Now that the official batting orders for the All-Star game are in, we can use the Lineup Analysis Tool (LAT) to figure out how well the managers did in creating the lineup. First the National League:
- Best Lineup: 6.78 runs per game
- Starting Lineup: 6.48 runs per game
- Worst Lineup: 6.25 runs per game
Dave Roberts nails Francisco Lindor batting eighth. Someone great has to be the worst batter on the team. A number of lineups bat Ronald Acuna, Jr., Ketel Marte, and Freddie Freeman in that order, but bat them 1-2-3 with NL leadoff hitter Shohei Ontani batting fourth.
The main point of disagreement comes from Pete Crow-Armstrong batting fifth in the LAT, last in the Roberts lineup. Crow-Armstrong is all power, and that works well behind those OBPs. The LAT placed either Kyle Tucker or Freddie Freeman ninth at the on base guys for the top of the order.
- Best Lineup: 6.57 runs per game
- Starting Lineup: 6.40 runs per game
- Worst Lineup: 5.85 runs per game
Brett Boone also nails the eighth slot with Javier Baez and the fourth slot with Cal Raleigh. Those are two important slots, so while the best NL lineup leads the best AL by 0.21 runs, the NL advantage over the AL order is just 0.08 runs.
The biggest difference of opinion between Boone and the LAT comes over Aaron Judge. the LAT wants him second, while Boone bats Judge third. The second difference rises over where to bat Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Riley Greene. The LAT put Guerrero at or near the top and Greene in the middle, with Boone does the opposite.
The NL has an advantage in offense, but it’s smaller than it should be.