The scariest lineups for this campaign

It’s the best time of the year! Time to pontificate and predict what will happen in this upcoming Major League season … and then, of course, to argue endlessly about those predictions.

Every year, we use this space to rank the top 10 lineups, rotations and bullpens in the Majors. It is, of course, an inexact and highly subjective science. But we can use last year’s results and this year’s projections as our guide for this exercise.

Let’s start with the top 10 lineups. And to be clear, this is all about offense. No worrying about who’s going to catch the ball. Here, we are only interested in those who can hit it.

Without further ado, let the debate begin (projected Opening Day lineups posted).

Mookie Betts, D, RF
Freddie Freeman, Z, 1B
Trea Turner, D, SS
Max Muncy, Z, 2B
Will Smith, D, C
Justin Turner, D, 3B
Cody Bellinger, Z, CF
Chris Taylor, D, LF
A. J. Pollock, D, BD

Honestly, the excitement that went into when the Dodgers signed Freeman was a little over the top. Because it’s not like this team hasn’t been fielding a lineup full of superstars in recent years. And let’s not forget they lost Corey Seager in free agency. The Dodgers were unbelievably good before. They’re still amazing now, just a little bit different.

George Springer, D, CF
Bo Bichette, D, SS
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., D, 1B
Teoscar Hernandez, D, DH
Matt Chapman, D, 3B
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., D, LF
Cavan Biggio, Z, 2B
Danny Jansen, D, C
Raimel Tapia, Z, RF

Toronto had the highest OPS (.797) of any team in MLB last year. Of course, that was with a 45-homer, 39-double campaign from Marcus Semien, who left via free agency. And you also have to remember that they played more than half of their home games in hitters’ havens like Buffalo, New York and Dunedin, Florida. Chapman was a great addition defensively, but he’s coming off his worst offensive season (he had a .210/.314/.403 line), so we’ll see if the move to the AL East and Rogers Center benefits you.

Tim Anderson, D, SS
Yoan Moncada, A, 3B
Jose Abreu, D, 1B
Eloy Jimenez, D, LF
Yasmani Grandal, A, C
Luis Robert, D, CF
Andrew Vaughn, D, RF
Gavin Sheets, Z, BD
Josh Harrison, D, 2B

Last season, the White Sox were seventh in the Majors in scoring (796) and OPS (.758), and that was with Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez making just 527 plate appearances between them, due to individual injuries. A full campaign with both healthy makes the sky the limit on Chicago’s South Side.

Eddie Rosario, Z, LF
Dansby Swanson, D, SS
Matt Olson, Z, 1B
Marcell Ozuna, D, DH
Austin Riley, D, 3B
Ozzie Albies, A, 2B
Adam Duvall, D, CF
Travis d’Arnaud, D, C
Alex Dickerson, Z, RF

The departure of Freeman, Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler indicates that the Braves’ lineup will look a little different than what we saw in October. But something tells us that between the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. (who won’t be ready for Opening Day but could join the team in late April) and Olson’s arrival, Atlanta will probably be fine.

Anthony Rizzo, Z, 1B
Aaron Judge, D, RF
Joey Gallo, Z, LF
Giancarlo Stanton, D, DH
Josh Donaldson, D, 3B
Gleyber Torres, D, 2B
Aaron Hicks, A, CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, D, SS
Kyle Higashioka, D, C

The usual concern around the health of Stanton and Judge is ever present, but with Donaldson on board and a full season for Gallo, the Bronx look well-positioned to bounce back from a mid-table slugging finish and return to the front ranks. as far as power is concerned.

Kike Hernandez, D, CF
Trevor Story, D, 2B
Rafael Devers, Z, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, D, SS
JD Martinez, D, BD
Alex Verdugo, Z, LF
Bobby Dalbec, D, 1B
Jackie Bradley, Jr., Z, RF
Christian Vazquez, D, C

Of course, the arrival of Story is very important, but it cannot be ignored that the Red Sox lost Hunter Renfroe, who had 31 homers and 33 doubles last year, to bet on Bradley’s rebound. And Kyle Schwarber, who put up tremendous numbers after arriving in Boston in the middle of the year, is also gone. What Verdugo and Dalbec do, two players who are still establishing themselves, will be key here.

Kyle Schwarber, Z, L.F.
J. T. Realmuto, D, C
Bryce Harper, Z, RF
Nick Castellanos, D, DH
Rhys Hoskins, D, 1B
Didi Gregorius, Z, SS
Jean Segura, D, 2B
Alec Bohm, D, 3B
Matt Vierling, D, CF

The Phillies’ defense isn’t getting any praise, and that’s perfectly understandable. But bringing in Schwarber (.928 OPS, 32 homers, 19 doubles in 2021) and Castellanos (.939, 34, 38) instantly makes this lineup one of the flashiest in the league.

Jose Altuve, D, 2B
Michael Brantley, Z, LF
Alex Bregman, D, 3B
Yordan Alvarez, Z, DH
Yuli Gurriel, D, 1B
Kyle Tucker, Z, RF
Chas McCormick, D, CF
Jeremy Pena, D, SS
Martin Maldonado, D, C

Losing George Springer and Carlos Correa in back-to-back winters and still appearing on this list speaks volumes about the absurd amount of talent the Astros have. But once again, the team will be put to the test. Houston is still trying to figure out what to do with center field and now rookie Jeremy Pena will try to fill the void left by Correa at shortstop.

Brandon Lowe, Z, 2B
Wander Franco, D, SS
Randy Arozarena, D, LF
Austin Meadows, Z, BD
Yandy Diaz, D, 3B
Ji-Man Choi, Z, 1B
Mike Zunino, D, C
Kevin Kiermaier, Z, CF
Manuel Margot, D, RF

Sure, there are teams with much bigger hitters that didn’t make it into this ranking. But there’s no getting away from the fact that the Rays finished second in the majors last year in runs scored (857) and also matched the Dodgers in slugging (.429) and the Yankees in home runs (222). Now they will have basically the same group and with Dominican phenom Wander Franco all season.

Shohei Ohtani, Z, BD
Mike Trout, D, CF
Anthony Rendon, D, 3B
Jared Walsh, Z, 1B
Max Stassi, D, C
Brandon Marsh, Z, LF
Jo Adell, D, RF
Andrew Velazquez, A, SS
David Fletcher, D, 2B

Hopefully, the lineup won’t be as reliant on Ohtani with Trout and Rendon back on their feet. Along with Walsh, they’ll have a fearsome quartet at the forefront of the order, justifying their place in this Top 10. But for the Angels to hit their ceiling, they need Adell and Marsh to finish blowing up and Fletcher to get on base more than he will in 2021.