FanPost

Optimized Batting Lineup

Matheny’s batting lineup isn’t working very well (3.71 runs per game). Obviously, a team needs baserunners in order to score runs. Look at the OBP of the first four hitters. Only one hitter has an OBP over .300. When a team’s leadoff hitter has a .250 on base percentage, it severely hampers a team’s ability to score runs. I submit (table below) an optimized lineup using players available on the current major league roster compared to the most recent lineup used on June 1, 2022.

JUNE 1, 2002 LINEUP

OBP

Hard Hit %

OPTIMIZED LINEUP

OBP

Hard Hit %

1

Merrifield (CF)

.250

31.6

Benintendi (LF)

.402

41.8

2

Benintendi (LF)

.402

41.8

Dozier (1B)

.341

41.7

3

Witt (3B)

.269

41.4

Melendez (DH)

.322

50.8

4

Perez (DH)

.227

44.1

Isbel (CF)

.292

59.6

5

Melendez (C)

.322

50.8

Rivera (3B)

.284

45.9

6

Dozier (RF)

.341

41.7

Witt (SS)

.269

41.4

7

Santana (1B)

.293

37.6

Perez (C)

.227

44.1

8

Rivera (3B)

.284

45.9

Merrifield (RF)

.250

31.6

9

Lopez (2B)

.303

24.3

Lopez (2B)

.303

24.3

My rationale is to stack the highest OBP guys at the top of the order so they get more at bats. I positioned the three hitters with the highest hard hit % (Melendez, Isbel and Rivera) in the middle of the order to drive the ball and hopefully score more runs. Moving Bobby Witt to the number six hitter will help him feel like he doesn’t "have to carry an offense." Of course, Matheny will not move Perez this far down in the batting order, but he should. A .227 OBP is almost unplayable. His .582 OPS is barely higher than Lopez (.566), but he is a fan favorite and can share the catching duties with Melendez. Merrifield is allowed to hit eighth and keep his streak alive – for now. As soon as Michael A. Taylor comes off the injured list, he should take Merrifield’s place in the batting order and switch outfield positions with Isbel. Taylor’s offensive numbers surpass Merrifield this season. And once Edward Olivares comes off the injured list, the whole batting order should be reshuffled because he was absolutely raking before his injury. Olivares should take Merrifield's spot, hit leadoff and move everyone else down a place.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Royals Review community. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors and writers of this site.