Best MLB Hits Matchups — Saturday, July 18, 2026
Top hits spot: Jacob Wilson
Jacob Wilson (ATH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Zack Littell. The righty is hitting .281 H/PA against righties this year — and .364 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a hit in about 27% of his trips. And Zack Littell has been getting tattooed by righties lately — .357 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. No real history against Zack Littell. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (95) vs RHP Tomoyuki Sugano: a solid bat at .235 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hitter's park.
- Ernie Clement (TOR) (93) vs RHP Davis Martin: a strong bat at .260 into an arm giving up plenty to the same side (.250), hot bat.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (92) vs LHP Ryan Weathers: a strong bat at .265 into an arm getting tattooed by the same side (.300).
- Mickey Moniak (COL) (88) vs RHP Rhett Lowder: a strong bat at .259 into an arm tough on the same side (.105), hitter's park, due to bounce back.
- Jake Mangum (PIT) (88) vs LHP Logan Allen: a strong bat at .262 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- JJ Bleday (CIN) (86) vs RHP Tomoyuki Sugano: a league-average bat at .224 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hitter's park, hot bat.
- Jake McCarthy (COL) (86) vs RHP Rhett Lowder: a strong bat at .258 into an arm tough on the same side (.105), hitter's park.
Pitchers getting tattooed today
- RHP Shane Bieber has been getting tattooed by righties — .303 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Miguel Vargas (CWS), Sam Antonacci (CWS), and Tristan Peters (CWS).
- RHP Grayson Rodriguez has been vulnerable to righties — .271 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Kevin McGonigle (DET), Colt Keith (DET), and Riley Greene (DET).
- RHP Logan Webb has been vulnerable to righties — .269 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: J.P. Crawford (SEA), Josh Naylor (SEA), and Randy Arozarena (SEA).
- LHP Patrick Sandoval has been vulnerable to lefties — .264 hits per batter faced. Bats to target: Jonathan Aranda (TB), Yandy Díaz (TB), and Junior Caminero (TB).
Platoon edges to target
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .227 against righties this year.
- Mickey Moniak (COL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .270 against righties this year.
- Jake Mangum (PIT) — righty bat vs LHP, .267 against lefties this year.
- JJ Bleday (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .209 against righties this year.
- Jake McCarthy (COL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .252 against righties this year.
Best parks to hit in today
Coors Field is playing as a real hitter's park today (+6% hits park). Top bat there: Elly De La Cruz (CIN) at 95.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Jacob Wilson (ATH), Ernie Clement (TOR), JJ Bleday (CIN), Brayan Rocchio (CLE), Ryan Jeffers (MIN), and Jordan Walker (STL). Cold but due to bounce back: Mickey Moniak (COL), Jonathan Aranda (TB), Yandy Díaz (TB), Kevin McGonigle (DET), and Colt Keith (DET).
Lineup watch
270 of today's hitters are still on projected lineups, drawn from each team's last game. Batting order drives the score, so these flip the moment official lineups post — usually about two hours before first pitch. Anyone who doesn't make the official card gets flagged "Not starting" and drops to the bottom.
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.