Know who you want to hit and who he might likely face. The strength and type of pitcher you are facing may help determine how you use your roster. Don't use up all of your options before the game is complete, especially if it's a close one. Keep in mind whether your bench players can run fast, whether they can hit a home run, and which side of the plate they bat from. Knowing the talents of your reserves will help you make better substitutions.
Different situations call for different skills.
If you're down by a run and have a runner on second, check your bench for a faster baserunner. With two outs in the ninth and your weakest hitter coming up, you probably want to look for a power hitter on your bench. Players get tired as a game goes along and injured as a season progresses. Check player health on the roster screen and make smart decisions to get optimal performance from your roster. The double switch is a managerial move in which a defensive change is combined with a pitching change in order to improve the batting lineup.