Best MLB Triples Matchups — Friday, September 11, 2026
Top triples spot: Jake McCarthy
Jake McCarthy (COL) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Framber Valdez. The lefty is running the bases at .027 3B/PA against lefties this year — and .038 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a triple in about 2% of his trips. And Framber Valdez has been tough to triple against lefties lately — .000 triples 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 5 career PA against Framber Valdez, 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
- Cam Smith (HOU) (93) vs RHP Drew Rasmussen: an elite bat at .020 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000).
- Dominic Canzone (SEA) (85) vs LHP Jeffrey Springs: an elite bat at .013 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000).
- Roman Anthony (BOS) (79) vs RHP Seth Lugo: an elite bat at .012 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000).
- Joey Ortiz (MIL) (71) vs LHP Andrew Abbott: an elite bat at .014 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000).
- Cooper Pratt (MIL) (67) vs LHP Andrew Abbott: an elite bat at .015 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000), due to bounce back.
- Daylen Lile (WSH) (65) vs LHP Yusei Kikuchi: an elite bat at .015 into an arm tough to triple against the same side (.000), due to bounce back.
- Graham Pauley (MIA) (58) vs RHP the starter: an elite bat at .012 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
Platoon edges to target
- Roman Anthony (BOS) — lefty bat vs RHP, .015 against righties this year.
- Joey Ortiz (MIL) — righty bat vs LHP, .015 against lefties this year.
- Cooper Pratt (MIL) — righty bat vs LHP, .018 against lefties this year.
- Jackson Merrill (SD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .007 against righties this year.
- Jonah Cox (SF) — righty bat vs LHP, .036 against lefties this year.
Parks where triples happen today
Oracle Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% triple park). Top bat there: Jackson Merrill (SD) at 56.
Lineup watch
270 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 triples matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's triples 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.