St. Louis @ Houston Picks & Props

Yainer Diaz is projected to hit 8th in the batting order in today's game. Minute Maid Park's altitude is near sea-level, one of the lowest in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to less offense. Kyle Gibson will hold the platoon advantage against Yainer Diaz in today's game. In today's matchup, Yainer Diaz is at a disadvantage facing the league's 9th-deepest RF fences given that he hits his flyballs to the opposite field at a 35.1% rate (85th percentile). The St. Louis Cardinals infield defense projects as the best among every team playing today.

Minute Maid Park's altitude is near sea-level, one of the lowest in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to less offense. Batting from the same side that Kyle Gibson throws from, Jose Altuve will have a tough challenge in today's game. The St. Louis Cardinals infield defense projects as the best among every team playing today. Jose Altuve's 86-mph average exit velocity is one of the worst in the game since the start of last season: 7th percentile. Jose Altuve has been very bad at hitting the ball to all fields (a crucial talent for batting average), grading out in the 9th percentile in THE BAT X's Spray Score since the start of last season.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Yordan Alvarez ranks as the 2nd-best batter in MLB. Yordan Alvarez is projected to hit 3rd on the lineup card today. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Hitting from the opposite that Kyle Gibson throws from, Yordan Alvarez will have an edge in today's game. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter stats across the board, and Yordan Alvarez will hold that advantage in today's game.

Kyle Tucker projects as the 13th-best hitter in the league, per the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Kyle Tucker is projected to hit 2nd in the batting order today. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Batting from the opposite that Kyle Gibson throws from, Kyle Tucker will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Kyle Tucker will hold the home field advantage in today's game, which figures to bolster all of his stats.

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Nolan Gorman ranks in the 80th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Nolan Gorman has primarily hit in the back-half of the lineup this year (55% of the time), but he is penciled in 4th on the lineup card today. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Batting from the opposite that Justin Verlander throws from, Nolan Gorman will have an advantage in today's matchup. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ivan Herrera in the 80th percentile when assessing his BABIP skill. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros. Ivan Herrera's quickness has increased this year. His 26.72 ft/sec Statcast Sprint Speed last year sits at 27.39 ft/sec now. Ivan Herrera has recorded a .386 Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season, placing in the 98th percentile for offensive skills according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Chas McCormick in the 82nd percentile as it relates to his BABIP ability. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Home field advantage typically improves hitter metrics in all categories, and Chas McCormick will hold that advantage in today's matchup. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Chas McCormick's true offensive skill to be a .311, implying that he has experienced some negative variance this year given the .067 discrepancy between that mark and his actual .244 wOBA. Chas McCormick has put up a .356 Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season, ranking in the 88th percentile for hitting ability according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

Masyn Winn has primarily hit in the back-half of the lineup this season (87% of the time), but he is penciled in 1st in the batting order in today's game. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros. Checking in at the 93rd percentile, Masyn Winn has put up a .299 batting average this year.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Brendan Donovan in the 93rd percentile when assessing his batting average ability. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Brendan Donovan will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Justin Verlander in today's game. Brendan Donovan has a 92nd percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.8%) and will have a big advantage hitting them out towards the league's 2nd-shallowest LF fences today. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Paul Goldschmidt in the 91st percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Paul Goldschmidt is penciled in 3rd in the batting order in this matchup. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.333) implies that Paul Goldschmidt has suffered from bad luck this year with his .290 actual wOBA.

When estimating his overall offensive skill, Alex Bregman ranks in the 94th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Alex Bregman is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in this matchup. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Home field advantage typically improves hitter metrics across the board, and Alex Bregman will hold that advantage in today's game. As it relates to his batting average, Alex Bregman has had some very poor luck this year. His .229 BA falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .255.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jeremy Pena in the 96th percentile when it comes to his BABIP talent. Minute Maid Park has the 2nd-shallowest left field dimensions in the majors. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Home field advantage typically improves batter metrics in all categories, and Jeremy Pena will hold that advantage today. Based on Statcast metrics, Jeremy Pena grades out in the 86th percentile per the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average since the start of last season at .282.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Mauricio Dubon in the 87th percentile as it relates to his batting average talent. Mauricio Dubon will benefit from the home field advantage in today's game, which should boost all of his stats. Sporting a .293 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 , Mauricio Dubon has performed in the 92nd percentile. With a .290 batting average since the start of last season, Mauricio Dubon finds himself in the 95th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jake Meyers in the 77th percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent. Jake Meyers has primarily hit in the back-half of the lineup this year (95% of the time), but he is penciled in 5th in the batting order in today's game. Minute Maid Park has the 2nd-shallowest left field dimensions in the majors. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Jake Meyers will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which should boost all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Alec Burleson in the 83rd percentile when assessing his batting average talent. Alec Burleson has primarily hit in the back-half of the lineup this season (51% of the time), but he is projected to hit 2nd in the lineup in this matchup. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Alec Burleson will hold the platoon advantage over Justin Verlander in today's matchup. Alec Burleson has an 81st percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.4%) and will have a big advantage hitting them out towards MLB's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's matchup.

According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Batting from the opposite that Kyle Gibson throws from, Jon Singleton will have an advantage today. Home field advantage typically bolsters batter stats in all categories, and Jon Singleton will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Nolan Arenado is projected to hit 5th in the batting order in this game. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Nolan Arenado pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (42.7% — 100th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's matchup. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.279) may lead us to conclude that Nolan Arenado has experienced some positive variance this year with his .299 actual wOBA.

According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-most suitable for hitting of all games on the slate. Batting from the opposite that Justin Verlander throws from, Matt Carpenter will have an advantage in today's game. Out of every team on the slate today, the 15th-strongest infield defense is that of the the Houston Astros. Since the start of last season, Matt Carpenter's 11.2% Barrel%, an advanced stat for measuring power, places him in the 80th percentile among his peers. Matt Carpenter's 23.5° launch angle (a reliable standard to study a batter's ability to lift the ball for power) is one of the most flyball-inducing in the game: 97th percentile.