DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: NL East—Polanco to bat cleanup for MIA?

Miami Marlins

Manager Mike Redmond is giving serious consideration to the idea of batting Placido Polanco (3B, MIA) in the cleanup spot behind Giancarlo Stanton (OF, MIA). Throughout his 1,809 game major league career, he has never started a game as the cleanup hitter and is hitless in seven AB hitting there off the bench. Redmond, looking for a way to give Stanton some semblance of lineup protection, would be opting for a guy who at least makes more consistent contact than his other choices. However, as we mentioned here a few weeks ago, Polanco isn’t doing much of anything besides simply making contact (92% ct%, 48 PX, 56% GB% and 26 BPV in 303 AB last year; 91% ct%, 41 PX and 28 BPV in 469 AB in 2011). He hasn’t mustered an xBA above...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

The BHQ playing time metrics give us a new perspective on our previous beliefs about NL West players. So this week, let's see what we can learn.
May 16 2026 3:06am
Michael Conforto is playing more against righties during a hot streak, but the Cubs are trying to keep Moisés Ballesteros in the lineup against them as well
May 15 2026 3:05am
Using BaseballHQ's exclusive Playing Time Metrics to examine usage trends across the NL East.
May 14 2026 11:17am
Isaac Collins has struggled vs. LHP, and it might be time for the Royals to give Jac Caglianone another shot at everyday at-bats. Plus, Sam Antonacci's rise in CHW, Angel Martínez's platoon splits in CLE, an opportunity for Matt Vierling in DET, and why the Twins won't play Ryan Jeffers more.
May 14 2026 3:06am
Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza are forcing the issue to change the platoon situation in Anaheim.
May 13 2026 3:05am

Tools