April 7, 2014

Interleague Report

Week Two

by Jeff Quinton

the archives are now free. All Baseball Prospectus Premium and Fantasy articles more than a year old are now free as a thank you to the entire Internet for making our work possible. Not a subscriber? Get exclusive content like this delivered hot to your inbox every weekday. Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get instant access to the best baseball content on the web.

Subscribe for $4.95 per month Recurring subscription - cancel anytime. Subscribe for $39.95 for one year a 33% savings over the monthly price! Purchase a $39.95 gift subscription a 33% savings over the monthly price! Already a subscriber? Click here and use the blue login bar to log in.

Please note that in the “DH” column, the player listed is the player who has been added or removed from the lineup, not necessarily the player in the DH slot. For example, if the Phillies move Domonic Brown to DH and put Tony Gwynn Jr. in the OF, then I will list Gwynn Jr. in the “DH” column, because he is the player that is gaining at-bats.

On to the matchups...

Last Week

AL at NL: None

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L	DH
PHI	TEX (3)	1 R, 2 L	Gwynn Jr./Hernandez/Mayberry Jr.
MIL	BOS (3)	2 R, 1 L	Schafer/Maldonado/Reynolds

• The Phillies put regulars at DH in all three games, with Domonic Brown, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard each getting a turn, and Tony Gwynn Jr., Cesar Hernandez, and John Mayberry Jr. filling in, respectively. With the many veterans/poor fielders on the Phillies roster, I imagine this will be how the Phillies use the slot going forward.
• As we thought, the Brewers used the DH to get Logan Schafer’s bat into the lineup (and glove into the field), by putting Ryan Braun at DH for the first game. Also as we had guessed, Jonathan Lucroy was at DH against the lefty with Martin Maldonado catching. Lastly, Aramis Ramirez was given the “half-rest” at DH on Sunday with Mark Reynolds getting the start at third base.

This Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
DET	LAD (2), SD (3)	4 R, 1L	Victor Martinez
CHW	COL (3)	2 R, 1 L	Dunn/Konerko
TAM	CIN (3)	2 R, 1 L	Joyce/DeJesus

• Brad Ausmus has confirmed that Victor Martinez will catch some games during interleague play. I think he definitely catches against the lone lefty (Kershaw). Depending on how that start goes (Wednesday in LA), my guess is that he will start Friday and Sunday in San Diego; thus, getting Martinez’s bat in the lineup three times, while avoiding having him catch back to back days.
• So far, it looks like there’s a DH platoon in Chicago, which means that both Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko will be relegated to pinch-hitting duties. Maybe Adam Dunn will spell Jose Abreu during the last game of the series (a day game).
• Last week: “Who knows what Joe Maddon’s lineup will look like this week? I do not, but I would guess Matt Joyce and David DeJesus each get an outfield start against a righty with Ben Zobrist moving to the outfield and Logan Forsythe getting a start at second against Tony Cingrani.” My uncertainty remains, but if David DeJesus’ foot injury lingers, Joyce may get both left-field starts against the righties.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
SD	CLE (3)	3 R	Grandal/OF
NYM	LAA (3)	1 R, 2 L	1B/Brown

• I think Yasmani Grandal gets a start at DH with Nick Hundley at catcher. Otherwise, the Padres’ abundant outfield depth should help fill the DH slot with one of Chris Denorfia, Seth Smith, Tommy Medica, or Alexi Amarista, with two others playing the outfield alongside Will Venable.
• The Mets can use the DH to bat both Ike Davis and Lucas Duda against the lone righty they face. Against the lefties, I think they’ll either add Andrew Brown or Josh Satin to the lineup.

Next Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
SEA	MIA (3)	3R	Hart

• Corey Hart has been relegated to a DH-only role, and if Justin Smoak continues to swing the bat relatively well, I think interleague play will relegate Hart to pinch-hitting duties. Logan Morrison will probably get two starts in the outfield against his former club, with Michael Saunders getting the other.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
CHC	NYY (3)	2R, 1L	Kalish/Sweeney

• Ryan Kalish and Ryan Sweeney have both seen starts against righties; thus, the DH gives the Cubs the opportunity to start both alongside Junior Lake and Nate Schierholtz.

Jeff Quinton is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @jjq01
Click here to see Jeff's other articles. You can contact Jeff by clicking here