# MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 26, 2026 > Who owns their matchup tonight? 15 games analyzed through career H2H batting average, OPS, and strikeout rate. Randal Grichuk tops the board. **Date:** 2026-08-26 **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-26-2026 **Live picks & dashboards:** https://heatcheckhq.io --- **Today's best MLB batter vs pitcher matchup picks for Wednesday, August 26, 2026** are Randal Grichuk (Score: 86, 0.556 AVG, 1.711 OPS in 9 career AB vs MacKenzie Gore), Michael Conforto (Score: 76, 0.400 AVG, 1.400 OPS in 5 career AB vs Eduardo Rodriguez), Brandon Lowe (Score: 73, 0.667 AVG, 1.500 OPS in 6 career AB vs Randy Vásquez). Rankings are generated by HeatCheck HQ's five factor career H2H scoring model, updated daily. # MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 26, 2026 Every qualified batter pitcher matchup scored across 5 factors. 41 matchups, 15 games. Here are the plays. ## Hitters to Watch Today - **Randal Grichuk**: .556 AVG & 1.711 OPS with 1 HR in 9 AB vs. MacKenzie Gore | 1+ Hit (minus 156) - **Michael Conforto**: .400 AVG & 1.400 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Eduardo Rodriguez - **Brandon Lowe**: .667 AVG & 1.500 OPS with 0 HR in 6 AB vs. Randy Vásquez | 1+ Hit (minus 205) - **Mickey Moniak**: .400 AVG & 1.400 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Matt Waldron | 1+ Hit (minus 227) - **Alex Call**: .400 AVG & 1.500 OPS with 0 HR in 5 AB vs. AJ Smith-Shawver - **Cody Bellinger**: .444 AVG & 1.434 OPS with 1 HR in 9 AB vs. Peter Lambert | 1+ Hit (minus 219) > **Yesterday's H2H matchups:** [MLB H2H Matchups: August 25](/blog/mlb-h2h-matchups-aug-25-2026) ## Tonight's Slate | Matchup | Pitchers | Time | |---------|----------|------| | Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers | Freddy Peralta vs Troy Melton | 1:10 PM ET | | Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks | Matthew Boyd vs Eduardo Rodriguez | 3:40 PM ET | | Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants | Nick Lodolo vs Landen Roupp | 3:45 PM ET | | Cleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Angels | Joey Cantillo vs Grayson Rodriguez | 4:07 PM ET | | Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres | Bubba Chandler vs Randy Vásquez | 4:10 PM ET | | Philadelphia Phillies at Seattle Mariners | Jesús Luzardo vs Bryan Woo | 4:10 PM ET | | Boston Red Sox at Miami Marlins | Sonny Gray vs Ryan Gusto | 6:40 PM ET | | Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals | Tanner Gordon vs Matt Waldron | 6:45 PM ET | | Houston Astros at New York Yankees | Peter Lambert vs TBD | 7:05 PM ET | | Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays | Randy Dobnak vs Spencer Miles | 7:07 PM ET | | Milwaukee Brewers at New York Mets | Dustin May vs Robert Stock | 7:10 PM ET | | Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves | Roki Sasaki vs AJ Smith-Shawver | 7:15 PM ET | | Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox | MacKenzie Gore vs Sean Burke | 7:40 PM ET | | Baltimore Orioles at St. Louis Cardinals | Kyle Bradish vs Michael McGreevy | 7:45 PM ET | | Minnesota Twins at Athletics | Connor Prielipp vs J.T. Ginn | 9:05 PM ET | ## 1. Randal Grichuk (CWS) vs MacKenzie Gore (LHP) 0.556 AVG, 1.711 OPS in 9 career AB | Rate Field | **1+ Hit (minus 156)** *Career: 5-for-9 · .556 · 1 HR · 3 XBH · 1.711 OPS · 1 BB* Grichuk's slash line against Gore translates to a 1.711 OPS over 9 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 9 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 0 strikeouts in 9 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. When the sample says this much, you trust it. Grichuk has Gore's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 2. Michael Conforto (CHC) vs Eduardo Rodriguez (LHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.400 OPS in 5 career AB | Chase Field *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.400 OPS* Career batting average against Rodriguez: .400 in 5 AB. Conforto 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. 