Minnesota Twins: Five potential batting lineups for 2018

Starting lineup (Plan B)

1. 2B Brian Dozier

2. 1B Joe Mauer

3. CF Byron Buxton

4. 3B Miguel Sano

5. LF Eddie Rosario

6. SS Jorge Polanco

7. RF Max Kepler

8. DH Eduardo Escobar

9. C Jason Castro

This is what I would call the ‘Plan B’ lineup, although it just moves around a couple of faces in the ‘Plan A’ lineup. Basically, Brian Dozier is in the top spot, something that could easily be the case at the start of 2018. Byron Buxton then slides into the third spot with Miguel Sano taking over the cleanup spot.

Honestly, this is by no means a bad lineup, but I do prefer the look of the ‘Plan A’ lineup. Simply put, I like the idea of Buxton on top and Dozier in the cleanup. As mentioned, Dozier provides a legitimate power bat behind Sano, forcing opposing pitchers to pitch to the All-Star third baseman. While Eddie Rosario is no slouch, I doubt he warrants the kind of respect Dozier would behind Sano.

I also want to justify Joe Mauer’s spot in the two hole. While he’s largely underperformed over the years, he’s led the Twins among qualified batters in on-base percentage since 2012. So, it’s clear that he fits that spot in the order and if he can build on a bounce back 2017 season, the likes of Sano or Dozier will be driving him in plenty.

Related Story: An apology to Joe Mauer!

For the purposes of this secondary lineup, I flip-flopped Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco. In reality, there’s no wrong decision to make there. In my opinion, Kepler has the higher ceiling, but that largely depends on him improving against left-handed pitching.