# MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 7, 2026 > MLB batter vs pitcher matchups for August 7, 2026: Shohei Ohtani leads the board across 15 games. Career head to head data analyzed and scored. **Date:** 2026-08-07 **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-7-2026 **Live picks & dashboards:** https://heatcheckhq.io --- **Today's best MLB batter vs pitcher matchup picks for Friday, August 7, 2026** are Shohei Ohtani (Score: 89, 0.400 AVG, 1.533 OPS in 5 career AB vs Merrill Kelly), Jose Altuve (Score: 88, 0.550 AVG, 1.740 OPS in 20 career AB vs Robbie Ray), Starling Marte (Score: 80, 0.533 AVG, 1.544 OPS in 15 career AB vs Kevin Gausman). Rankings are generated by HeatCheck HQ's five factor career H2H scoring model, updated daily. # MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: August 7, 2026 59 batter pitcher matchups with 5+ career AB scored across 15 games. These are tonight's biggest H2H advantages. ## Hitters to Watch Today - **Shohei Ohtani**: .400 AVG & 1.533 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Merrill Kelly | 2+ Hits (+187) - **Jose Altuve**: .550 AVG & 1.740 OPS with 2 HR in 20 AB vs. Robbie Ray | 1+ Hit (minus 203) - **Starling Marte**: .533 AVG & 1.544 OPS with 1 HR in 15 AB vs. Kevin Gausman - **Colton Cowser**: .400 AVG & 1.500 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Nathan Eovaldi | 1+ Hit (minus 106) - **Bobby Witt Jr.**: .333 AVG & 1.133 OPS with 2 HR in 15 AB vs. Kevin Gausman - **Paul Goldschmidt**: .379 AVG & 1.234 OPS with 3 HR in 29 AB vs. Tyler Mahle > **Yesterday's H2H matchups:** [MLB H2H Matchups: August 6](/blog/mlb-h2h-matchups-aug-6-2026) ## Tonight's Slate | Matchup | Pitchers | Time | |---------|----------|------| | New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates | Zac Thornton vs Carmen Mlodzinski | 6:40 PM ET | | Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies | José Soriano vs Zack Wheeler | 6:40 PM ET | | Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals | TBD vs Cade Cavalli | 6:45 PM ET | | Atlanta Braves at New York Yankees | Tyler Mahle vs Max Fried | 7:05 PM ET | | Athletics at Boston Red Sox | Jack Perkins vs Payton Tolle | 7:10 PM ET | | Los Angeles Angels at Miami Marlins | George Klassen vs Tyler Phillips | 7:10 PM ET | | Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox | Parker Messick vs Noah Schultz | 7:40 PM ET | | Minnesota Twins at Milwaukee Brewers | Zebby Matthews vs Shane Drohan | 7:40 PM ET | | Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals | Kevin Gausman vs Daniel Lynch IV | 8:10 PM ET | | Colorado Rockies at St. Louis Cardinals | Ryan Feltner vs Kyle Leahy | 8:15 PM ET | | Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers | Shane Baz vs Nathan Eovaldi | 8:15 PM ET | | Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks | Roki Sasaki vs Merrill Kelly | 9:40 PM ET | | Houston Astros at San Diego Padres | Ronel Blanco vs Robbie Ray | 9:40 PM ET | | Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners | Drew Rasmussen vs Logan Gilbert | 9:45 PM ET | | Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants | Keider Montero vs TBD | 10:15 PM ET | ## 1. Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs Merrill Kelly (RHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.533 OPS in 5 career AB | Chase Field | **2+ Hits (+187)** *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.533 OPS* Career batting average against Kelly: .400 in 5 AB. Ohtani 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: Ohtani owns this matchup against Kelly. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 2. Jose Altuve (HOU) vs Robbie Ray (LHP) 0.550 AVG, 1.740 OPS in 20 career AB | Petco Park | **1+ Hit (minus 203)** *Career: 11-for-20 · .550 · 2 HR · 6 XBH · 1.740 OPS · 1 K · 3 BB* Altuve's slash line against Ray translates to a 1.740 OPS over 20 AB. That is the kind of split that turns a prop into a play. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. A home run every 10 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 1 strikeout in 20 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. Verdict: give me Altuve every time he steps in against Ray. