June 23, 2014

Interleague Report

Week 13

by Jeff Quinton

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Please note that in the “DH” column, the player listed is the player that has been added or removed from the lineup, not necessarily the player in the DH slot. For example, if the Phillies move Dominic 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.

Last Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
HOU	WAS (2)	1R, 1L	Carter/Singleton
SEA	SD (2)	2R	Montero/Bloomquist
TOR	CIN (3)	3R	Adam Lind

Jon Singleton started both games at first base. Chris Carter started both games on the bench.

We are still really not sure who missed at bats due to the pitcher hitting for the Mariners, but going forward it probably means missed time for Michael Saunders, Endy Chavez, or Jesus Montero when facing a righty starter.

Adam Lind was relegated to pinch-hit duties for the three-game stand against the Reds.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
SD	SEA (2)	1R, 1L	Outfield
SF	CWS (2)	2L	Arias/Sanchez

The Padres have been rotating Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, and Will Venable to fill two outfield spots alongside Seth Smith against righties. All three started with Carlos Quentin at DH against the righty in Seattle. Against the lefty, Quentin was again at DH with Will Venable, a lefty hitter, getting a start.

Facing two lefties, the Giants put Buster Posey at DH and Hector Sanchez at catcher for the first game. Michael Morse was at DH with Joaquin Arias at first base for the second game.

This Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
OAK	NYM (2), MIA (3)	4R, 1L	Catcher/Callaspo
CLE	ARI (2)	2R	Swisher/Murphy/Gomes

The Athletics like to DH John Jaso against righties while starting Derek Norris and occasionally Stephen Vogt at catcher. Absent the DH, however, I am guessing that Norris gets two or three starts (one or two against a righty, the other against the lefty) and Jaso gets two starts with Vogt maybe getting a start. Against righties, the Athletics have been starting Brandon Moss in the outfield, Kyle Blanks at first base, and Alberto Callaspo at DH. Consequently, it looks like Callaspo will sit against the lefty.

I think that Terry Francona sits either Nick Swisher or David Murphy for one game with the other player starting in right field. I also think that Swisher gets a start at first base for the other game with Carlos Santana moving to catcher and Yan Gomes moving to the bench.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
PIT	TB (2)	2R	Sanchez/Harrison
LAD	KC (2)	1R, 1L	Outfield
ATL	HOU (3)	3R	Doumit/Gattis

Pittsburgh plays at Tampa Bay on June 24-25. Neil Walker is eligible to come off the disabled list on the 24th and is expected to do so as of today. Clint Hurdle has used the DH this season to bat both sides of his first base platoon, which would mean two starts against righties for Gaby Sanchez. The other option would be to DH Walker in order to ease him back into game action, while starting Josh Harrison at second base.

If Carl Crawford is back and healthy (although he hit a snag in his last week), then it looks like he, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Yasiel Puig will all start against the righty, while one of the lefties will probably sit for Scott Van Slyke against the lefty. If Crawford is not back, then Ethier, Kemp, Puig, and Van Slyke will probably all start both games.

The Braves usually start Ryan Doumit at DH when playing by American League rules. I think they will do so for the first two games of the series and will DH Evan Gattis for the Thursday day game with Gerald Laird starting catcher.

Next Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
CLE	LAD (3)	2R, 1L	Swisher/Murphy/Gomes/Chisenhall
TEX	NYM (3)	2R, 1L	Michael Choice

Please see “This Week” regarding the Indians against righties. Against the lefty, my guess is that Lonnie Chisenhall sits with Nick Swisher moving to first base and Carlos Santana moving to third base.

The Rangers will move Shin-Soo Choo to the outfield; thus, Michael Choice will be moved to the bench.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
CHC	BOS (3)	2R, 1L	Ruggiano/Olt/Valbuena
MIL	TOR (2)	1R, 1L	Overbay/Maldonado

Either Justin Ruggiano or Mike Olt will be added to the lineup against the righties (or they will each get a start). Against the lefty, I think Luis Valbuena will get a start at third base with Mike Olt moving to DH.

The Brewers will most likely use the DH to get a regular a day of semi-rest. Against the righty, Aramis Ramirez will most likely be at DH with Mark Reynolds moving to third base and Lyle Overbay getting a start at first base. I am guessing that Jonathan Lucroy moves to DH with Martin Maldonado catching against the lefty.

Jeff Quinton is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @jjq01
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