Interleague Report: Week Nine

Please note that in the “DH” column, the player listed is the player that has been added or removed from the lineup, not necessarily the player in the DH slot. For example, if the Phillies move Dominic Brown to DH and put Tony Gwynn Jr. in the OF, then I will list Gwynn Jr. in the “DH” column because he is the player that is gaining at bats.

Last Week

AL at NL:

The Orioles have been platooning Delmon Young and David Lough. Delmon Young missed his usual starts because both games were against lefties.

With Carlos Beltran sidelined, Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki each started a game in right field.

Kurt Suzuki got all four starts against the righties with Josmil Pinto getting the start against the lefty.

NL at AL: None

This Week

AL at NL:

Given the Orioles’ Lough-Young platoon discussed in “This Week,” it looks like the David Lough will be missing three starts as all three games come against righties.

With Mike Napoli hitting the DL, this is a rare positive American League interleague update (aside from the Napoli injury). David Ortiz got his first start at first base of the season on Monday and will most likely get his second start at the position on Tuesday.

The Yankees’ incredible run of only facing right-handed starting pitching when playing the National League continues! This means we can reference notes from “Last Week.” With Ichiro already getting the Monday start, my guess is that he and Soriano split starts for the remaining two games.

If Shin-Soo Choo’s ankle healthy enough for him to play the outfield, then Michael Choice will be on the bench. If not, Shin-Soo Choo will be on the bench.

NL at AL:

With Michael Cuddyer, the Rockies can help the oft-injured veteran (and their pitchers) by starting him at DH and Corey Dickerson in the outfield. The Rockies may also choose to give Wilin Rosario a day at DH on Saturday (the afternoon game that follows a night game).

Against the righty, my guess is that Carlos Quentin moves to DH with an outfield of Seth Smith, Cameron Maybin, and Will Venable. Against the lefty, Chris Denorfia, Quentin, and Maybin will most likely start in some capacity leaving one spot open. This could mean an Alexi Amarista start somewhere or maybe even give Seth Smith a rare start against a lefty.

Next Week

AL at NL:

The Rays have been running a lot of different outfield combinations out there the last week or so. My guess is that it comes down to whoever is playing well and whoever is healthy. Any outfielder (including David DeJesus who has played DH exclusively lately) could see a day off.

When the Twins played five games at national league parks last week, Kurt Suzuki started every game against right handed pitching. There is no day-after-night game; thus, I am guessing Suzuki gets both starts.

With Jose Abreu scheduled to be back, I think that Adam Dunn will at least be in the outfield for the two games against righties (replacing Alejandro De Aza). I think there is a good chance he even plays over De Aza against the lefty.

Stephen Romero will most likely sit against the righty and he will probably move from DH to the outfield against the lefty with Cole Gillespie moving to the bench.

NL at AL:

Miami can use the DH to give Saltalamacchia a day of semi-rest against the righty. Against the lefty, the Marlins can use Reed Johnson at DH or right field, which would give Giancarlo Stanton the semi rest. While I think the above is how it will most likely play out, the other options include playing both sides of either their first base platoon (Garrett Jones and Jeff Baker) or second base platoon (Derek Dietrich and Ed Lucas).

My best guess here is that the Cardinals will play both Peter Bourjos and John Jay in the outfield, while using Allen Craig and Matt Holliday to handle the first base and DH spots. A semi day of rest at DH for Yadier Molina might also be a possibility, meaning that Tony Cruz would see a start. The crazy theory is that this week might make a lot of sense to call up Taveras, but that is based on zero information other than the added lineup spot.

The Brewers have a couple options they could go with. Given how much managers love to use the DH to bat extra first basemen, my guess is that all three of Aramis Ramirez, Mark Reynolds, and Lyle Overbay start. The other option would be to give add Logan Schafer’s glove to the field, while giving one of the regular outfielders a day at DH.