[Highlander]

Opening Day Lineup/Bench

C- Francisco Alvarez

1B- Jorge Polanco

2B- Marcus Semien

3B- Bo Bichette

SS- Francisco Lindor

LF- Juan Soto

CF- Jake McCarthy vs. RHP, Jake Meyers vs. LHP

RF- Carson Benge

DH- Brett Baty vs. RHP, Mark Vientos vs. LHP

Bench- Other than their DH roles, Baty will back up at 2B and 3B and may find himself in the OF at times, while Vientos will back up at 1B and probably 3B at times. McCarthy and Meyers will back up all 3 OF spots when they aren't starting. Sal Perez is our backup C which seems crazy. I have to find him more AB with his power, but DH is the only option and he will have to really hit to overtake what Vientos did last year. Finally, we have Jared Young who can play 1B, 3B and both corner OF spots. I'd rather have a MI guy Stearns never wants us to have someone like that it seems. Young isn't great anywhere but 1B, but he has some thump in his bat and can steal a base.

The offensive roster doesn't have anywhere near the issues as the pitching staff with McLean being left in AAA, but there are a few guys down in AAA I would think could have contributed.....mainly Ronny Mauricio who had an .896 OPS there last year and AJ Ewing who looks ready to take over in CF, hitting .280 with 119 R, 37 doubles, 7 triples and 66 SB last year in AAA. Ryan Clifford's lack of contact scares me, but last year he had an .899 OPS with 34 HR and 100 RBI.