Best MLB Runs Matchups — Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Top runs spot: Jeremy Peña
Jeremy Peña (HOU) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Jameson Taillon. The righty is scoring at .216 R/PA against righties this year — and .348 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a run in about 17% of his trips. And Jameson Taillon has been thin against righties lately. 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 owned Jameson Taillon too — .375 across 8 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (94) vs RHP Jake Irvin: a strong bat at .130 into an arm vulnerable to the same side (.133), due to bounce back.
- Trea Turner (PHI) (93) vs RHP Jake Irvin: a strong bat at .132 into an arm getting lit up by the same side (.600).
- Wyatt Langford (TEX) (93) vs LHP Carson Whisenhunt: a solid bat at .124 into an arm getting lit up by the same side (.270), due to bounce back.
- Carter Jensen (KC) (87) vs RHP Dean Kremer: a solid bat at .121 into an arm getting lit up by the same side (.217), due to bounce back.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) (86) vs RHP Jake Irvin: a strong bat at .136 into an arm vulnerable to the same side (.133).
- Jake Cronenworth (SD) (86) vs LHP Mitch Bratt: a league-average bat at .113 into an arm getting lit up by the same side (.250).
- Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) (86) vs RHP Dean Kremer: a solid bat at .119 into an arm getting lit up by the same side (.333).
Platoon edges to target
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .138 against righties this year.
- Wyatt Langford (TEX) — righty bat vs LHP, .149 against lefties this year.
- Carter Jensen (KC) — lefty bat vs RHP, .122 against righties this year.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .179 against righties this year.
- Mike Trout (LAA) — righty bat vs LHP, .156 against lefties this year.
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 runs matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's runs scored 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.