Best MLB Singles Matchups — Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Top singles spot: Jake McCarthy
Jake McCarthy (COL) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Robbie Ray. The lefty is lining singles at .194 1B/PA against lefties this year — and .214 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a single in about 18% of his trips. And Robbie Ray has been getting picked apart by lefties 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .250 in 8 career PA against Robbie Ray. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Brandon Nimmo (TEX) (99) vs LHP Jake Bennett: an elite bat at .213 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Gabriel Moreno (AZ) (97) vs RHP Ryan Gusto: an excellent bat at .172 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.233), hot bat.
- Lars Nootbaar (AZ) (95) vs RHP Ryan Gusto: a strong bat at .167 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.216).
- Chandler Simpson (TB) (94) vs LHP Brady Basso: an elite bat at .210 into an arm fairly stingy against the same side (.133).
- Bryan Torres (STL) (94) vs RHP Anthony Molina: a strong bat at .167 into an arm fairly stingy against the same side (.129), due to bounce back.
- J.P. Crawford (SEA) (94) vs LHP Yusei Kikuchi: an excellent bat at .171 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.100).
- Michael Harris II (ATL) (92) vs LHP Shota Imanaga: an excellent bat at .189 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.500).
Platoon edges to target
- Lars Nootbaar (AZ) — lefty bat vs RHP, .148 against righties this year.
- Bryan Torres (STL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .187 against righties this year.
- Josh Jung (TEX) — righty bat vs LHP, .229 against lefties this year.
- Yandy Díaz (TB) — righty bat vs LHP, .179 against lefties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .169 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Gabriel Moreno (AZ), Steven Kwan (CLE), Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD), Roman Anthony (BOS), Drake Baldwin (ATL), and Nick Gonzales (PIT). Cold but due to bounce back: Bryan Torres (STL), Otto Lopez (MIA), Jackson Chourio (MIL), Rece Hinds (BAL), and Josue De Paula (LAD).
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.