clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

MLB Opening Day 2016: Projected lineups for all 30 teams

Our Opening Day coverage begins with lineup projections.

Matt Carpenter could be the first person to take the batter's box for the 2016 season
Matt Carpenter could be the first person to take the batter's box for the 2016 season
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Teams are entering the home stretch of spring training. With two weeks remaining until Opening Day, rosters are being rounded out, injuries are being rehabbed and monitored, and final cuts are being made.

On the Sunday before Opening Day, three games are scheduled. First, the season will open with the two best teams of 2015 going head-to-head: the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. A modern NL Central rivalry, both the Cardinals and Pirates should contend for postseason spots, and their journeys will begin at 1:05 pm ET.

An AL East and international matchup will follow at 4:05 pm ET with the Toronto Blue Jays taking on the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg. And, if that isn't enough, how about a rematch of the World Series with the Kansas City Royals hosting the New York Mets for the evening game at 8:37 pm ET.

As we get closer, lineups become a bit more official. Here are our projected Opening Day lineups for all 30 teams, sorted by division and our standings predictions:

AL East

Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Brock Holt, Travis Shaw, Blake Swihart, Jackie Bradley Jr.

Toronto Blue Jays: Kevin Pillar, Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Chris Colabello, Michael Saunders, Ryan Goins

New York Yankees: Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann, Chase Headley, Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius

Tampa Bay Rays: Logan Forsythe, Kevin Kiermaier, Evan Longoria, Corey Dickerson, Logan Morrison, Desmond Jennings, Steve Pearce, Hank Conger, Brad Miller.

Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Joey Rickard, Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez, Matt Wieters, J.J. Hardy, Johnathan Schoop

AL Central

Cleveland Indians: Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, Mike Napoli, Yan Gomes, Juan Uribe, Marlon Byrd, Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin

Kansas City Royals: Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Kendrys Morales, Alex Gordon, Salvador Perez, Paulo Orlando, Omar Infante

Chicago White Sox: Adam Eaton, Jimmy Rollins, Jose Abreu, Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera, Austin Jackson, Avisail Garcia, Brett Lawrie, Alex Avila

Detroit Tigers: Ian Kinsler, Justin Upton, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez, Nick Castellanos, James McCann, Jose Iglesias, Anthony Gose

Minnesota Twins: Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Trevor Plouffe, Eddie Rosario, Byung-Ho Park, Eduardo Escobar, Kurt Suzuki, Byron Buxton

AL West

Houston Astros: Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Colby Rasmus, Carlos Gomez, Preston Tucker, Luis Valbuena, Tyler White, Jason Castro

Texas Rangers: Delino DeShields, Shin-Soo Choo, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Ian Desmond, Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, Robinson Chirinos

Seattle Mariners: Norichika Aoki, Ketel Marte, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Kyle Seager, Adam Lind, Seth Smith, Chris Iannetta, Leonys Martin

Los Angeles Angels: Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, C.J. Cron, Daniel Nava, Carlos Perez, Andrelton Simmons, Johnny Giavotella

Oakland Athletics: Billy Burns, Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick, Danny Valencia, Stephen Vogt, Khris Davis, Yonder Alonso, Billy Butler, Marcus Semien

NL East

New York Mets: Curtis Granderson, David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda, Travis d'Arnaud, Michael Conforto, Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera

Washington Nationals: Ben Revere, Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos, Danny Espinosa

Miami Marlins: Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Bour, Martin Prado, J.T. Realmuto, Adeiny Hechavarria

Philadelphia Phillies: Peter Bourjos, Cesar Hernandez, Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Ryan Howard, Cameron Rupp, Freddy Galvis, Tyler Goeddel

Atlanta Braves: Ender Inciarte, Erick Aybar, Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Hector Olivera, Adonis Garcia, A.J. Pierzynski, Jace Peterson

NL Central

Chicago Cubs: Dexter Fowler, Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, Miguel Montero, Addison Russell

Pittsburgh Pirates: Gregory Polanco, Josh Harrison, Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, John Jaso, Francisco Cervelli, David Freese, Jordy Mercer

St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Carpenter, Stephen Piscotty, Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk, Brandon Moss, Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong, Ruben Tejada

Milwaukee Brewers: Domingo Santana, Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun, Chris Carter, Aaron Hill, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Villar

Cincinnati Reds: Zack Cozart, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Devin Mesoraco, Scott Schebler, Eugenio Suarez, Billy Hamilton

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: Howie Kendrick, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Yasmani Grandal, Joc Pederson, Carl Crawford

San Francisco Giants: Denard Span, Joe Panik, Matt Duffy, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Angel Pagan

Arizona Diamondbacks: Jean Segura, A.J. Pollock, Paul Goldschmidt, David Peralta, Wellington Castillo, Jake Lamb, Yasmany Tomas, Nick Ahmed

San Diego Padres: Jon Jay, Cory Spangenberg, Wil Myers, Matt Kemp, Yangervis Solarte, Derek Norris, Alexei Ramirez, Melvin Upton Jr.

Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon, D.J. LeMahieu, Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, Gerardo Parra, Mark Reynolds, Nick Hundley, Trevor Story

★ ★ ★

Have a correction or an update? Feel free to Well, Actually us in the comments!