Chicago @ Tampa Bay Picks & Props

The leading projection system (THE BAT) profiles Tropicana Field as the 2nd-worst park in the league for right-handed base hits. Batting from the same side that Jameson Taillon throws from, Yandy Diaz will be at a disadvantage in today's game. Yandy Diaz's quickness has fallen off this season. His 26.61 ft/sec Statcast Sprint Speed last season sits at 25.18 ft/sec now. Yandy Diaz and his 5° launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls rank in 4th percentile, among the lowest in the game since the start of last season.

When it comes to his overall offensive talent, Dansby Swanson ranks in the 89th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Despite posting a .289 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Dansby Swanson has suffered from bad luck given the .040 discrepancy between that mark and his estimated true talent wOBA of .329. Dansby Swanson's 11.1% Barrel% (an advanced standard to evaluate power) is in the 75th percentile since the start of last season. Since the start of last season, Dansby Swanson's flyball exit velocity (an advanced metric to assess power) grades out in the 88th percentile at 95 mph. Dansby Swanson and his 17.9° launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls rank in 94th percentile, among the highest in MLB since the start of last season.

Tropicana Field has the 5th-shallowest RF dimensions among all major league parks. Hitting from the opposite that Zach Eflin throws from, Michael Busch will have an advantage in today's game. In the last two weeks, Michael Busch has been performing exceptionally well at the plate with a wOBA of .340. Michael Busch's 94.5-mph exit velocity on flyballs (a reliable metric to study power) is in the 80th percentile since the start of last season. Michael Busch and his 22° launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls rank in 93rd percentile, among the highest in baseball since the start of last season.

Isaac Paredes is penciled in 3rd in the batting order in this matchup. Isaac Paredes pulls many of his flyballs (45.3% — 100th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the league's 6th-shallowest LF fences in today's game. Home field advantage typically improves hitter metrics across the board, and Isaac Paredes will hold that advantage in today's game. Isaac Paredes's 22.1° launch angle (a reliable metric to measure a hitter's ability to lift the ball for power) is one of the most flyball-inducing in the game: 99th percentile. By putting up a .369 wOBA (a leading indicator of offensive ability) this year, Isaac Paredes finds himself in the 92nd percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Pete Crow-Armstrong in the 93rd percentile as it relates to his BABIP skill. Tropicana Field has the 5th-shallowest RF dimensions among all major league parks. Hitting from the opposite that Zach Eflin throws from, Pete Crow-Armstrong will have the upper hand in today's game. Pete Crow-Armstrong's 16.7% Barrel% (a reliable standard to assess power) ranks in the 96th percentile since the start of last season. Pete Crow-Armstrong is in the 99th percentile when it comes to hitting balls between 23° and 34°, the launch angle range that tends to result the most in home runs (33.3% rate since the start of last season).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Randy Arozarena in the 94th percentile when estimating his overall offensive talent. Randy Arozarena is projected to hit 5th in the lineup in today's game. Home field advantage generally boosts hitter stats across the board, and Randy Arozarena will hold that advantage in today's game. Despite posting a .274 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Randy Arozarena has had some very poor luck given the .065 gap between that mark and his estimated true talent wOBA of .339. Sporting a .356 Expected wOBA (or xwOBA, an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) using Statcast data) since the start of last season, Randy Arozarena finds himself in the 87th percentile for offensive ability.

When it comes to his overall offensive ability, Seiya Suzuki ranks in the 95th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Seiya Suzuki is projected to bat 2nd on the lineup card today. Utilizing Statcast data, Seiya Suzuki is in the 92nd 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 .365. In notching a .293 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) utilizing Statcast data) since the start of last season , Seiya Suzuki grades out in the 93rd percentile. Seiya Suzuki's maximum exit velocity (an advanced metric to measure power) has been 114.6 mph since the start of last season, checking in at the 89th percentile.

Jose Caballero pulls a lot of his flyballs (35.8% — 91st percentile) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards MLB's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Jose Caballero will benefit from the home field advantage in today's matchup, which should bolster all of his stats. In terms of the ability to lift the ball for power, Jose Caballero ranks in the 93rd percentile with a 20.9° launch angle, which is one of the most flyball-inducing angles in MLB. With a .375 BABIP this year, Jose Caballero has performed in the 98th percentile.

