By effectively managing your defensive positioning, batting order, and depth chart, you can optimize your team's performance and keep players fresh throughout the season.
Defensive Positioning
To set your starting lineup, you first need to manage your defensive positioning.
- On the "Lineups" page, you can choose to edit your defense against right-handed pitchers (RHP) or left-handed pitchers (LHP).
- You must select one player for each position, including the designated hitter (DH).
- Players not chosen will be on the bench.
- Keep in mind that playing players out of position will result in performance penalties.
Batting Lineup
Once you've set your defensive positioning, you can set your batting order.
- You can only choose from the nine players selected in your defense.
- If you want to change the players in your starting lineup, you must make changes to the defensive positioning pages.
- The batting order can be set separately for RHP and LHP.
- Consider placing your best hitters in your 2-4 slots, players with high on-base percentage at the top, and power hitters in the middle of the lineup.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different batting orders to maximize run production - much like MLB batting orders, finding the right combination can be art as well as science.
Depth Charts:
The depth chart determines which players substitute due to fatigue. Each position has a three-player depth chart, which must be filled with players from the active roster.
How It Works:
- Players are substituted out of games based on their fatigue level, starting with the most fatigued.
- The manager replaces fatigued players by checking the depth chart from player #1 onward, and inserting the first available player into the open spot.
- If no eligible replacement is found, the starting DH moves into the position and takes the fatigued player's batting order spot, with the next DH filling the DH role.
- If no suitable depth chart options are available, a bench player is used as a substitute, regardless of position match.
- In rare cases, the DH and a position player may swap to manage fatigue.