The trade deadline is less than two weeks away, which will shake up lineup trends in a meaningful way. Now that we’re past the All-Star break, these next couple of weekly lineup reports are best treated as a pre-deadline benchmark. The changes will be more noticeable if we establish where things stand now. Let’s dive in.
MLB: San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies
MLB Trade Deadline: Cole Carrigg, Reid Detmers, and more who could gain the most fantasy value
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Eric Samulski discusses over 20 players who could improve their fantasy value after the trade deadline
Ryan Waldschmidt returned to the majors before the All-Star break, but he’s hitting eighth or ninth without playing every day. Tim Tawa is splitting time between first base and center field. Gabriel Moreno has started and hit cleanup in every game since June 29.
Athletics
This lineup is hurting without Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, and Zack Gelof. Even Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and his .462 BABIP hit the IL this week. Jacob Wilson is leading off as a result, followed by Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers. Carlos Cortes, Donovan Walton, and Jeff McNeil are in strong-side platoons, and McNeil is mixing in starts at first base. Lawrence Butler has started against only one of three lefties since the All-Star break. Tommy White has started five of six since being called up, splitting time between both corner infield spots.
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All eyes are on Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s return from a hamstring injury this weekend, and it could come as early as Friday. He’s been the leadoff hitter when healthy, which bumps Drake Baldwin to the two-hole and Ozzie Albies into the middle of the order. Austin Riley has been better lately and hit as high as cleanup a couple of times this week. Jim Jarvis has been the primary shortstop in July with Ha-Seong Kim sidelined and Jorge Mateo phased out.
Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson enter Thursday inside the top three in PAs this year, with Pete Alonso also in the top 10. Colton Cowser is platooning with Leody Taveras in center field. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is getting some run at third base with Blaze Alexander on the IL, though Coby Mayo remains involved. Chadwick Tromp and Sam Huff figure to split time behind the plate after Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo both got hurt this week.
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Jarren Duran hasn’t hit higher than seventh this month and sits against some lefties. Anthony Seigler has been the primary second baseman and leadoff option in July. Romy Gonzalez and Jahmai Jones are lefty-hitting specialists at the moment. Masataka Yoshida is the strong-side DH.
Plenty of consistency here outside of a revolving door at DH. Alex Bregman and Michael Busch are both top five in PAs as of Thursday. Kevin Alcántara is on the big-league roster but hardly playing. James Triantos is reportedly being called up to make his major league debut this weekend.
Munetaka Murakami went right back to the two-hole upon returning from the injured list. Tristan Peters has cemented the primary center field role lately. Braden Montgomery has sat just twice since being called up June 9. Kyle Teel (ankle) is unfortunately set to miss meaningful time for the second time this season.
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Spencer Steer has at least ten starts at first base, second base, and each corner outfield spot this year. Ke’Bryan Hayes is back off the IL but starting only half the time. Edwin Arroyo had taken over second base even before Matt McLain hit the IL.
Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan has been on a tear and reclaimed the leadoff role Sunday. José Ramírez came off the IL this week. Brayan Rocchio opened the season hitting exclusively in the bottom third of the lineup, but he’s been mostly in the top half since the middle of June. Chase DeLauter has hit second or third in every start since coming off the IL on June 28, and he’s six-for-six in starts against southpaws.
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Jake McCarthy has hit leadoff in all but two games since June 29. Cole Carrigg has been sitting a bit more often lately but remains the primary center fielder. Kyle Karros has been the third baseman all year and recently moved up to the middle of the order. Neither Edouard Julien nor Tyler Freeman is playing consistently enough to be a fantasy factor. Ezequiel Tovar has a 37 wRC+ in over 350 PAs in 2026.
Colt Keith is back to hitting third against RHP, swapping spots with Kerry Carpenter, who has fallen to the middle of the order. The Tigers continue to maximize Dillon Dingler‘s playing time. James Outman is still platooning with Matt Vierling in center field. Gleyber Torres returned from the IL again this week.
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Houston Astros
Jeremy Peña regains the leadoff job every time he returns from injury. Jose Altuve is batting fourth or fifth but struggling. LaMonte Wade Jr. is platooning with Zach Dezenzo in left field. Cam Smith has had the entire week off so far after regressing a bit from his rookie campaign.
Kansas City Royals
Carter Jensen has hit leadoff against every RHP since May 30. Lane Thomas has hit in the top four in every game since late June. Andrew Velazquez has started both games at shortstop since Bobby Witt Jr. landed on the IL.
