Injury-free considerations:
Presently, Crawford is on the disabled list for part of May with a strained right forearm, but he’ll return to roughly the same amount of playing time. And the other four fielders sharing positions have the same situation if they have a brief health issue.
From a Phillies site, Double D had a question regarding the other four spots in the lineup. Well, before Santana temporarily switched there, Altherr or Maikel Franco had batted fifth: the best current hitter. And Altherr is performing better of late.
Recent stats:
- Altherr: 10 Gms., 34 AB, 13 H, .382, 1 HR and 9 RBI (hot).
- Franco: 13 Gms., 46 AB, 14 H, .304, 2 HR and 8 RBI (warm).
- Kingery: 5 Gms., 16 AB, 4 H, .250, 0 HR and 0 RBI (improving).
- Jorge Alfaro: 5 Gms., 19 AB, 8 H, .421, 2 HR and 5 RBI.
- Hoskins: 5 Gms., 20 AB, 2 H, 3 BB, .100, 0 HR and 0 RBI.
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When Santana begins hitting, Kapler will return to his previous and basic batting order with Altherr in right field: hot (5), improving (6) and warm (7). With Williams (cold) starting in right, the lineup changes: cold (5), warm (6) and improving (7). Of course, these configurations are for the current production in right field and the left side of the dirt.
Basic Lineup:
- 1: Altherr (5), Kingery (6) and Franco (7).
- 2: Williams (5), Franco (6) and Kingery (7).
New lineup:
- 1: *Altherr (4), Santana (5), Franco (6) and Kingery (7).
- 2: Franco (4), Santana (5), Kingery (6) and Williams (7).
- * 1 could be daily for needed offense.
With Santana in the five hole, Double D, Kapler has a different batting order: hot (4), Santana (5), warm (6) and improving (7). But if Williams starts against a righty, it depends on Franco staying productive: warm (4), Santana (5), improving (6) and cold (7).
When Crawford returns, the seven and eight slots will have him, Alfaro and Andrew Knapp. And, hopefully, the bottom of the order will be more productive. But who is making a case for a lineup change with his bat? Alfaro!
Next: According to the Phillies' plan
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