Projecting 2018 MLB Opening Day Lineups For The AL

Yesterday, we went through projecting the Opening Day lineups for the National League, and today it’s time for the American League. There are certainly more options with the designated hitter, and lineups and positioning can become very flexible for many teams (like the Angels, with Shohei Ohtani set to work as a DH at times). This is a fun exercise that managers need to think about and test with their rosters in real life.

 

Baltimore Orioles

1. 3B Tim Beckham

2. SS Manny Machado

3. 2B Jonathan Schoop

4. CF Adam Jones

5. LF Trey Mancini

6. 1B Chris Davis

7. DH Mark Trumbo

8. C Caleb Joseph

9. RF Joey Rickard

 

Boston Red Sox

1. RF Mookie Betts

2. LF Andrew Benintendi

3. SS Xander Boaerts

4. DH Hanley Ramirez

5. 3B Rafael Devers

6. 1B Mitch Moreland

7. 2B Brock Holt

8. C Christian Vazquez

9. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.

 

Chicago White Sox

1. SS Tim Anderson

2. 2B Yoan Moncada

3. DH Jose Abreau

4. RF Avisail Garcia

5. LF Nick Delmonico

6. 3B Yolmer Sanchez

7. C WElington Castillo

8. 1B Matt Davidson

9. CF Adam Engel

 

Cleveland Indians

1. SS Francisco Lindor

2. 2B Jason Kipnis

3. 3B Jose Ramirez

4. DH Edwin Encarnacion

5. LF Michael Brantley

6. 1B Yander Alonso

7. RF Lonnie Chisenhall

8. C Yan Gomes

9. CF Bradley Zimmer

 

Detroit Tigers

1. CF Leonys Martin

2. LF Mike Mahtook

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera

4. DH Victor Martinez

5. RF Nick Castellanos

6. C James McCann

7. 3B Jeimer Candelario

8. 2B Dixon Machado

9. SS Jose Iglesias

 

Houston Astros

1. CF George Springer

2. 3B Alex Bregman

3. 2B Jose Altuve

4. SS Carlos Correa

5. 1B Yuli Gurriel

6. RF Josh Redick

7. DH Evan Gattis

8. LF Marwin Gonzalez

9. C Brian McCann

 

Kansas City Royals

1. 2B Whit Merrifield

2. CF Paulo Orlando

3. LF Alex Gordon

4. C Salvador Perez

5. DH Jorge Soler

6. 3B Cheslor Cuthbert

7. 1B Hunter Dozier

8. RF Jorge Bonifacio

9. SS Alcides Escobar

 

Los Angeles Angels

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. CF Mike Trout

3. LF Justin Upton

4. DH Albert Pujols

5. RF Kole Calhoun

6. 3B Zack Cozart

7. 1B C.J. Cron

8. SS Andrelton Simmons

9. C Martin Maldonado

 

Minnesota Twins

1. 2B Brian Dozier

2. 1B Joe Mauer

3. CF Byron Buxton

4. 3B Miguel Sano

5. LF Eddie Rosario

6. RF Max Kepler

7. DH Eduardo Escobar

8. SS Jorge Polanco

9. C Jason Castro

 

New York Yankees

1. LF Brett Gardner

2. RF Aaron Judge

3. DH Giancarlo Stanton

4. 1B Greg Bird

5. C Gary Sanchez

6. SS Didi Gregorius

7. CF Aaron Hicks

8. 3B Miguel Andujar

9. 2B Ronald Torreyes

 

Oakland Athletics

1. 2B Jed Lowrie

2. LF Matt Joyce

3. RF Stephen Piscotty

4. DH Khris Davis

5. 1B Matt Olson

6. 3B Matt Chapman

7. SS Marcus Semien

8. C Bruce Maxwell

9. CF Dustin Fowler

 

Seattle Mariners

1. CF Dee Gordon

2. SS Jean Segura

3. 2B Robinson Cano

4. DH Nelson Cruz

5. 3B Kyle Seager

6. 1B Ryon Healy

7. LF Ben Gamel

8. C Mike Zunino

9. RF Mitch Haniger

 

Tampa Bay Rays

1. LF Denard Span

2. CF Kevin Kiermaeir

3. 3B Matt Duffy

4. DH Corey Dickerson

5. RF Steven Souza Jr.

6. C Wilson Ramos

7. 1B Brad Miller

8. 2B Daniel Robinson

9. SS Adeiny Hechavarria

 

Texas Rangers

1. CF Delino DeShields

2. DH Shin-Soo Choo

3. SS Elvis Andrus

4. 3B Adrian Beltre

5. RF Nomar Mazara

6. 1B Joey Gallo

7. 2B Rougned Odor

8. LF Willie Calhoun

9. C Robinson Chirinos

 

Toronto Blue Jays

1. 2B Devon Travis

2. 3B Josh Donaldson

3. 1B Justin Smoak

4. DH Kendrys Morales

5. RF Randal Grichuck

6. LF Curtis Granderson

7. C Russell Martin

8. SS Troy Tulowitzki

9. CF Kevin Pillar