Best MLB Hits Matchups — Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Top hits spot: Maikel Garcia
Maikel Garcia (KC) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Noah Schultz. The righty is hitting .387 H/PA against lefties this year — and .667 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a hit in about 29% of his trips. And Noah Schultz has been mostly holding up against lefties lately — .220 hits per batter faced. One catch: the bullpen behind him has been stingy to that side late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's just .000 in 3 career PA against Noah Schultz, but that's a tiny sample and the matchup says regression. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Oneil Cruz (PIT) (98) vs LHP Jose Quintana: a strong bat at .265 into an arm mostly holding up against the same side (.222).
- Dane Myers (CIN) (98) vs RHP Jake Irvin: a strong bat at .255 into an arm getting tattooed by the same side (.429), due to bounce back.
- Shea Langeliers (ATH) (97) vs LHP Matthew Liberatore: an elite bat at .300 into an arm tough on the same side (.200).
- Otto Lopez (MIA) (92) vs RHP Simeon Woods Richardson: a strong bat at .263 into an arm getting tattooed by the same side (.444), due to bounce back.
- Chandler Simpson (TB) (92) vs RHP Dylan Cease: an excellent bat at .287 into an arm tough on the same side (.207).
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (90) vs RHP Jake Irvin: an excellent bat at .272 into an arm giving up plenty to the same side (.242), hot bat.
- CJ Abrams (WSH) (85) vs LHP Nick Lodolo: a strong bat at .262 into an arm getting tattooed by the same side (.667).
Pitchers getting tattooed today
- RHP Simeon Woods Richardson has been vulnerable to righties — .282 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Otto Lopez (MIA), Xavier Edwards (MIA), and Esteury Ruiz (MIA).
- RHP Andrew Painter has been vulnerable to righties — .278 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (BOS), Jarren Duran (BOS), and Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS).
- RHP Jake Irvin has been vulnerable to righties — .269 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Dane Myers (CIN), Elly De La Cruz (CIN), and Sal Stewart (CIN).
- LHP Nick Lodolo has been vulnerable to lefties — .268 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: CJ Abrams (WSH), James Wood (WSH), and Jorbit Vivas (WSH).
Platoon edges to target
- Maikel Garcia (KC) — righty bat vs LHP, .387 against lefties this year.
- Shea Langeliers (ATH) — righty bat vs LHP, .349 against lefties this year.
- Chandler Simpson (TB) — lefty bat vs RHP, .315 against righties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .264 against righties this year.
- José Ramírez (CLE) — righty bat vs LHP, .255 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Maikel Garcia (KC), Elly De La Cruz (CIN), Jose Altuve (HOU), Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), Sal Stewart (CIN), and Randy Arozarena (SEA). Cold but due to bounce back: Dane Myers (CIN), Otto Lopez (MIA), José Ramírez (CLE), Chase DeLauter (CLE), and Ozzie Albies (ATL).
How it played out
4 of the top 10 hits matchups landed at least one hit. Top play Maikel Garcia finished with 0 hits. We post the result next to every projection so you can grade the board yourself — and so the model gets re-tuned against what actually happened.
How to read these hits matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's hits per plate appearance against the hand he's facing — weighted toward the last two weeks, then the season, then a two-year baseline. Then it layers in the bullpen, his spot in the order, and park and weather. Higher means more of it points his way. It's context, not a lock — a great spot still goes 0-for-4 sometimes, and a tough one runs into one. The edge is in stacking the odds, and since we grade every board, you can see how often the top of the list delivers.