Vaughn Grissom is back to near everyday opportunities while bouncing around the infield, taking time away from Denzer Guzman at the hot corner. Wade Meckler‘s opportunities have evaporated with Mike Trout healthy again.
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Andy Pages has hit second in every start since May 26. Kyle Tucker remains stuck in the bottom half of the order in a hugely disappointing campaign. Tommy Edman is playing all over but mostly seeing time at second base. Dalton Rushing is getting a chance to show he’s a starter during Will Smith‘s lengthy absence. Teoscar Hernández has sat against three right-handers this month, which is worth monitoring.
Miami Marlins
Kyle Stowers is up to 28 starts at first base against 40 in the outfield this season. Heriberto Hernández has started 11 straight while mostly hitting second or third. Xavier Edwards is the primary cleanup hitter while Otto Lopez fills the table-setting role.
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Milwaukee Brewers
Garrett Mitchell has started 20 of 21 in center field in the midst of a career year. Luis Lara has started only seven of 14 since being called up. Cooper Pratt is the shortstop and Joey Ortiz is the third baseman with David Hamilton sidelined.
Minnesota Twins
Luke Keaschall has started exclusively in the outfield since June 23. Royce Lewis is the primary first baseman and Kody Clemens is the primary second baseman, so this infield has really shifted around in 2026. Trevor Larnach leads off against RHP while Austin Martin does so vs. southpaws.
New York Mets
Very interesting deadline team. A.J. Ewing wrestled the leadoff spot away from Carson Benge, though Benge still hits fifth. Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien each returned from the IL recently. Jared Young has been the primary first baseman against RHP.
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New York Yankees
Jasson Domínguez has started all but one game since June 17. Paul Goldschmidt starts against every LHP but not all righties. Anthony Volpe‘s playing time has become sporadic again.
Philadelphia Phillies
Same story here. They need some outfield upgrades at the trade deadline. Justin Crawford and Gabriel Rincones Jr. have been platooning with Derek Hill and Edmundo Sosa, respectively.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Esmerlyn Valdez has hit cleanup in every game this month, providing thump with Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin sidelined. Jake Mangum is getting most of the leadoff opportunities lately. Nick Gonzales has held the third base job all season.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. is heating up. He hasn’t played much second base lately, but he’ll still qualify at the position in 2027. Ty France is the everyday first baseman and has been red-hot of late.
Bryce Eldridge has reclaimed the two-hole as the best hitter on this team. Matt Chapman could return from injury soon, which will again leave someone as the odd man out, though the trade deadline could help.
Seattle Mariners
Dominic Canzone has taken over the three-hole against RHP, dropping Josh Naylor to fifth. Cole Young has started every game this season. Colt Emerson remains the primary shortstop with J.P. Crawford shifting to third base. We’ll see what happens once Brendan Donovan returns from the IL, though Crawford has battled a wrist issue this week too.
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St. Louis Cardinals
Iván Herrera sat for the first time all year on Thursday. Lars Nootbaar is mainly hitting fifth against righties while starting only half the time against lefties. Blaze Jordan sat seven times in a 12-game stretch this month, but he’s been in the lineup for five straight since. Interested to see how soon Joshua Baez gets a major league opportunity after the trade deadline.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson is beginning to run wild again but hasn’t hit leadoff since the beginning of June. Victor Mesa Jr. has been hot to open the second half, though he isn’t a true everyday option. Cedric Mullins is still the primary cleanup hitter vs. RHP.
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Texas Rangers
Corey Seager (back) remains sidelined, but there’s otherwise been some consistency to start the second half. Wyatt Langford is healthy and Brandon Nimmo survived a shoulder scare. They hit second and fourth, respectively, against righties, with Josh Jung and Jake Burger also in the middle of the order. Joc Pederson leads off versus righties while Justin Foscue gets a top-two lineup spot against southpaws.
Toronto Blue Jays
This lineup ranks last in the majors in runs scored and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. still hasn’t homered at home this season. Ernie Clement is hitting in the top third of the order. Yohendrick Piñango is back up from Triple-A with Jonatan Clase injured.
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Washington Nationals
Curtis Mead has sat against two of three righties since the All-Star break. He’s better against lefties but has a 128 wRC+ versus righties. It’s very odd. James Wood leads MLB in PAs. Dylan Crews has essentially been an everyday player since his call-up but hasn’t shown the improvements so many other hitters in this organization have this year.
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