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 3. Starling Marte (KC) vs Kevin Gausman (RHP) 0.533 AVG, 1.544 OPS in 15 career AB | Kauffman Stadium *Career: 8-for-15 · .533 · 1 HR · 4 XBH · 1.544 OPS · 1 K · 1 BB* When OPS hits 1.544 in a career H2H sample, you take it seriously. Marte is 8-for-15 against Gausman with the kind of contact that drives runs. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. A home run every 15 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 1 strikeout in 15 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. The take is simple. History sides hard with Marte here. I want him in my lineup tonight. > Look up any pitcher vs batter career history on the [Hitter vs Pitcher dashboard](/mlb/hitting-stats). ## 4. Colton Cowser (BAL) vs Nathan Eovaldi (RHP) 0.400 AVG, 1.500 OPS in 5 career AB | Globe Life Field | **1+ Hit (minus 106)** *Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.500 OPS · 1 K · 1 BB* Career batting average against Eovaldi: .400 in 5 AB. Cowser 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 Globe Life Field, where the ball carries indoors. When the sample says this much, you trust it. Cowser has Eovaldi's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 5. Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) vs Kevin Gausman (RHP) 0.333 AVG, 1.133 OPS in 15 career AB | Kauffman Stadium *Career: 5-for-15 · .333 · 2 HR · 3 XBH · 1.133 OPS · 2 K* A 1.133 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Jr. owns it against Gausman across 15 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise. Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. A home run every 8 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. 3 extra base hits in 15 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. Verdict: give me Jr. every time he steps in against Gausman. I want him in my lineup tonight. ## 6. Paul Goldschmidt (NYY) vs Tyler Mahle (RHP) 0.379 AVG, 1.234 OPS in 29 career AB | Yankee Stadium *Career: 11-for-29 · .379 · 3 HR · 5 XBH · 1.234 OPS · 7 K · 4 BB* History speaks plainly here: Goldschmidt has taken Mahle deep 3 times across 29 at bats. The matchup is the matchup. Solid sample size, and this is a reliable edge. 5 extra base hits in 29 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. 4 walks in 29 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging. Verdict: give me Goldschmidt every time he steps in against Mahle. I want him in my lineup tonight. ## 7. Max Muncy (LAD) vs Merrill Kelly (RHP) 0.444 AVG, 1.174 OPS in 36 career AB | Chase Field | **1+ Hit (minus 233)** *Career: 16-for-36 · .444 · 1 HR · 5 XBH · 1.174 OPS · 5 K · 7 BB* A 1.174 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Muncy owns it against Kelly across 36 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise. Solid sample size, and this is a reliable edge. 5 extra base hits in 36 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. 7 walks in 36 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging. When the sample says this much, you trust it. Muncy has Kelly's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## 8. Julio Rodríguez (SEA) vs Drew Rasmussen (RHP) 0.300 AVG, 1.100 OPS in 10 career AB | T-Mobile Park | **1+ Hit (minus 215)** *Career: 3-for-10 · .300 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.100 OPS · 1 K* Rodríguez's slash line against Rasmussen translates to a 1.100 OPS over 10 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 10 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 1 strikeout in 10 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. Bottom line: Rodríguez owns this matchup against Rasmussen. I'm on his hit prop tonight. ## Hit Props to Consider - **Shohei Ohtani 2+ Hits (+187)**: 0.400 career AVG vs Merrill Kelly (5 AB). Implied: 35%. - **Jose Altuve 1+ Hit (minus 203)**: 0.550 career AVG vs Robbie Ray (20 AB). Implied: 67%. - **Colton Cowser 1+ Hit (minus 106)**: 0.400 career AVG vs Nathan Eovaldi (5 AB). Implied: 51%. - **Max Muncy 1+ Hit (minus 233)**: 0.444 career AVG vs Merrill Kelly (36 AB). Implied: 70%. - **Julio Rodríguez 1+ Hit (minus 215)**: 0.300 career AVG vs Drew Rasmussen (10 AB). Implied: 68%. *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-7-2026) | [NRFI Picks](/blog/mlb-nrfi-picks-aug-7-2026) | [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*