Best MLB Singles Matchups — Monday, August 3, 2026
Top singles spot: Yandy Díaz
Yandy Díaz (TB) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Michael Lorenzen. The righty is lining singles at .198 1B/PA against righties this year — and .150 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a single in about 17% of his trips. And Michael Lorenzen has been getting picked apart by righties lately — .333 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .222 in 9 career PA against Michael Lorenzen. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Jake Cronenworth (SD) (100) vs RHP Brandon Pfaadt: a strong bat at .166 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.182).
- Jeremy Peña (HOU) (95) vs RHP Shane Bieber: an elite bat at .190 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.077), hot bat.
- Ty France (SD) (95) vs RHP Brandon Pfaadt: an elite bat at .191 into an arm around league average against the same side (.143).
- Chandler Simpson (TB) (84) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: an elite bat at .219 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.208).
- Jake Mangum (PIT) (80) vs RHP Brandon Sproat: an elite bat at .193 into an arm prone to base hits from the same side (.154).
- Bryan De La Cruz (PHI) (79) vs LHP Andrew Alvarez: an excellent bat at .186 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.200).
- Trea Turner (PHI) (75) vs LHP Andrew Alvarez: a solid bat at .153 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.200).
Platoon edges to target
- Jake Cronenworth (SD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .149 against righties this year.
- Chandler Simpson (TB) — lefty bat vs RHP, .252 against righties this year.
- Jake Mangum (PIT) — lefty bat vs RHP, .219 against righties this year.
- Bryan De La Cruz (PHI) — righty bat vs LHP, .400 against lefties this year.
- Trea Turner (PHI) — righty bat vs LHP, .138 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Jeremy Peña (HOU), Andy Pages (LAD), Freddie Freeman (LAD), Alec Burleson (STL), Shohei Ohtani (LAD), and Jordan Walker (STL). Cold but due to bounce back: Nick Gonzales (PIT), Nathan Lukes (TOR), Kyle Schwarber (PHI), José Tena (WSH), and Nicky Lopez (TEX).
How it played out
3 of the top 10 singles matchups landed at least one single. Top play Yandy Díaz finished with 0 singles. 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 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.