# MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 23, 2026 > MLB H2H Matchup Preview for August 23, 2026: 15 game slate scored across 5 career batter vs pitcher factors. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads tonight. **Date:** 2026-08-23 **Author:** HeatCheck HQ **Tags:** MLB, Batter vs Pitcher, H2H Matchups, MLB Props, Daily Picks, Player Props **Full article:** https://heatcheckhq.io/blog/mlb-h2h-matchups-aug-23-2026 **Live picks & dashboards:** https://heatcheckhq.io --- **Today's best MLB batter vs pitcher matchup picks for Sunday, August 23, 2026** are Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Score: 83, 0.611 AVG, 1.652 OPS in 18 career AB vs Carlos Rodón), Geraldo Perdomo (Score: 77, 0.400 AVG, 1.400 OPS in 5 career AB vs Andrew Abbott), Manny Machado (Score: 77, 0.333 AVG, 1.333 OPS in 6 career AB vs Bailey Ober). Rankings are generated by HeatCheck HQ's five factor career H2H scoring model, updated daily. # MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 23, 2026 15 games on the board. These batters have dominated their opposing pitcher over their careers. ## Hitters to Watch Today - **Vladimir Guerrero Jr.**: .611 AVG & 1.652 OPS with 1 HR in 18 AB vs. Carlos Rodón | 1+ Hit (minus 241) - **Geraldo Perdomo**: .400 AVG & 1.400 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Andrew Abbott | 1+ Hit (minus 223) - **Manny Machado**: .333 AVG & 1.333 OPS with 1 HR in 6 AB vs. Bailey Ober | 1+ Hit (minus 236) - **CJ Abrams**: .500 AVG & 1.375 OPS with 0 HR in 8 AB vs. Janson Junk | 2+ Hits (+215) - **Marcus Semien**: .250 AVG & 1.250 OPS with 2 HR in 8 AB vs. Sean Newcomb | 1+ Hit (minus 163) - **Nolan Arenado**: .409 AVG & 1.099 OPS with 2 HR in 22 AB vs. Andrew Abbott | 1+ Hit (minus 208) > **Yesterday's H2H matchups:** [MLB H2H Matchups: August 22](/blog/mlb-h2h-matchups-aug-22-2026) ## Tonight's Slate | Matchup | Pitchers | Time | |---------|----------|------| | Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles | Nick Martinez vs Shane Baz | 1:35 PM ET | | St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies | Kyle Leahy vs Cristopher Sánchez | 1:35 PM ET | | Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees | José Soriano vs Carlos Rodón | 1:35 PM ET | | Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins | Jackson Kent vs Janson Junk | 1:40 PM ET | | Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals | Jacob Waguespack vs Daniel Lynch IV | 2:10 PM ET | | Athletics at Houston Astros | Brady Basso vs Cristian Javier | 2:10 PM ET | | New York Mets at Chicago White Sox | Nolan McLean vs Sean Newcomb | 2:10 PM ET | | Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers | Yusei Kikuchi vs Cal Quantrill | 2:35 PM ET | | Cleveland Guardians at Colorado Rockies | Foster Griffin vs Tomoyuki Sugano | 3:10 PM ET | | San Francisco Giants at Boston Red Sox | Matt Wilkinson vs Jake Bennett | 3:15 PM ET | | Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers | Lake Bachar vs Blake Snell | 4:10 PM ET | | Chicago Cubs at Seattle Mariners | Shota Imanaga vs Bryce Miller | 4:10 PM ET | | Minnesota Twins at San Diego Padres | Bailey Ober vs Walker Buehler | 4:10 PM ET | | Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks | Andrew Abbott vs Mitch Bratt | 4:15 PM ET | | Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers | Tyler Mahle vs Shane Drohan | 7:10 PM ET | ## 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) vs Carlos Rodón (LHP) 0.611 AVG, 1.652 OPS in 18 career AB | Yankee Stadium | **1+ Hit (minus 241)** *Career: 11-for-18 · .611 · 1 HR · 4 XBH · 1.652 OPS · 6 BB* A 1.652 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Jr. owns it against Rodón across 18 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. Only 0 strikeouts in 18 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. 4 extra base hits in 18 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. Verdict: give me Jr. every time he steps in against Rodón. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 2. Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) vs Andrew Abbott (LHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.400 OPS in 5 career AB | Chase Field | **1+ Hit (minus 223)** *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.400 OPS* Perdomo is 2-for-5 (.400) lifetime against Abbott. He sees this pitcher well and the at bats keep coming back as hits. Tiny sample, so treat it as directional, not definitive. A home run every 5 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Played at Chase Field, which plays hitter friendly with the roof closed. Verdict: give me Perdomo every time he steps in against Abbott. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 3. Manny Machado (SD) vs Bailey Ober (RHP) 0.333 AVG, 1.333 OPS in 6 career AB | Petco Park | **1+ Hit (minus 236)** *Career: 2-for-6 · .333 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.333 OPS* A 1.333 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Machado owns it against Ober across 6 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise. Small sample, but the dominance is notable. A home run every 6 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 236). When the sample says this much, you trust it. Machado has Ober's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. > Look up any pitcher vs batter career history on the [Hitter vs Pitcher dashboard](/mlb/hitting-stats). ## 4. CJ Abrams (WSH) vs Janson Junk (RHP) 0.500 AVG, 1.375 OPS in 8 career AB | loanDepot park | **2+ Hits (+215)** *Career: 4-for-8 · .500 · 2 XBH · 1.375 OPS* When OPS hits 1.375 in a career H2H sample, you take it seriously. Abrams is 4-for-8 against Junk with the kind of contact that drives runs. Small sample, but the dominance is notable. Only 0 strikeouts in 8 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. Currently listed at 2+ Hits (+215). The take is simple. History sides hard with Abrams here. