July 21, 2014

Interleague Report

Week 17

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 who is gaining at-bats.

Last Week

AL at NL: None. (Continuation of the shout out to the All Star game)

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
NL	AL (1)	R	Giancarlo Stanton
CIN	NYY (3)	3R	Ludwick/Heisey/Lutz

Giancarlo Stanton was the DH for the National League

Ryan Ludwick got two starts at DH with Donald Lutz getting the other start. Chris Heisey started all three games in left field.

This Week

AL at NL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
DET	ARI (3)	2R, 1L	Martinez/Castellanos/Davis
TB	STL (2)	2R	OF

With Victor Martinez’s recent back injury, I am guessing that he is not going to be catching at Arizona. Brad Ausmus can either (i) sit Martinez; (ii) start Martinez at first base, move Miguel Cabrera to third base, move Nick Castellanos to left field, and sit Rajai Davis; or (iii) follow the same as option two, but sit Castellanos instead of Davis. Castellanos has yet to play the outfield this season; thus, my guess is that we see two games of option three and one game of option one. For those interested, Cabrera has played four and started two games at third base so far this year.

With the Rays, we can never definitely know. With the future, we can never definitely know either. I think we see Kevin Kiermaier, Desmond Jennings, and Matt Joyce in the outfield for both games. However, it would not be surprising to any of them sit a game in place of either Brandon Guyer or Sean Rodriguez.

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
NYM	SEA (3)	2R, 1L	Nieuwenhuis/Young Jr./Abreu
MIA	HOU (3)	2R, 1L	Lucas/Baker/Mathis

Bobby Abreu makes perfect sense for DH, but the Mets actually have five options in the outfield. My guess is that Abreu gets the two starts against the righties at DH with Eric Young Jr. and Kirk Nieuwenhuis each getting a start against a lefty and a righty.

I am not really sure how the Marlins will utilize the DH. Against lefties, I think either Jeff Baker or Jarrod Saltalamacchia start at DH with Jeff Mathis starting at catcher in the latter scenario. Against righties, I think that Casey McGehee starts at DH with Ed Lucas starting at third base.

Next Week

AL at NL: None

NL at AL:

Away	Opponent (Games)	R/L Faced	DH
MIL	TAM (3)	2R, 1L	Overbay/Maldonado
COL	DET (3)	3R	Stubbs/Barnes/Rutledge

In previous matchups, the Brewers have started Lyle Overbay at DH against righties and Jonathan Lucroy at DH with Martin Maldonado at catcher against lefties. I think this will be the case at Tampa Bay.

My guess is that both Drew Stubbs and Brandon Barnes get a start in the outfield with Corey Dickerson or Carlos Gonzalez moving to DH. I am also guessing that Troy Tulowitzki gets a semi-rest at DH with Josh Rutledge starting at shortstop.

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