Best MLB Singles Matchups — Monday, September 21, 2026
Top singles spot: Jonah Cox
Jonah Cox (SF) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Zebby Matthews. The righty is lining singles at .254 1B/PA against righties this year — and .313 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a single in about 21% of his trips. And Zebby Matthews has been tough to string hits off righties lately — .000 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. No real history against Zebby Matthews. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Nathan Lukes (TOR) (93) vs RHP Shane Baz: an elite bat at .194 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.189).
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) (78) vs RHP Shane Baz: a strong bat at .168 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.200).
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (77) vs LHP DJ Herz: a solid bat at .155 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Max Clark (DET) (74) vs LHP DJ Herz: an elite bat at .194 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Brooks Lee (MIN) (72) vs RHP Blade Tidwell: a strong bat at .168 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.083), hot bat.
- Brett Bateman (TOR) (70) vs RHP Shane Baz: a solid bat at .145 into an arm getting picked apart by the same side (.189).
- Jung Hoo Lee (SF) (65) vs RHP Zebby Matthews: a strong bat at .163 into an arm tough to string hits off the same side (.087).
Platoon edges to target
- Nathan Lukes (TOR) — lefty bat vs RHP, .206 against righties this year.
- Brooks Lee (MIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .156 against righties this year.
- Jung Hoo Lee (SF) — lefty bat vs RHP, .183 against righties this year.
- Walker Jenkins (MIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .122 against righties this year.
- Victor Caratini (MIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .161 against righties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Brooks Lee (MIN), Riley Greene (DET), and Josh Bell (MIN). Cold but due to bounce back: Jonah Cox (SF), Christian Koss (SF), John Peck (DET), Kody Clemens (MIN), and Josh Smith (TOR).
Lineup watch
54 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.