Looking at Lineups - AL East

Examining spring lineups to try to guess at what we'll see when the season begins

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Finishing up our series where we project each team’s “default” lineup and give some notes from the spring lineups we’ve seen! Hunter hits the AL East to close it out.

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Blue Jays

My guess

1. George Springer DH

2. Dalton Varsho CF

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B

4. Alejandro Kirk C

5. Addison Barger/Davis Schneider RF

6. Kazuma Okamoto 3B

7. Jesus Sanchez/Myles Straw LF

8. Ernie Clement 2B

9. Andres Gimenez SS

• Most of this lineup has been playing in WBC action. Lineup tracking a little bit of a guess at this point.

• Pretty much a lock for most of these guys. Davis Schneider and Myles Straw will platoon a little bit.

• Anthony Santander will return sometime in the middle of the year.

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Yankees

My guess

1. Trent Grisham/Randal Grichuk CF

2. Ben Rice/Paul Goldschmidt 1B

3. Aaron Judge RF

4. Cody Bellinger LF

5. Giancarlo Stanton DH

6. Jazz Chisolm 2B

7. Austin Wells C

8. Jose Caballero SS

9. Ryan McMahon/Amed Rosario 3B

• First take is weak RHB outside of Judge and Stanton.

• I don’t think the platoons will occur every single time they face a lefty. Only if a guy needs a rest or is on the struggle bus. Ben Rice will have a longer leash than others to not to be platooned.

• Anthony Volpe will make his return sometime late Spring. Can Jose Caballero keep his name in the lineup consistently? Don’t forget Oswaldo Cabrera will be returning from injury as well.

• A fairly deep bench once their injured players return.

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Red Sox

My guess

1. Roman Anthony RF

2. Trevor Story SS

3. Jarren Duran LF

4. Willson Contreras 1B

5. Wilyer Abreu RF

6. Caleb Durbin 3B

7. Ceddanne Rafaela CF

8. Marcelo Mayer 2B

9. Carlos Narvaez C

• Roman Anthony led off six times before leaving for WBC action. Clearly, he will be leading off this season.

• Trevor Story has exclusively hit 2nd in all eleven contests this Spring.

• Caleb Durbin has hit 4th seven times this Spring; those two guys in front of him now were in WBC action, so he will slide back behind them.

• Manager Alex Cora has said that outfielder Wilyer Abreu will see more opportunities against lefties and will not be pinch-hit for / platooned as much.

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Orioles

My guess

1. Gunnar Henderson SS

2. Taylor Ward LF

3. Pete Alonso 1B

4. Adley Rutschman C

5. Tyler O’Neill RF

6. Samuel Basallo/Ryan Mountcastle DH

7. Coby Mayo 3B

8. Colton Cowser/Jeremiah Jackson CF

9. Blaze Alexander 2B

• Dylan Beavers leads the team, leading off this Spring while Gunnar is with Team USA. Gunnar has led off for the O’s in previous seasons, including his breakout 2024 season.

• Jackson Holliday will miss the first couple of weeks returning from hand surgery. Blaze Alexander will get plenty of AB’s to begin the year.

• Jordan Westburg is going to come back at some point this season. At first, he will fill more of a DH role to limit his throwing.

• Colton Cowser is awful against lefties, platoon bat for sure.

• This bench also has outfielders Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Deep squad.

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  Rays

  My guess

  1. Yandy Diaz DH

  2. Gavin Lux/Ben Williamson 2B

  3. Jonathan Aranda 1B

  4. Junior Caminerio 3B

  5. Jake Fraley/Jonny DeLuca RF

  6. Cedric Mullins CF

  7. Taylor Walls SS

  8. Chandler Simpson LF

  9. Nick Fortes C

• Any opponent facing this lineup should walk Junior Caminerio every single time. At least try to get him fishing; do not give him anything to hit.

• I personally would allow Chandler Simpson to lead off, but it seems like he will be at the bottom of the order to begin the season. This spring, he has hit in the 5, 6, and 9 holes as well as leading off a few times.

• Prospects Tre’ Morgan, Carson Williams, and Jacob Melton should have time in this lineup at some point. Jacob Melton should be in the Opening Day lineup instead of Jake Fraley, I digress.