Best MLB Singles Matchups — Sunday, October 18, 2026
Top singles spot: Steven Kwan
Steven Kwan (CLE) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Drew Rasmussen. The lefty is lining singles at .211 1B/PA against righties this year, an elite bat that turns into a single in about 20% of his trips. And Drew Rasmussen has been thin against righties lately. 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 owned Drew Rasmussen too — .333 across 12 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Chandler Simpson (TB) (100) vs LHP Parker Messick: an elite bat at .222 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Jonathan Aranda (TB) (74) vs LHP Parker Messick: a strong bat at .166 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Yandy Díaz (TB) (55) vs LHP Parker Messick: a solid bat at .153 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Chase DeLauter (CLE) (43) vs RHP Drew Rasmussen: a solid bat at .147 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Ryan Vilade (TB) (40) vs LHP Parker Messick: a solid bat at .149 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Jonny DeLuca (TB) (36) vs LHP Parker Messick: a strong bat at .163 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hot bat.
- Junior Caminero (TB) (35) vs LHP Parker Messick: a solid bat at .146 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
Platoon edges to target
- Steven Kwan (CLE) — lefty bat vs RHP, .211 against righties this year.
- Yandy Díaz (TB) — righty bat vs LHP, .158 against lefties this year.
- Chase DeLauter (CLE) — lefty bat vs RHP, .147 against righties this year.
- Ryan Vilade (TB) — righty bat vs LHP, .153 against lefties this year.
- Jonny DeLuca (TB) — righty bat vs LHP, .168 against lefties this year.
Hot bats and bounce-back spots
Swinging hot bats: Jonny DeLuca (TB) and Petey Halpin (CLE). Cold but due to bounce back: Ben Williamson (TB).
How it played out
0 of the top 10 singles matchups landed at least one single. Top play Steven Kwan 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.