Today's best MLB batter vs pitcher matchup picks for Tuesday, September 22, 2026 are Colton Cowser (Score: 91, 0.429 AVG, 1.985 OPS in 7 career AB vs Max Scherzer), Lars Nootbaar (Score: 90, 0.500 AVG, 1.929 OPS in 6 career AB vs Kyle Freeland), Kazuma Okamoto (Score: 83, 0.400 AVG, 1.700 OPS in 5 career AB vs Chris Bassitt). Rankings are generated by HeatCheck HQ's five factor career H2H scoring model, updated daily.
MLB Batter vs Pitcher Matchups: September 22, 2026
Best H2H matchups from tonight's 16 game slate. 103 matchups evaluated on career AVG, OPS, power, and contact.
Hitters to Watch Today
- Colton Cowser: .429 AVG & 1.985 OPS with 2 HR in 7 AB vs. Max Scherzer | 1+ Hit (minus 116)
- Lars Nootbaar: .500 AVG & 1.929 OPS with 1 HR in 6 AB vs. Kyle Freeland
- Kazuma Okamoto: .400 AVG & 1.700 OPS with 1 HR in 5 AB vs. Chris Bassitt | 1+ Hit (minus 164)
- Jake Burger: .375 AVG & 1.625 OPS with 2 HR in 8 AB vs. Sean Manaea | 1+ Hit (minus 186)
- Cal Raleigh: .500 AVG & 1.571 OPS with 1 HR in 6 AB vs. Cristian Javier | 1+ Hit (minus 142)
- Nolan Arenado: .500 AVG & 1.367 OPS with 0 HR in 10 AB vs. Kyle Freeland | 2+ Hits (+155)
Yesterday's H2H matchups: MLB H2H Matchups: September 21
Tonight's Slate
| Matchup | Pitchers | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees | Nick Martinez vs Carlos Rodón | 1:05 PM ET |
| Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees | Drew Rasmussen vs Max Fried | 7:05 PM ET |
| Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles | Max Scherzer vs Chris Bassitt | 6:35 PM ET |
| Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers | Riley Cornelio vs Drew Anderson | 6:40 PM ET |
| St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates | Andre Pallante vs Jared Jones | 6:40 PM ET |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies | Dustin May vs Zack Wheeler | 6:40 PM ET |
| Cleveland Guardians at Boston Red Sox | Parker Messick vs Payton Tolle | 6:45 PM ET |
| Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves | Brandon Williamson vs JR Ritchie | 7:15 PM ET |
| Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals | Anthony Kay vs Daniel Lynch IV | 7:40 PM ET |
| Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs | Janson Junk vs Shota Imanaga | 7:40 PM ET |
| New York Mets at Texas Rangers | Sean Manaea vs MacKenzie Gore | 8:05 PM ET |
| Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies | Michael Soroka vs Kyle Freeland | 8:40 PM ET |
| Los Angeles Angels at Athletics | Yusei Kikuchi vs Brady Basso | 9:40 PM ET |
| Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners | Cristian Javier vs Logan Gilbert | 9:40 PM ET |
| Minnesota Twins at San Francisco Giants | Taj Bradley vs Anthony Molina | 9:45 PM ET |
| San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers | Michael King vs TBD | 10:10 PM ET |
1. Colton Cowser (BAL) vs Max Scherzer (RHP)
0.429 AVG, 1.985 OPS in 7 career AB | Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 1+ Hit (minus 116)
Career: 3-for-7 · .429 · 2 HR · 3 XBH · 1.985 OPS · 1 K · 2 BB
A 1.985 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Cowser owns it against Scherzer across 7 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise.
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 116).
The take is simple. History sides hard with Cowser here. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
2. Lars Nootbaar (AZ) vs Kyle Freeland (LHP)
0.500 AVG, 1.929 OPS in 6 career AB | Coors Field
Career: 3-for-6 · .500 · 1 HR · 3 XBH · 1.929 OPS · 1 K
A 1.929 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Nootbaar owns it against Freeland 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. Played at Coors Field, which amplifies any offensive edge.
When the sample says this much, you trust it. Nootbaar has Freeland's number. I want him in my lineup tonight.
3. Kazuma Okamoto (TOR) vs Chris Bassitt (RHP)
0.400 AVG, 1.700 OPS in 5 career AB | Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 1+ Hit (minus 164)
Career: 2-for-5 · .400 · 1 HR · 2 XBH · 1.700 OPS
Career batting average against Bassitt: .400 in 5 AB. Okamoto 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 164).
