting averages for fantasy managers
• Tyler Soderstrom is staying in the lineup against lefties
  • Soderstrom has shifted in and out of a platoon throughout the seaso,n depending on how things are going offensively
  • Right now, he is staying in the lineup against lefties, shifting from fourth to sixth
  • Although he has been inconsistent, Soderstrom’s season slash line remains excellent. He is batting .274 with 23 homers on the year. Since the start of August, he is slashing .360/.427/.593

Seattle Mariners

• Victor Robles is factoring into the playing time mix against lefties
  • Robles went viral the other week for his tantrum down in Triple-A, but he is back with Seattle now
  • Since returning to the team, Robles has primarily only been entering the lineup against lefties in favor of Dominic Canzone
  • After a fast start, Canzone has seen his power production disappear. He has just one extra base hit since August 5 and could continue to lose playing time with Robles back
• Jorge Polanco is a constant mix of hot and cold
  • Nobody realizes that Polanco is up to 20 home runs, the most he has hit since his great 2021 season
  • The issue is that Polanco is constantly rotating between hot and cold. He is hot right now, batting .385 over his last 28 plate appearances. However, the 31 plate appearances before that, he hit .103
  • Fantasy managers just need to ride the highs and sit out the lows here. He is locked into Seattle’s lineup as their everyday second baseman

AL Central

Detroit Tigers

• Colt Keith continues to perform out of the leadoff spot
  • Despite a 0/12 stretch last week, Keith’s August numbers still look excellent
  • In August, Keith is slashing .294/.355/.529 with four home runs. The power is the main takeaway with an increased exit velocity, barrel rate, and launch angle
  • Getting Keith to 20+ homer pop would be game-changing for his fantasy value. Right now, he is a high-floor option who lacks much upside, but fantasy baseball managers should keep in mind that he just turned 24 years old
• Javier Baez has been out of the lineup for two of three games
  • Baez has been playing every day for much of the second half, but the team could start to move in a different direction
  • Since August 10, Baez is slashing .217/.229/.261. He has not hit a home run since August 2
  • With Baez seeing a slight downtick in playing time, Trey Sweeney is jumping into the lineup more often. Sweeney is batting just .206 since being recalled from Triple-A on August 10 and is not worth adding in any fantasy format

Kansas City Royals

• Michael Massey returned from the IL on Monday
  • Massey has jumped right back into the Royals’ lineup but is playing left field instead of second base. He is batting eighth in the lineup on the strong side of a platoon
  • Massey’s return from the IL sent John Rave back down to Triple-A.  Nick Loftin is platooning with Massey against lefties
  • In 59 games this season, Massey is batting .208 with two homers. He does not hold much fantasy value
• The Royals’ struggles are overshadowing Bobby Witt Jr’s season
  • Witt is leading the charge as the Royals try to make a late-season push for a playoff spot. He is still having an elite season
  • In 132 games this year, Witt is batting .298 with 19 homers and 34 stolen bases
  • After hitting 32 home runs last season, Witt’s power has been the only thing to take a step back. However, everything in his profile looks exactly the same, with the only difference being his HR/FB% dropping to 10.9% this season

Chicago White Sox

• Luis Robert Jr is on the IL
  • Another trip to the IL in what has become a frequent occurrence for Robert
  • With Robert out of the lineup, Brooks Baldwin is seeing extended playing time. He has been batting eighth in the lineup
  • In 83 games this season, Baldwin has hit nine homers while batting .233. There is sneaky pop and speed in his profile for anybody in a deep league looking for value
• Lenyn Sosa has shifted to fourth in the lineup
  • Sosa continues to play every day and has shifted from second to fourth in the lineup recently
  • Despite the team’s struggles, Sosa is one of the more positive under-the-radar stories of this season
  • He has cooled off a bi,t but still has an impressive 17 homers on the season and is only 25 years old
• Kyle Teel has moved up to third in the lineup
  • In 54 games at the Major League level, Teel is proving himself to be the real deal. He is batting .300 with four home runs
  • As a result of his success, he has been moved up from seventh in the lineup to third, which should provide him with more RBI opportunities
  • Everything under the hood looks very encouraging from a sustainability standpoint. There is more upside in his power outlook, and he should be a reliable dynasty catcher for years to come

Minnesota Twins

• Edouard Julien is getting into the lineup more regularly over the past week
  • Julien has been in the Twins’ lineup for five of the past six games, including one against a lefty. He has primarily been batting eighth
  • The Twins have been getting Julien into the lineup at first base, with Kody Clemens being the bat impacted the most
  • Julien is batting .194 in 47 Major League games this season. Things have not been much better as of late, and he should not be expected to maintain this uptick in playing time
• Brooks Lee has moved up to third in the lineup
  • Lee has taken over as the everyday shortstop following the Carlos Correa trade. He has moved up from sixth to third in the lineup
  • Lee’s slide up in the lineup comes with sustained success at the plate. Since August 5, Lee is slashing .279/.359/.529
  • For fantasy managers, Lee does not ever profile as an elite asset, but he does a lot of things well and has sneaky 20-homer pop with upside in his batting average
• James Outman is getting run as the primary left fielder
  • Outman was acquired from the Dodgers at this year’s Trade Deadline and is now getting a chance to play as the primary left fielder
  • Outman is currently platooning with Austin Martin, but is receiving the majority of starts while batting ninth in the lineup
  • In his first nine games with the Twins, Outman is batting .172 and continues to strike out more than 40% of the time. He continues to look like more of a work in progress

Cleveland Guardians

• Steven Kwan has fallen into a slump
  • Considering Kwan is one of the most consistent hitters in all of baseball, prolonged slumps are rare
  • However, that is exactly what is happening right now. Since the start of August, Kwan is slashing .210/.248/.260
  • There has been a slight uptick in his chase rate, but the only real difference is a BABIP of .225. This should bounce back, and fantasy managers should not panic too much over this slump
• Gabriel Arias has slid back up in the lineup a bit
  • Arias continues to play every day and has been batting as high as fifth in the lineup this past week
  • In 106 games this season, Arias is batting .222 with nine homers and six stolen bases. He owns a 78 wRC+ and is striking out 33.5% of the time
  • There is no real upside here for fantasy managers. Even with the move up in the lineup, Arias still profiles as a below-average option for your middle infield slots