Best MLB Total Bases Matchups — Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Top total bases spot: Jake Cronenworth
Jake Cronenworth (SD) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Michael Lorenzen. The lefty is racking up bases at .276 TB/PA against righties this year — and .323 over the last two weeks, a league-average bat that turns into a total base in about 34% of his trips. And Michael Lorenzen has been getting squared up by righties lately — 1.067 total bases per batter faced. The bullpen behind him hasn't been any better to that side, so there's no relief late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. He's just .000 in 3 career PA against Michael Lorenzen, 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
- Jackson Merrill (SD) (99) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: a strong bat at .437 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (1.067).
- Ty France (SD) (90) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: an excellent bat at .519 into an arm tough on the same side (.000).
- Jahmai Jones (BOS) (89) vs LHP Gage Jump: a solid bat at .400 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.656).
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) (88) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: a solid bat at .401 into an arm tough on the same side (.000), due to bounce back.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (87) vs RHP Slade Cecconi: a strong bat at .423 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.647).
- Brandon Lowe (PIT) (86) vs RHP Brandon Pfaadt: a solid bat at .406 into an arm vulnerable to the same side (.400).
- Otto Lopez (MIA) (86) vs RHP Aaron Nola: a solid bat at .391 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.643).
Arms giving up extra bases today
- RHP Michael Lorenzen has been getting squared up by righties — .480 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Jake Cronenworth (SD), Jackson Merrill (SD), and Ty France (SD).
- RHP Colin Rea has been getting squared up by righties — .440 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Jordan Walker (STL), Iván Herrera (STL), and Alec Burleson (STL).
- LHP Gage Jump has been getting squared up by lefties — .432 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Jahmai Jones (BOS), Willson Contreras (BOS), and Romy Gonzalez (BOS).
- RHP Aaron Nola has been vulnerable to righties — .419 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Otto Lopez (MIA), Kyle Stowers (MIA), and Heriberto Hernández (MIA).
Platoon edges to target
- Jake Cronenworth (SD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .276 against righties this year.
- Jackson Merrill (SD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .340 against righties this year.
- Jahmai Jones (BOS) — righty bat vs LHP, .284 against lefties this year.
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .398 against righties this year.
- Brandon Lowe (PIT) — lefty bat vs RHP, .469 against righties this year.
How it played out
6 of the top 10 total bases matchups landed at least one total base. Top play Jake Cronenworth finished with 0 total bases. 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 total bases matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's total bases 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.
What the total bases board is
The Total Bases board projects how many bases a hitter racks up vs the posted total-bases line. One statistical model scores every matchup on the slate the same way — a star and a backup judged on the matchup in front of them, not their name — and every number is graded against the real box score once the games go final.
How the model gets its number
It isn't a gut call or a name game. The projection is built from a few things:
- His extra-base pop vs this arm.
- The park.
- Recent contact quality.
Those pieces combine into one number, and the model re-tunes itself weekly against how its past calls actually landed.
Is there a betting edge here?
Total bases grades right at break-even even when we tune it to the hilt — the book prices the marginal leans efficiently. Transparency board.
How to use it
See who the model projects for extra-base damage; no systematic edge to bet.
Everything here is a research signal from the model, graded in public — not betting advice, and no outcome is guaranteed.
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