Best MLB Singles Matchups — Thursday, September 17, 2026
Top singles spot: Konnor Griffin
Konnor Griffin (PIT) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Kyle Harrison. The righty is lining singles at .216 1B/PA against lefties this year — and .333 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a single in about 18% of his trips. And Kyle Harrison has been getting picked apart by lefties lately — .318 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 just .000 in 2 career PA against Kyle Harrison, but that's a tiny sample and the matchup says regression. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) (98) vs RHP Tanner Gordon: an excellent bat at .173 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.210).
- Roman Anthony (BOS) (90) vs LHP Tyler Alexander: a strong bat at .160 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.308).
- Chandler Simpson (TB) (88) vs LHP Jeffrey Springs: an elite bat at .204 into an arm around league average against the same side (.143).
- Luis Arraez (PHI) (83) vs RHP Nolan McLean: an excellent bat at .183 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.243).
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (82) vs LHP Justin Wrobleski: an excellent bat at .172 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.227), hot bat.
- Jackson Chourio (MIL) (80) vs RHP Wilber Dotel: an excellent bat at .183 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Henry Bolte (ATH) (78) vs RHP Drew Rasmussen: a strong bat at .168 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.176).
Platoon edges to target
- Konnor Griffin (PIT) — righty bat vs LHP, .216 against lefties this year.
- Luis Arraez (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .217 against righties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .169 against lefties this year.
- Bryan Reynolds (PIT) — righty bat vs LHP, .167 against lefties this year.
- Chase Meidroth (CWS) — righty bat vs LHP, .158 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Elly De La Cruz (CIN), Dustin Harris (SD), Randal Grichuk (CWS), Juan Brito (CIN), Rafael Flores Jr. (PIT), and Joey Ortiz (MIL). Cold but due to bounce back: Bryan Reynolds (PIT), Wilyer Abreu (BOS), Yandy Díaz (TB), Isaac Paredes (HOU), and Victor Mesa Jr. (TB).
Lineup watch
162 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.