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The best DH option for any NL club

When baseball returns in July, the National League will look different thanks to the inclusion of a designated universal hitter.

Lineups are expected to improve overall with pitchers not entering the batter’s box, but some NL teams are better equipped to take advantage of the change.

Here are the best DH options for 15 NL teams during the 2020 campaign.

National League East

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Braves: Adam Duvall

With the cancellation of Nick Markakis, the Braves are likely to spread DH duties. However, Duvall could see further reps on the spot. The 31-year-old has recorded a couple of over 30 homer campaigns, detonating 10 in just 120 at-bat last season. Duvall struck for power against right-handed (.457 SLG) and left-handed (.473 SLG) during his career. Using it in DH would have given the Braves another lazy one and would have allowed them to keep Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna and Ender Inciarte on the field.

Marlins: Matt Joyce

Joyce produced a resurgent campaign for the Braves last season (128 wRC + in 238 plate appearances), has always hit the right hand well (.806 OPS in his career) and is a responsibility on the pitch. All of which makes him the perfect DH candidate for the Marlins. Garrett Cooper (15 HR, .791 OPS in 2019) is also an option.

Mets: Yoenis Cespedes

Cespedes entered Mets’ summer camp with some health problems after losing the 2019 campaign. While his mobility may still be a problem, he looks like a “monster” at the camp, and Cespedes looks ready for DH for the club on the day of opening. If the Cuban slacker doesn’t rediscover his power shot, Dominic Smith, JD Davis and Melky Cabrera could also get all the DH bats.

Citizens: Howie Kendrick

With Ryan Zimmerman giving up on the 2020 campaign, Kendrick is the best choice for the reigning World Series champions in DH. The 36-year-old recorded the highest average among players with over 350 plate appearances last season, and equally affects rights and lefties. Manager Dave Martinez may also have difficulty finding time for Kendrick on the pitch, with Eric Thames, Starlin Castro, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carter Kieboom all in the Washington player pool.

Phillies: Jay Bruce

With Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen and Adam Haseley expected to start in the Phillies’ field, DH seems like Bruce’s best way to have fun. McCutchen could also rotate on the spot to return to action after snatching his ACL last season. Both choices should work well for manager Joe Girardi, with Bruce’s bat still powerful (.523 SLG in 2019) and McCutchen rising to base at a high pace (career .378 OBP).

National League Central

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Brewers: Ryan Braun

Braun may no longer accumulate MVP numbers, but he is still a powerful hitter for brewers, as demonstrated by his 117 wRC + last season. The 36-year-old’s inefficiencies come into defense, making him an ideal candidate for full-time DH duties, especially against left-handed people. In 2019 he created a .287 / .360 / .573 cutting line against left-handed people.

Cardinals: Matt Carpenter

It seemed that the Cardinals were entering the 2020 campaign facing an enigma. What would they do with Carpenter? The infielder veteran struggled last season, and it didn’t look like it would continue to begin after the emergence of Tommy Edman. Universal DH is expected to give Carpenter a chance to prove that it is better than its .226 average in 2019.

Puppies: Kyle Schwarber

Since its spectacular debut in 2016, the Cubs have done everything they can to get Schwarber’s club in formation (career. 829 OPS). Chicago even moved Schwarber to the outfield after they couldn’t find him rep as a catcher, and while the slacker wasn’t terrible out there, puppies can come up with better defensive options. Universal DH should allow the club to regularly deploy Schwarber and also use Jason Heyward, Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr. on the field.

Pirates: Gregory Polanco

Polanco’s surgically repaired left shoulder, which has been giving him problems for nearly a year and a half, could be reason enough for pirates to use it more as DH. The team also employs three top outfield defenders in Jarrod Dyson, Guillermo Heredia and Bryan Reynolds. Even with Polanco as DH, the Pirates could be one of the worst offensive clubs this season.

Rossi: Nick Senzel

The Reds would have struggled to find a place for Senzel, the number 2 choice in the 2016 draft, to play because Eugenio Suarez, Mike Moustakas and Shogo Akiyama are blocking him in all three positions that he is able to field. Universal DH offers the talented youngster the opportunity to build on a promising beginner campaign that a torn lip in his right shoulder threw the trail last season.

West National League

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Dodgers: Pederson Game

Pederson was almost swapped with the angels in the offseason before the deal broke up. The Dodgers were willing to move him because they would have no room to play Pederson after adding Mookie Betts. Like DH, the powerful 28-year-old (36 HR, .876 OPS in 2019) should get more at-bat by increasing the power of the Dodgers’ formation. Pederson doesn’t hit left-handed well, so expect manager Dave Roberts to use Enrique Hernandez or Chris Taylor against a left-handed.

Diamondbacks: Jake Lamb

Injuries hampered Lamb from his All-Star campaign in 2017, but he seemed to regain his old form during spring training before the stoppage (.308 / .419 / .615 in 31 plate appearances). Manager Torey Lovullo can use the DH commercial and put together a lineup of Lamb, Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar without taking the bats away from anyone in that dangerous trio.

Giants: Hunter Pence

Pence returns to the Bay Area after a one-year production stop with the Rangers. He made the All-Star team after a fantastic first half in 2019 (15 HR, .962 OPS) while doing most of his damage as DH. Adding the position to the NL should give the veteran more playing time. Pablo Sandoval could also see some DH at-pips for Gabe Kapler.

Padres: Will Myers

When the Padres acquired Tommy Pham and Trent Grisham in the off-season, it seemed that Myers could be relegated to the bench. The DH slot will give San Diego a chance to be more flexible with its multitude of off-road options, and Myers most likely seems to be slipping into the role due to his average defense at first base and below-average play on the field ( less -9 defensive tracks saved in 2019).

Rocky Mountains: Daniel Murphy

Universal DH is a blessing in disguise for Murphy, who has struggled with defensive mobility for a couple of years. The 35-year-old released a disappointing first season in Colorado, but is still a good hitter (career average 298). Taking him off the pitch should also allow Ryan McMahon to move on to the former, opening the playing time for Brendan Rodgers to the latter.

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