When estimating his overall offensive ability, Ian Happ ranks in the 81st percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Ian Happ is projected to hit 5th in the batting order today. As a switch-hitter who is stronger from the 0 side of the dish, Ian Happ will get to bat from his good side against Zach Eflin in this game. Ian Happ has an 82nd percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.5%) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them in the direction of the game's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Using Statcast metrics, Ian Happ is in the 79th percentile for hitting ability per the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season at .346.

Mike Tauchman is projected to hit 1st in the batting order in this matchup. Mike Tauchman will have the handedness advantage over Zach Eflin in today's game. Mike Tauchman has a 98th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (41.6%) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them in the direction of the game's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Mike Tauchman has put up a .337 wOBA (the best measure of overall offense) this year, grading out in the 78th percentile. Mike Tauchman has shown strong plate discipline this year, ranking in the 89th percentile with a 1.52 K/BB rate.

Tropicana Field has the 5th-shallowest RF dimensions among all major league parks. Taylor Walls will benefit from the home field advantage today, which ought to boost all of his stats. Taylor Walls's 18.9° launch angle (an advanced standard to evaluate a hitter's ability to lift the ball for power) is one of the steepest in MLB: 92nd percentile.

Jose Siri pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (36% — 92nd percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards baseball's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Jose Siri will hold the home field advantage today, which figures to improve all of his stats. Jose Siri has been very fortunate when it comes to his batting average this year; his .194 BA is inflated compared to his .183 Expected Batting Average, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data. Since the start of last season, Jose Siri's 12.7% Barrel%, a reliable metric for measuring power, places him in the 86th percentile among his peers. Since the start of last season, the hardest ball Jose Siri has hit reached a maximum exit velocity of 113.7 mph (an advanced stat to study power), checking in at the 80th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Christopher Morel in the 89th percentile when assessing his overall offensive skill. Christopher Morel is projected to bat 4th in the batting order in this game. Christopher Morel pulls many of his flyballs (37.9% — 96th percentile) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards the league's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Christopher Morel has had bad variance on his side thus far when it comes to his batting average this year; his .202 mark is considerably lower than his .280 Expected Batting Average, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data. Christopher Morel's 16.2% Barrel% (a reliable stat to evaluate power) grades out in the 96th percentile since the start of last season.

When estimating his overall offensive skill, Cody Bellinger ranks in the 85th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Cody Bellinger is projected to hit 3rd in the batting order today. Cody Bellinger will have the handedness advantage against Zach Eflin today. Cody Bellinger pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (35.6% — 90th percentile) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards baseball's 5th-shallowest RF fences today. Cody Bellinger and his 16.7° launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls rank in 90th percentile, among the highest in MLB since the start of last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Brandon Lowe in the 89th percentile when assessing his overall offensive talent. Brandon Lowe is penciled in 2nd on the lineup card in this matchup. Hitting from the opposite that Jameson Taillon throws from, Brandon Lowe will have an advantage in today's game. Home field advantage generally boosts hitter metrics in all categories, and Brandon Lowe will hold that advantage in today's matchup. Brandon Lowe's 95.4-mph exit velocity on flyballs (a reliable standard to measure power) ranks in the 91st percentile since the start of last season.

The 6th-shallowest LF fences among all major league stadiums are found in Tropicana Field. Miguel Amaya has been unlucky this year, posting a .240 wOBA despite the leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimating his true talent level to be .292 — a .052 difference. In terms of the ability to lift the ball for power, Miguel Amaya ranks in the 86th percentile with a 18.6° launch angle, which is among the steepest angles in the majors.

Ben Rortvedt will hold the platoon advantage over Jameson Taillon in today's game. Ben Rortvedt will hold the home field advantage in today's matchup, which should boost all of his stats. By putting up a 1.86 K/BB rate since the start of last season, Ben Rortvedt has demonstrated impressive plate discipline, grading out in the 85th percentile.

Josh Lowe has gone over 0.5 in 5 of his last 10 games.

Richie Palacios has gone over 0.5 in 1 of his last 10 games.