Best MLB Singles Matchups — Friday, July 31, 2026
Top singles spot: Nathan Lukes
Nathan Lukes (TOR) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Kyle Leahy. The lefty is lining singles at .224 1B/PA against righties this year — and .226 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a single in about 19% of his trips. And Kyle Leahy has been getting picked apart by righties lately — .214 singles per batter faced. The bullpen behind him hasn't been any better to that side, so there's no relief late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against Kyle Leahy. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Luis Arraez (SF) (99) vs RHP the starter: an elite bat at .197 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Chase DeLauter (CLE) (92) vs LHP Mitch Bratt: an elite bat at .194 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.231).
- Jeremy Peña (HOU) (92) vs RHP Nathan Eovaldi: an elite bat at .199 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.000), hot bat.
- Chase Meidroth (CWS) (89) vs RHP Nick Martinez: an excellent bat at .172 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.278).
- Jake Mangum (PIT) (88) vs RHP Hunter Greene: an excellent bat at .188 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.167), hot bat.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) (83) vs RHP the starter: an excellent bat at .178 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Bo Bichette (NYM) (81) vs RHP Janson Junk: an elite bat at .194 into an arm around league average against the same side (.143).
Platoon edges to target
- Nathan Lukes (TOR) — lefty bat vs RHP, .224 against righties this year.
- Jake Mangum (PIT) — lefty bat vs RHP, .223 against righties this year.
- Mike Trout (LAA) — righty bat vs LHP, .148 against lefties this year.
- Brice Turang (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .146 against righties this year.
- Liam Hicks (MIA) — lefty bat vs RHP, .190 against righties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Jeremy Peña (HOU), Jake Mangum (PIT), Jonathan Aranda (TB), Nick Gonzales (PIT), Xavier Edwards (MIA), and Dane Myers (CIN). Cold but due to bounce back: Nicky Lopez (TEX), Julio Rodríguez (SEA), Nick Kurtz (ATH), Nasim Nuñez (WSH), and Luisangel Acuña (CWS).
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 singles matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's singles 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.