Best MLB Singles Matchups — Monday, September 14, 2026
Top singles spot: Steven Kwan
Steven Kwan (CLE) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Sean Newcomb. The lefty is lining singles at .168 1B/PA against lefties this year — and .280 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a single in about 18% of his trips. And Sean Newcomb has been getting picked apart by lefties lately — .333 singles per batter faced. The bullpen behind him is roughly average to that side. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .250 in 4 career PA against Sean Newcomb. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Dane Myers (CIN) (98) vs LHP Tarik Skubal: an excellent bat at .179 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.295).
- Bo Bichette (NYM) (94) vs RHP Brandon Young: an excellent bat at .177 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.167).
- Nico Hoerner (CHC) (94) vs RHP Reynaldo López: an elite bat at .218 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.250).
- J.P. Crawford (SEA) (92) vs LHP Reid Detmers: a strong bat at .166 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.235).
- Bryan Torres (STL) (92) vs RHP Landen Roupp: an excellent bat at .180 into an arm fairly stingy against the same side (.125).
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (92) vs LHP Tarik Skubal: an excellent bat at .175 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.295).
- Michael Harris II (ATL) (89) vs LHP David Peterson: an excellent bat at .171 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.182).
Platoon edges to target
- Dane Myers (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .169 against lefties this year.
- Bryan Torres (STL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .191 against righties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .170 against lefties this year.
- Sal Stewart (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .166 against lefties this year.
- Zach Neto (LAA) — righty bat vs LHP, .152 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Steven Kwan (CLE), Otto Lopez (MIA), Drake Baldwin (ATL), Nathan Church (STL), Angel Martínez (CLE), and Tim Tawa (AZ). Cold but due to bounce back: Freddie Freeman (LAD), Aaron Judge (NYY), Iván Herrera (STL), Anthony Volpe (NYY), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC).
Lineup watch
180 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.