Hitter No. 1: SS Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats: 22 G, 105 PA, 6 HR, 3 SB, .352 AVG, .457 OBP, .636 SLG

The perfect hitter, at least in theory, is one who doesn't expand the strike zone, hits what he swings at and makes good contact when he does.

Basically, Betts right now. He's in at least the 80th percentile for chase rate, whiff rate, walk rate, strikeout rate and exit velocity. He's most notably making mincemeat of fastballs, slugging .761 against them and topping Contreras in overall value.

The bottom line includes a 1.094 OPS and MLB-leading figures with 17 walks, 22 runs and 56 total bases. For anyone, this is amazing. For a full-time shortstop, it's early 2000s Alex Rodriguez tier.

Pitcher No. 1: LHP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels

Stats: 4 GS, 22.2 IP, 15 H (0 HR), 30 K, 7 BB, 1.19 ERA

Detmers was having a bad year in 2023 until, suddenly, he wasn't. After posting a 5.27 ERA through his first 21 starts, his last seven yielded a 2.41 ERA.

He's clearly in no mood to let up, and just as important as anything else is how he's suppressing home runs. He's allowed only two since Aug. 16, 2023, the fewest of any pitcher who's logged at least 60 innings.

Though Detmers doesn't have overpowering stuff, nobody is avoiding contact within the strike zone better than he is right now. And the platoon split he once had? It's long gone. Righties have gone from a .905 OPS against him in 2021 to a .458 OPS this year.