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 5. Marcus Semien (NYM) vs Sean Newcomb (LHP) 0.250 AVG, 1.250 OPS in 8 career AB | Rate Field | **1+ Hit (minus 163)** *Career: 2-for-8 · .250 · 2 HR · 2 XBH · 1.250 OPS · 2 K* Semien's slash line against Newcomb translates to a 1.250 OPS over 8 AB. That is the kind of split that turns a prop into a play. Small sample, but the dominance is notable. A home run every 4 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 163). When the sample says this much, you trust it. Semien has Newcomb's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 6. Nolan Arenado (AZ) vs Andrew Abbott (LHP) 0.409 AVG, 1.099 OPS in 22 career AB | Chase Field | **1+ Hit (minus 208)** *Career: 9-for-22 · .409 · 2 HR · 2 XBH · 1.099 OPS · 2 K · 1 BB* Career batting average against Abbott: .409 in 22 AB. Arenado has the kind of pitch recognition on this arm that does not show up against the rest of the league. Solid sample size, and this is a reliable edge. A home run every 11 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Played at Chase Field, which plays hitter friendly with the roof closed. Verdict: give me Arenado every time he steps in against Abbott. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 7. Josh Naylor (SEA) vs Shota Imanaga (LHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.000 OPS in 5 career AB | T-Mobile Park | **1+ Hit (minus 156)** *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 XBH · 1.000 OPS* Career batting average against Imanaga: .400 in 5 AB. Naylor has the kind of pitch recognition on this arm that does not show up against the rest of the league. Tiny sample, so treat it as directional, not definitive. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 156). The take is simple. History sides hard with Naylor here. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 8. Javier Báez (DET) vs Daniel Lynch IV (LHP) 0.375 AVG, 1.069 OPS in 16 career AB | Kauffman Stadium | **1+ Hit (minus 178)** *Career: 6-for-16 · .375 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.069 OPS · 2 K · 2 BB* Báez is 6-for-16 (.375) lifetime against IV. He sees this pitcher well and the at bats keep coming back as hits. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. 2 walks in 16 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 178). Bottom line: Báez owns this matchup against IV. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## Hit Props to Consider - **Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1+ Hit (minus 241)**: 0.611 career AVG vs Carlos Rodón (18 AB). Implied: 71%. - **Geraldo Perdomo 1+ Hit (minus 223)**: 0.400 career AVG vs Andrew Abbott (5 AB). Implied: 69%. - **Manny Machado 1+ Hit (minus 236)**: 0.333 career AVG vs Bailey Ober (6 AB). Implied: 70%. - **CJ Abrams 2+ Hits (+215)**: 0.500 career AVG vs Janson Junk (8 AB). Implied: 32%. - **Marcus Semien 1+ Hit (minus 163)**: 0.250 career AVG vs Sean Newcomb (8 AB). Implied: 62%. - **Nolan Arenado 1+ Hit (minus 208)**: 0.409 career AVG vs Andrew Abbott (22 AB). Implied: 68%. - **Josh Naylor 1+ Hit (minus 156)**: 0.400 career AVG vs Shota Imanaga (5 AB). Implied: 61%. - **Javier Báez 1+ Hit (minus 178)**: 0.375 career AVG vs Daniel Lynch IV (16 AB). Implied: 64%. *Lines via Draftkings. Always shop for the best number. Confirm starting pitcher before betting.* ## Related Guides - [Hitter vs Pitcher Matchup Guide](/blog/hitter-vs-pitcher-matchup-guide) - [Finding Undervalued HR Hitters](/blog/finding-undervalued-home-run-hitters) - [MLB Stats Explained](/blog/mlb-stats-explained) ## Find More Matchups These are today's top career advantages, but every game has matchups worth looking into. Check out the [Hitter vs Pitcher dashboard](/mlb/hitting-stats) to search any batter vs pitcher career history, view full lineup matchups, and explore Statcast data for every game on the slate. Always confirm lineups and starting pitchers before placing any bets. A different arm on the mound changes the entire matchup profile, and career sample size matters. Matchups with 10 or more at bats carry significantly more weight than those with only five or six. [Dinger of the Day Picks](/blog/mlb-dinger-of-the-day-aug-23-2026) | [NRFI Picks](/blog/mlb-nrfi-picks-aug-23-2026) | [Top Plays](/top-plays) *Updated as lineups confirm. Full slate at [heatcheckhq.io](https://heatcheckhq.io).* ## Related Resources - Parent hub: [MLB Props Hub](/blog/topic/mlb-props) - Daily stream: [MLB H2H Matchup Previews](/blog/stream/mlb-h2h-matchups) - Author: [HeatCheck HQ](/blog/author/heatcheck-hq) - Browse all posts: [Sports Betting Insights & Guides](/blog) --- *Data powered by HeatCheck HQ — sports analytics platform. Free tools at https://heatcheckhq.io*