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. Bottom line: Conforto owns this matchup against Rodriguez. I want him in my lineup tonight. ## 3. Brandon Lowe (PIT) vs Randy Vásquez (RHP) 0.667 AVG, 1.500 OPS in 6 career AB | Petco Park | **1+ Hit (minus 205)** *Career: 4-for-6 · .667 · 1 XBH · 1.500 OPS* A 1.500 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Lowe owns it against Vásquez across 6 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise. Small sample, but the dominance is notable. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 205). Bottom line: Lowe owns this matchup against Vásquez. 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. Mickey Moniak (COL) vs Matt Waldron (RHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.400 OPS in 5 career AB | Nationals Park | **1+ Hit (minus 227)** *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.400 OPS · 1 K* .400 is a real number when it holds up over 5 at bats. Moniak sees something against Waldron that other hitters do not. Tiny sample, so treat it as directional, not definitive. A home run every 5 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 227). Bottom line: Moniak owns this matchup against Waldron. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 5. Alex Call (LAD) vs AJ Smith-Shawver (RHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.500 OPS in 5 career AB | Truist Park *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 2 XBH · 1.500 OPS · 1 BB* Call is 2-for-5 (.400) lifetime against Smith-Shawver. He sees this pitcher well and the at bats keep coming back as hits. Tiny sample, so treat it as directional, not definitive. The take is simple. History sides hard with Call here. I want him in my lineup tonight. ## 6. Cody Bellinger (NYY) vs Peter Lambert (RHP) 0.444 AVG, 1.434 OPS in 9 career AB | Yankee Stadium | **1+ Hit (minus 219)** *Career: 4-for-9 · .444 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.434 OPS · 2 K · 2 BB* When OPS hits 1.434 in a career H2H sample, you take it seriously. Bellinger is 4-for-9 against Lambert with the kind of contact that drives runs. Small sample, but the dominance is notable. A home run every 9 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. 2 walks in 9 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging. Verdict: give me Bellinger every time he steps in against Lambert. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 7. Jake McCarthy (COL) vs Matt Waldron (RHP) 0.500 AVG, 1.288 OPS in 12 career AB | Nationals Park | **2+ Hits (+189)** *Career: 6-for-12 · .500 · 3 XBH · 1.288 OPS · 1 K · 1 BB* McCarthy's slash line against Waldron translates to a 1.288 OPS over 12 AB. That is the kind of split that turns a prop into a play. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. Only 1 strikeout in 12 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. 3 extra base hits in 12 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. When the sample says this much, you trust it. McCarthy has Waldron's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 8. Francisco Lindor (NYM) vs Dustin May (RHP) 0.200 AVG, 1.133 OPS in 5 career AB | Citi Field | **1+ Hit (minus 195)** *Career: 1-for-5 · .200 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.133 OPS* Career batting average against May: .200 in 5 AB. Lindor 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. A home run every 5 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Currently listed at 1+ Hit (minus 195). Verdict: give me Lindor every time he steps in against May. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## Hit Props to Consider - **Randal Grichuk 1+ Hit (minus 156)**: 0.556 career AVG vs MacKenzie Gore (9 AB). Implied: 61%. - **Brandon Lowe 1+ Hit (minus 205)**: 0.667 career AVG vs Randy Vásquez (6 AB). Implied: 67%. - **Mickey Moniak 1+ Hit (minus 227)**: 0.400 career AVG vs Matt Waldron (5 AB). Implied: 69%. - **Cody Bellinger 1+ Hit (minus 219)**: 0.444 career AVG vs Peter Lambert (9 AB). Implied: 69%. - **Jake McCarthy 2+ Hits (+189)**: 0.500 career AVG vs Matt Waldron (12 AB). Implied: 35%. - **Francisco Lindor 1+ Hit (minus 195)**: 0.200 career AVG vs Dustin May (5 AB). Implied: 66%. *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-26-2026) | [NRFI Picks](/blog/mlb-nrfi-picks-aug-26-2026) | [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*