Projecting the Baltimore Orioles 25-Man Playoff Roster

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Starting Lineup

Sep 23, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter

Nelson Cruz

(23) drops his bat after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

1. Nick Markakis

2. Steve Pearce

3. Adam Jones

4. Nelson Cruz

5. J.J. Hardy

6. Delmon Young

7. Jonathan Schoop

8. Nick Hundley

9. Kelly Johnson

The bottom four players in the lineup might not play every game and their spot in the lineup will fluctuate as well. However, these are the guys that I would like to see out there and who I think the Orioles will put out there.

The top of the lineup however, is pretty set in stone. Markakis will likely lead off, unless the Orioles decide to play the speedy De Aza and put him at the lead-off spot, but I don’t see that happening.

Steve Pearce has earned that umber two spot with the breakout year, and I think he will get it. Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz will undoubtedly be the third and fourth hitters, but the order between the two may vary.

Then it starts to get a bit interesting. J.J Hardy is definitely the fifth-best hitter in this lineup, in fact, he is probably the fourth-best. However, if I were the Orioles, I would spread out the wealth a little. Perhaps put Hardy as the seventh or eight and move Schoop up to number five. But I don’t think they will take that approach.

Delmon Young has really emerged this year in his limited playing time. He has hit a .302 average, seven big home runs and 28 RBIs while playing in just 81 games; and in about half those games he came in as a pinch-hitter. His spot in the lineup, along with some other players, is a question mark, but whether he will be in the lineup or not isn’t really a large question right now.