Kansas City @ Minnesota Picks & Props

Nelson Velazquez is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card in today's game. Utilizing Statcast data, Nelson Velazquez ranks in the 86th percentile for offensive skills via the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season at .346. Since the start of last season, Nelson Velazquez's 21.1% Barrel%, a reliable metric for measuring power, places him in the 99th percentile among his peers. Since the start of last season, Nelson Velazquez's flyball exit velocity (an advanced stat to assess power) grades out in the 89th percentile at 95.8 mph. Nelson Velazquez is in the 95th percentile when it comes to hitting balls between 23° and 34°, the launch angle range that tends to result the most in home runs (22.8% rate since the start of last season).

Maikel Garcia's BABIP talent is projected in the 97th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Maikel Garcia is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this matchup. Extreme groundball bats like Maikel Garcia tend to be more successful against extreme flyball pitchers like Joe Ryan. By putting up a .289 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) since the start of last season , Maikel Garcia finds himself in the 90th percentile. Since the start of last season, Maikel Garcia has an average exit velocity of 91.8 mph, which is among the best in baseball at the 90th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Carlos Correa in the 94th percentile when assessing his overall offensive talent. Carlos Correa is penciled in 2nd in the batting order in this matchup. Home field advantage generally boosts batter metrics in all categories, and Carlos Correa will hold that advantage in today's matchup. Carlos Correa has been hot lately, cruising to a .354 wOBA in the past 14 days. As it relates to his batting average, Carlos Correa has had some very poor luck since the start of last season. His .237 rate falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .262.

When assessing his overall offensive talent, Salvador Perez ranks in the 80th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Salvador Perez is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in this game. Salvador Perez has been hot of late, batting his way to a .390 wOBA over the past two weeks. Salvador Perez and his 15° launch angle on his hardest-hit balls rank in 77th percentile, among the highest in the league since the start of last season. Checking in at the 94th percentile, Salvador Perez has put up a .392 wOBA (widely regarded as the top indicator of overall offense) this year.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Byron Buxton in the 91st percentile when estimating his overall offensive ability. Home field advantage generally boosts batter stats in all categories, and Byron Buxton will hold that advantage today. Byron Buxton's 14.4% Barrel% (an advanced standard to assess power) ranks in the 92nd percentile since the start of last season. Byron Buxton's maximum exit velocity (an advanced stat to measure power) has been 116.9 mph since the start of last season, ranking in the 97th percentile. In terms of the ability to lift the ball for power, Byron Buxton ranks in the 96th percentile with a 20.3° launch angle, which is one of the highest angles in Major League Baseball.

Hitting from the opposite that Joe Ryan throws from, Adam Frazier will have the upper hand today. When it comes to his batting average, Adam Frazier has experienced some negative variance since the start of last season. His .234 mark falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .268. Adam Frazier is in the 96th percentile when it comes to hitting balls between 23° and 34°, the launch angle range that tends to optimize home runs (20.1% rate since the start of last season). Adam Frazier has displayed favorable plate discipline since the start of last season, placing in the 79th percentile with a 1.89 K/BB rate.

Trevor Larnach is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this game. Hitting from the opposite that Alec Marsh throws from, Trevor Larnach will have an advantage in today's matchup. Trevor Larnach will have the benefit of the home field advantage today, which ought to bolster all of his stats. Trevor Larnach's 97-mph exit velocity on flyballs (a reliable stat to measure power) is in the 94th percentile since the start of last season. Trevor Larnach grades out in the 95th percentile when it comes to hitting balls between 23° and 34°, the launch angle range that tends to result the most in home runs (23% rate since the start of last season).

The weather report calls for the 8th-most suitable pitching conditions on the schedule today, as it relates to temperature and humidity. Joe Ryan will hold the platoon advantage against Bobby Witt Jr. today. Bobby Witt Jr. will be at a disadvantage playing away from home today.

Willi Castro will hold the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to bolster all of his stats. Willi Castro has compiled a .328 BABIP since the start of last season, placing in the 87th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Alex Kirilloff in the 84th percentile when assessing his BABIP skill. Alex Kirilloff is penciled in 5th in the batting order today. Hitting from the opposite that Alec Marsh throws from, Alex Kirilloff will have an advantage today. Home field advantage typically improves batter stats across the board, and Alex Kirilloff will hold that advantage in today's game. Sporting a .351 Expected wOBA (or xwOBA, an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) since the start of last season, Alex Kirilloff is ranked in the 82nd percentile for offensive skills.

Extreme flyball batters like Dairon Blanco tend to perform better against extreme groundball pitchers like Joe Ryan. With a .273 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) since the start of last season , Dairon Blanco finds himself in the 83rd percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Hunter Renfroe's true offensive talent to be a .305, indicating that he has experienced some negative variance this year given the .064 discrepancy between that figure and his actual .241 wOBA. Checking in at the 75th percentile, the hardest ball Hunter Renfroe has hit since the start of last season reached a maximum exit velocity of 113.2 mph -- an advanced indication of underlying power ability.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects MJ Melendez in the 76th percentile as it relates to his overall offensive skill. MJ Melendez will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Joe Ryan today. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.284) suggests that MJ Melendez has suffered from bad luck this year with his .177 actual batting average. MJ Melendez's 11.6% Barrel% (a reliable standard to measure power) grades out in the 79th percentile since the start of last season. Since the start of last season, MJ Melendez has an average exit velocity of 93.2 mph, which ranks among the elite in the game at the 97th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Max Kepler in the 87th percentile when estimating his overall offensive ability. Max Kepler is projected to hit 3rd in the batting order in this matchup. Max Kepler will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Alec Marsh in today's matchup. Max Kepler will benefit from the home field advantage in today's game, which figures to bolster all of his stats. By putting up a .354 Expected wOBA (or xwOBA, an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) since the start of last season, Max Kepler grades out in the 85th percentile for offensive ability.

As it relates to his BABIP talent, Edouard Julien is projected as the 9th-best hitter in the game by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Edouard Julien will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Alec Marsh in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically improves hitter stats in all categories, and Edouard Julien will hold that advantage today. Using Statcast data, Edouard Julien is in the 92nd percentile for hitting ability via the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season at .364. Edouard Julien's 13% Barrel% (a reliable standard to evaluate power) grades out in the 88th percentile since the start of last season.

Home field advantage generally improves hitter metrics in all categories, and Carlos Santana will hold that advantage today.

Kyle Isbel will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Joe Ryan today. The Minnesota Twins infield defense profiles as the 4th-weakest among every team on the slate today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Vinnie Pasquantino in the 89th percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Vinnie Pasquantino is projected to hit 3rd in the lineup in this matchup. Batting from the opposite that Joe Ryan throws from, Vinnie Pasquantino will have an edge in today's matchup. Using Statcast metrics, Vinnie Pasquantino ranks in the 96th percentile for hitting ability according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season at .372. In notching a .297 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) since the start of last season , Vinnie Pasquantino is ranked in the 96th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jose Miranda in the 78th percentile when it comes to his batting average ability. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter stats across the board, and Jose Miranda will hold that advantage today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ryan Jeffers in the 83rd percentile as it relates to his overall offensive ability. Ryan Jeffers is projected to bat 4th in the lineup today. Ryan Jeffers will benefit from the home field advantage today, which figures to improve all of his stats. Since the start of last season, Ryan Jeffers's 11.7% Barrel%, a reliable metric for measuring power, places him in the 82nd percentile among his peers. Grading out in the 99th percentile, the hardest ball Ryan Jeffers has hit since the start of last season reached a maximum exit velocity of 117.4 mph -- an advanced indication of underlying power ability.