Lineup creation is an art form. It is knowing how to place the best player in the best spot to maximize positive outcomes for that player and the team; from shaking up the lineup to generate a spark to getting the best possible combination to win games day after day. The Los Angeles Angels offense has been inconsistent all year, so is there a lineup that gives everyone the best possible result?
The Top of the Order
Setting the table is the main goal for the lead-off hitter. However, in this modern baseball age, the key is to maximize the best result. So let’s get into it with the leadoff hitter. Taylor Ward has been up and down in the lineup recently and it doesn’t make sense. Ward’s numbers with runners in scoring position aren’t great. They are as follows .173/.200/.231 with a .431 OPS and a miserable 9 wRC+. Putting him in a spot where runners could be in scoring position regularly might end rallies and fail to yield a positive result. His OPS of .697 is good enough to be in the lead-off spot with two thumpers behind him.
In the two-hole, the Angels should stick with what works, Mike Trout. Even comparing his slightly lower 2023 numbers to his usual numbers, they are still outstanding. With Trout ahead of Shohei Ohtani, it gives Trout more fastballs to hit. Although he has been missing more fastballs this year compared to years prior, at the end of the day, he is still one of the best at getting on base and giving Ohtani a chance to drive him in. His OPS of .843 will play well in plenty of the spots in the order.
Ohtani is hitting 3rd in the order. Not even a question, he is the best player in the game right now. He leads the league in home runs and is hitting near .300 while pitching at a high level. Ohtani’s OPB of 1.009 is insane. It’s hard to imagine what he would do if he focused on hitting. He is a force in the lineup and a monster every time he steps into the batter’s box. Moving him from the three-hole in the lineup would just be plain stupid.
Heart of the Order
4 through 6 are where you want damage to be done. These are guys who drive the runs in. Batting 4th would be Anthony Rendon, but he is injured again. So to fill that hole, Brandon Drury is the guy. He is slugging .494 as a 2nd baseman. That is incredible. Drury came alive in June and should be rewarded with a more trusted role. Once Rendon returns, he is moved to 5th or 6th, but for now, he has earned the right to be up in the clutch moments.
The 5th and 6th spots can be interchangeable based on the numbers. If you’re looking for the RBI guys, Hunter Renfroe should get the first shot. Renfroe is slugging at a .484 clip this year. It seems he has hit 30 home runs for a different team every year. He can outright hit for power and consistent power too. His OBP is low at only .360, and he’s hit into as many double plays this season as he did in all of 2022. These numbers can be overlooked, but it will be welcomed if he can improve upon them in the second half.
Batting 6th is a combination of Mike Moustakas and Eduardo Escobar. Both of these guys bring plenty of things to the team. Moustakas is slugging near .500, and Escobar has an OPS of over .700. These guys are collectively good enough to get the job done. It might be the case of who is better right now, but it is an improvement over what it was before getting these guys. A platoon situation can work when both players are put in a position to succeed. Plus, the Angels need the most they can get from these two until the lineup is regular.
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Last but Not Least
The last 3 spots in the order can be used to hide the weaker hitters in the lineup or to set up the top hitters. Batting 7th is Mickey Moniak. He could be used in the leadoff spot for his high SLG at .688. He has fewer plate appearances than the other hitters, but he has made them count. With Moniak’s other stats, it’s better to give him a chance to drive runners in. For now, he is a balanced hitter that can be used almost anywhere in the lineup. There is even a chance he will take over as the leadoff hitter in the second half of the season.
Matt Thaiss has become a real plus hitter over the season. He has been going from backup to starter due to injury. Thaiss does one thing well: he gets on base. He has the highest OBP (.383) in the lineup. If the lineup is at its full potential, he should thrive in that spot.
Last but not least in the order is whoever is playing shortstop. Zach Neto will be the starting shortstop and has done well. He has sneaky pop and is figuring it out at the plate. The replacements are light in the hitting the department, so hiding them in this spot is a good idea. The Angels have a good lineup. They made improvements to make it more profound than it was last year. But, they have to improve it even more in the coming weeks to stay competitive.
Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned:
Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon, Brandon Drury, Hunter Renfroe, Mike Moustakas, Eduardo Escobar, Mickey Moniak, Matt Thaiss, Zach Neto
