Best MLB Doubles Matchups — Monday, August 24, 2026
Top doubles spot: Esmerlyn Valdez
Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Robbie Ray. The righty is driving the ball at .077 2B/PA against lefties this year — and .125 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a double in about 7% of his trips. And Robbie Ray has been getting squared up by lefties lately — .067 doubles per batter faced. The bullpen behind him is roughly average to that side. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against Robbie Ray. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Luke Keaschall (MIN) (95) vs LHP Jeffrey Springs: an elite bat at .063 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.071), hot bat.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (95) vs LHP Carson Whisenhunt: an excellent bat at .059 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.054).
- Bryan Reynolds (PIT) (93) vs LHP Robbie Ray: an elite bat at .067 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.067).
- Dylan Crews (WSH) (89) vs RHP Ryan Feltner: a strong bat at .049 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.105).
- Zach Neto (LAA) (88) vs LHP Parker Messick: an elite bat at .063 into an arm tough to drive against the same side (.031), hot bat.
- Gabriel Moreno (AZ) (85) vs RHP Kevin Gausman: an elite bat at .067 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.071).
- Dane Myers (CIN) (83) vs LHP Carson Whisenhunt: an excellent bat at .057 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.054).
Platoon edges to target
- Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) — righty bat vs LHP, .077 against lefties this year.
- Luke Keaschall (MIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .052 against lefties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .066 against lefties this year.
- Bryan Reynolds (PIT) — righty bat vs LHP, .068 against lefties this year.
- Zach Neto (LAA) — righty bat vs LHP, .051 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Luke Keaschall (MIN), Zach Neto (LAA), Donovan Walton (ATH), Junior Caminero (TB), Connor Norby (COL), and Sal Stewart (CIN). Cold but due to bounce back: Colt Keith (DET), Nick Gonzales (PIT), Rafael Devers (SF), Josh Bell (MIN), and Wilyer Abreu (BOS).
How it played out
1 of the top 10 doubles matchups landed at least one double. Top play Esmerlyn Valdez finished with 0 doubles. 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 doubles matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's doubles 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.