Best MLB Total Bases Matchups — Saturday, August 29, 2026
Top total bases spot: Rafael Devers
Rafael Devers (SF) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Merrill Kelly. The lefty is racking up bases at .509 TB/PA against righties this year — and .786 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a total base in about 48% of his trips. And Merrill Kelly has been getting squared up by righties lately — .481 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 a fine .222 in 18 career PA against Merrill Kelly. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Drake Baldwin (ATL) (93) vs RHP Ryan Feltner: a strong bat at .421 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.472), hot bat.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC) (91) vs LHP Andrew Abbott: a strong bat at .433 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.462).
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) (89) vs RHP Nick Martinez: a solid bat at .397 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.625).
- Drew Gilbert (SF) (88) vs RHP Merrill Kelly: a solid bat at .370 into an arm getting squared up by the same side (.481).
- Pete Alonso (BAL) (85) vs RHP Jack Perkins: an excellent bat at .481 into an arm tough on the same side (.304), due to bounce back.
- Luke Keaschall (MIN) (83) vs RHP Erick Fedde: a solid bat at .394 into an arm vulnerable to the same side (.385).
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (82) vs RHP Keider Montero: a strong bat at .450 into an arm tough on the same side (.281), due to bounce back.
Arms giving up extra bases today
- RHP Merrill Kelly has been vulnerable to righties — .406 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Rafael Devers (SF), Drew Gilbert (SF), and Bryce Eldridge (SF).
- RHP Nick Martinez has been vulnerable to righties — .398 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD), Manny Machado (SD), and Ty France (SD).
- RHP Ryan Feltner has been vulnerable to righties — .397 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Drake Baldwin (ATL), Matt Olson (ATL), and Ozzie Albies (ATL).
- RHP Erick Fedde has been vulnerable to righties — .385 total bases per batter faced. Bats to target: Luke Keaschall (MIN), Brooks Lee (MIN), and Ryan Jeffers (MIN).
Platoon edges to target
- Rafael Devers (SF) — lefty bat vs RHP, .509 against righties this year.
- Drake Baldwin (ATL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .426 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .440 against righties this year.
- Zach Neto (LAA) — righty bat vs LHP, .427 against lefties this year.
- Matt Olson (ATL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .484 against righties this year.
Lineup watch
306 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 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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