Chicago @ Kansas City Picks & Props

Kyle Hendricks will have the handedness advantage over Bobby Witt Jr. today. Bobby Witt Jr. has a 90th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.5%) and has the misfortune of hitting them towards the league's deepest RF fences in today's matchup. Out of every team playing today, the 5th-strongest infield defense belongs to the Chicago Cubs. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Bobby Witt Jr.'s true offensive talent to be a .369, providing some evidence that he has been lucky this year given the .041 discrepancy between that figure and his actual .410 wOBA.

Hitting from the same side that Kyle Hendricks throws from, Salvador Perez will have a tough matchup in today's matchup. Salvador Perez pulls many of his flyballs (36.4% — 93rd percentile) but may find it hard to clear the game's 4th-deepest LF fences in today's matchup. Out of every team playing today, the 5th-strongest infield defense belongs to the Chicago Cubs. When it comes to his batting average, Salvador Perez has had positive variance on his side this year. His .278 BA has been inflated compared to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .256.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Adam Frazier in the 20th percentile when estimating his BABIP skill. When starting against a right-handed pitcher this year, Adam Frazier has been replaced by a pinch-hitter 32% of the time. Kauffman Stadium has the deepest right field dimensions in the majors. Out of every team playing today, the 5th-strongest infield defense belongs to the Chicago Cubs. Adam Frazier's exit velocity on flyballs has decreased this season; his 87.2-mph EV last year has lowered to 85.1-mph.

Vinnie Pasquantino pulls a lot of his flyballs (36.6% — 93rd percentile) and will have to hit them out towards baseball's deepest RF fences in today's game. Out of every team playing today, the 5th-strongest infield defense belongs to the Chicago Cubs. Vinnie Pasquantino has been cold in recent games, with his seasonal exit velocity of 90.9-mph dropping to 86.3-mph over the past two weeks. Placing in the 18th percentile, Vinnie Pasquantino has put up a .258 BABIP this year.

Brady Singer will hold the platoon advantage against Seiya Suzuki in today's game... and it's an even bigger mismatch considering Singer's large platoon split. Seiya Suzuki hits many of his flyballs to center field (42.3% — 100th percentile) and has the misfortune of hitting them in the direction of the league's 4th-deepest CF fences in today's matchup. Seiya Suzuki will be at a disadvantage playing as a visiting player today. Seiya Suzuki's launch angle lately (-2.5° in the last 7 days) is considerably worse than his 16° seasonal mark. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.238) suggests that Seiya Suzuki has had some very good luck this year with his .264 actual batting average.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's BABIP skill is projected in the 85th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Pete Crow-Armstrong will hold the platoon advantage over Brady Singer in today's game... and moreover, Singer has a large platoon split.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Dansby Swanson in the 85th percentile when it comes to his overall offensive skill. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Despite posting a .278 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Dansby Swanson has experienced some negative variance given the .047 deviation between that mark and his estimated true talent wOBA of .325.

As it relates to his overall offensive ability, Ian Happ ranks in the 89th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Ian Happ is projected to bat 4th on the lineup card in today's game. Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

Michael Busch is penciled in 2nd in the lineup today. Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Because of Brady Singer's large platoon split, Michael Busch will have a big advantage batting from the opposite side of the plate today.

Mike Tauchman is penciled in 5th on the lineup card today. Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Considering Brady Singer's large platoon split, Mike Tauchman will have a tremendous advantage batting from the opposite side of the plate in this game.

Given Brady Singer's large platoon split, Nico Hoerner will be at a tremendous disadvantage hitting from the same side of the dish in today's game. Nico Hoerner has a 93rd percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (38%) and has the misfortune of hitting them towards MLB's deepest RF fences in today's matchup. Playing on the road typically lowers hitter stats in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which ought to be the case for Nico Hoerner in today's matchup. Over the past two weeks, Nico Hoerner's exit velocity on flyballs has fallen off from his seasonal EV of 88.6 mph to 84.2 mph. In the past 14 days, Nico Hoerner's average launch angle on his hardest-hit balls (-3.3°) has significantly dropped compared to his seasonal mark of 2.6°.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Miles Mastrobuoni will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Brady Singer today... and even more favorably, Singer has a large platoon split. In terms of his batting average, Miles Mastrobuoni has experienced some negative variance since the start of last season. His .226 BA falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .260.

Garrett Hampson's BABIP ability is projected in the 87th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Garrett Hampson will benefit from the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to improve all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Nick Loftin will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's game, which ought to improve all of his stats. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.236) may lead us to conclude that Nick Loftin has had some very poor luck this year with his .194 actual batting average.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Maikel Garcia in the 90th percentile as it relates to his BABIP ability. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Home field advantage typically bolsters hitter metrics across the board, and Maikel Garcia will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Michael Massey is penciled in 5th in the batting order today. Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Michael Massey will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Kyle Hendricks today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Kauffman Stadium as the 2nd-best stadium in baseball for RHB batting average. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Home field advantage typically boosts hitter metrics across the board, and Hunter Renfroe will hold that advantage in today's matchup. When it comes to plate discipline, Hunter Renfroe's talent is quite impressive, putting up a 1.74 K/BB rate this year while checking in at in the 87th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Drew Waters in the 93rd percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent. Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The switch-hitting Drew Waters will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his strong side (0) today against Kyle Hendricks.

Kauffman Stadium grades out as the #2 field in Major League Baseball for left-handed batting average, via the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest elevation among all major league parks. High elevation tends to lead to higher offensive output. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in this matchup to reach the highest level on the slate today at 89°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Kyle Isbel will hold the platoon advantage over Kyle Hendricks in today's matchup. Kyle Isbel is likely to have the upper hand against every reliever from start to finish, since the bullpen of the Chicago Cubs has just 1 same-handed RP.