When the sample says this much, you trust it. Okamoto has Bassitt's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
Look up any pitcher vs batter career history on the Hitter vs Pitcher dashboard.
4. Jake Burger (TEX) vs Sean Manaea (LHP)
0.375 AVG, 1.625 OPS in 8 career AB | Globe Life Field | 1+ Hit (minus 186)
Career: 3-for-8 · .375 · 2 HR · 3 XBH · 1.625 OPS · 1 K
When OPS hits 1.625 in a career H2H sample, you take it seriously. Burger is 3-for-8 against Manaea with the kind of contact that drives runs.
Small sample, but the dominance is notable. A home run every 4 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 1 strikeout in 8 AB shows the eye is dialed in here.
When the sample says this much, you trust it. Burger has Manaea's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
5. Cal Raleigh (SEA) vs Cristian Javier (RHP)
0.500 AVG, 1.571 OPS in 6 career AB | T-Mobile Park | 1+ Hit (minus 142)
Career: 3-for-6 · .500 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.571 OPS · 1 K · 1 BB
When OPS hits 1.571 in a career H2H sample, you take it seriously. Raleigh is 3-for-6 against Javier with the kind of contact that drives runs.
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 142).
When the sample says this much, you trust it. Raleigh has Javier's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
6. Nolan Arenado (AZ) vs Kyle Freeland (LHP)
0.500 AVG, 1.367 OPS in 10 career AB | Coors Field | 2+ Hits (+155)
Career: 5-for-10 · .500 · 2 XBH · 1.367 OPS · 1 K · 5 BB
A 1.367 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Arenado owns it against Freeland across 10 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise.
Small sample, but the dominance is notable. Only 1 strikeout in 10 AB shows the eye is dialed in here. 5 walks in 10 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging.
The take is simple. History sides hard with Arenado here. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
7. Corbin Carroll (AZ) vs Kyle Freeland (LHP)
0.417 AVG, 1.167 OPS in 12 career AB | Coors Field | 2+ Hits (+157)
Career: 5-for-12 · .417 · 1 HR · 1 XBH · 1.167 OPS · 3 BB
A 1.167 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Carroll owns it against Freeland across 12 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise.
Moderate sample, and a real pattern is emerging. A home run every 12 at bats in this matchup is well above league pace. Only 0 strikeouts in 12 AB shows the eye is dialed in here.
The take is simple. History sides hard with Carroll here. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
8. Jose Altuve (HOU) vs Logan Gilbert (RHP)
0.395 AVG, 1.189 OPS in 38 career AB | T-Mobile Park | 1+ Hit (minus 171)
Career: 15-for-38 · .395 · 2 HR · 9 XBH · 1.189 OPS · 7 K · 2 BB
A 1.189 career OPS against a single pitcher is rare, and Altuve owns it against Gilbert across 38 at bats. That is run producing dominance, not noise.
Solid sample size, and this is a reliable edge. 9 extra base hits in 38 AB. When he connects, the ball gets out of the infield in a hurry. 2 walks in 38 AB show he reads this arm well even when he is not swinging.
When the sample says this much, you trust it. Altuve has Gilbert's number. I'm on his hit prop tonight.
Hit Props to Consider
- Colton Cowser 1+ Hit (minus 116): 0.429 career AVG vs Max Scherzer (7 AB). Implied: 54%.
- Kazuma Okamoto 1+ Hit (minus 164): 0.400 career AVG vs Chris Bassitt (5 AB). Implied: 62%.
- Jake Burger 1+ Hit (minus 186): 0.375 career AVG vs Sean Manaea (8 AB). Implied: 65%.
- Cal Raleigh 1+ Hit (minus 142): 0.500 career AVG vs Cristian Javier (6 AB). Implied: 59%.
- Nolan Arenado 2+ Hits (+155): 0.500 career AVG vs Kyle Freeland (10 AB). Implied: 39%.
- Corbin Carroll 2+ Hits (+157): 0.417 career AVG vs Kyle Freeland (12 AB). Implied: 39%.
- Jose Altuve 1+ Hit (minus 171): 0.395 career AVG vs Logan Gilbert (38 AB). Implied: 63%.
Lines via Draftkings. Always shop for the best number. Confirm starting pitcher before betting.
Related Guides
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 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.
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Updated as lineups confirm. Full slate at heatcheckhq.io.
Related Resources
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