Best Lineup vs RHP - Chicago Cubs

In my previous post I used my baseball simulator to look at the best lineup for the Atlanta Braves vs both a LH/RH pitcher. Up at the plate this time are the Chicago Cubs who could use all the extra squeezing of runs out of this lineup. I am doing things a little differently for the Cubs, not because they are special but because as this series evolves I am finding different and better ways to provide data. I am first looking at how the Cubs should stack their lineup against only RHP. I will break the results down in to different segments, where each segment has a different set of specs on how the lineup is constructed. For example, the Cubs have four left handed and four right handed hitters. In order to protect their lineup from the LOOGY, I am going to come up with a best lineup where the left handed batters hit 2-4-6-8 and 1-3-5-7. I will also submit a best lineup that has one set of back to back left handed hitters max. These three constructions will also have the pitcher batting 9th. And finally, I will have the simulator determine the best overall lineup with no limitations to how the lineup is constructed. You may see four lefties hitting together and maybe the pitcher batting 8th. In the end I will compare how these lineups do versus the default lineup from MLB Depth Charts.

Keep in mind that the input projections I am using are from Bill James and the input projections go a long ways in determining which lineup is the best. The starting nine players are determined by taking the starting lineup projections from MLBDepthCharts. Each lineup is ran against a baselined opponent who is the home team, so all things are kept constant except for the shuffling around of the Cubs lineup. Each game is simulated 2 million times and the best lineup is determined by how many of those 2 million games are won. Let's take a look at the results and then analyze a little bit what is going on.

Best Lineup - Atlanta Braves

In my previous post I used my baseball simulator to look at the best lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies vs both a LH/RH pitcher. Up at the plate this time are the Atlanta Braves who sport the Upton brothers. Keep in mind that the input projections I am using are from Bill James and the input projections go a long ways in determining which lineup is the best.  The starting nine players are determined by taking the starting lineup projections from MLBDepthCharts.  Each lineup is ran against a baselined opponent who is the home team, so all things are kept constant except for the shuffling around of the Braves lineup.  Each game is simulated 2 million times and the best lineup is determined by how many of those 2 million games are won.  Let's take a look at the results and then analyze a little bit what is going on.

Best Lineup - Philadelphia Phillies

In my previous post I used my baseball simulator to look at the best lineup for the Seattle Mariners vs both a LH/RH pitcher. Up at the plate this time are the Philadelphia Phillies. Keep in mind that the input projections I am using are from Bill James and the input projections go a long ways in determining which lineup is the best.  The starting nine players are determined by taking the starting lineup projections from MLBDepthCharts.  What you will see with the Phillies are some pretty big differences between the lineup that the Phillies are projected to use and the one that the simulator thinks is the most efficient.  Let's take a look at the results and then analyze a little bit what is going on.

Best Lineup - Seattle Mariners

In my previous post I used my baseball simulator to look at the best lineup for the Anaheim Angels vs both a LH/RH pitcher. Up at the plate this time are the Seattle Mariners. Keep in mind that the input projections I am using are from Bill James and the input projections go a long ways in determining which lineup is the best.  The starting nine players are determined by taking the starting lineup projections from MLBDepthCharts.  What you will see with the Mariners are some typical differences in lineups based on the handedness of the starting pitcher.  Let's take a look at the results and then analyze a little bit what is going on.