Best MLB Singles Matchups — Friday, August 21, 2026
Top singles spot: Andy Pages
Andy Pages (LAD) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Bubba Chandler. The righty is lining singles at .163 1B/PA against righties this year — and .229 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a single in about 17% of his trips. And Bubba Chandler has been getting picked apart by righties lately — .222 singles per batter faced. One catch: the bullpen behind him has been stingy to that side late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. He's owned Bubba Chandler too — .500 across 2 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Henry Bolte (ATH) (100) vs RHP Hayden Wesneski: an excellent bat at .187 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.188), hot bat.
- Steven Kwan (CLE) (100) vs RHP Tanner Gordon: an excellent bat at .181 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.176).
- Ildemaro Vargas (AZ) (100) vs LHP Nick Lodolo: an excellent bat at .170 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.103).
- Chase DeLauter (CLE) (94) vs RHP Tanner Gordon: an excellent bat at .181 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.176).
- Michael Busch (CHC) (91) vs RHP Emerson Hancock: a solid bat at .152 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.250).
- Luis Arraez (PHI) (89) vs RHP Hunter Dobbins: an elite bat at .196 into an arm around league average against the same side (.148), hot bat.
- Nico Hoerner (CHC) (89) vs RHP Emerson Hancock: an excellent bat at .178 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.217).
Platoon edges to target
- Steven Kwan (CLE) — lefty bat vs RHP, .198 against righties this year.
- Ildemaro Vargas (AZ) — righty bat vs LHP, .209 against lefties this year.
- Chase DeLauter (CLE) — lefty bat vs RHP, .148 against righties this year.
- Michael Busch (CHC) — lefty bat vs RHP, .143 against righties this year.
- Luis Arraez (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .220 against righties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Henry Bolte (ATH), Luis Arraez (PHI), Pete Alonso (BAL), Josh Bell (MIN), Yandy Díaz (TB), and Xavier Edwards (MIA). Cold but due to bounce back: Jackson Merrill (SD), Brandon Nimmo (TEX), Seiya Suzuki (CHC), Daylen Lile (WSH), and Drew Gilbert (SF).
How it played out
5 of the top 10 singles matchups landed at least one single. Top play Andy Pages 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.