Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh Picks & Props

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. This contest is predicted to have the 11th-best conditions for pitching among all the games scheduled today. The Cincinnati Reds infield defense projects as the weakest among every team today. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter stats across the board, and Michael A. Taylor will hold that advantage today. Michael A. Taylor has been unlucky this year, posting a .241 wOBA despite the leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimating his true talent level to be .284 — a .043 deviation.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Andrew Abbott will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Billy McKinney in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically improves hitter metrics across the board, and Billy McKinney will hold that advantage today. Billy McKinney has been unlucky in regards to his wOBA since the start of last season; his .320 rate is significantly deflated relative to his .345 Expected wOBA, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

PNC Park has the 8th-deepest fences among all stadiums — generally bad for HRs. Playing on the road generally reduces batter metrics across the board due to the lack of home field advantage, which ought to be the case for Tyler Stephenson today. Tyler Stephenson's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has declined from last year to this one, going from 48.3% to 41.2%. As it relates to his wOBA and overall offense, Tyler Stephenson has been very fortunate this year. His .334 rate has been significantly inflated relative to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected wOBA (xwOBA) at .316. Placing in the 23rd percentile, Tyler Stephenson has posted a .271 BABIP this year.

Amed Rosario is projected to hit 7th on the lineup card in today's game, which would be a downgrade from his 69% rate of hitting in the top-half of the batting order this year. When starting against a left-handed pitcher this year, Amed Rosario has been lifted for a pinch-hitter 22% of the time. PNC Park has the 8th-deepest fences among all stadiums — generally bad for HRs. Playing on the road typically lessens hitter metrics in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which ought to be the case for Amed Rosario in today's game. Amed Rosario's launch angle this season (3°) is quite a bit worse than his 7.5° mark last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ji Hwan Bae in the 97th percentile when it comes to his BABIP skill. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Andrew Abbott will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Ji Hwan Bae in today's game. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter stats across the board, and Ji Hwan Bae will hold that advantage today.

This year, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been pulled from the game early in 14% of his appearances when starting against lefty on the mound. PNC Park has the 8th-deepest fences among all stadiums — generally bad for HRs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will have the handedness advantage over Andrew Abbott in today's game. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's average exit velocity has dropped off this year; his 88.8-mph EV last season has fallen to 85.5-mph. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.286) may lead us to conclude that Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had some very good luck this year with his .318 actual wOBA.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Oneil Cruz in the 96th percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent. Oneil Cruz is penciled in 3rd in the lineup in today's game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Hitting from the same side that Andrew Abbott throws from, Oneil Cruz will have a tough challenge in today's game.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense grades out as the 4th-worst among every team on the slate today. T.J. Friedl has made big gains with his Barrel% in recent games, bettering his 3.8% seasonal rate to 18.2% over the last week. T.J. Friedl has seen a big increase in his exit velocity on flyballs this year; just compare his 89.2-mph average to last year's 86.7-mph average. Compared to his seasonal average of 17.1°, T.J. Friedl has significantly improved his launch angle of late, posting a 22.2° figure over the past two weeks.

When it comes to his BABIP talent, Elly De La Cruz is projected as the best hitter in the game by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Elly De La Cruz is projected to bat 2nd in the lineup in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense grades out as the 2nd-worst among every team on the slate today.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. This contest is predicted to have the 11th-best conditions for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Connor Joe will have the handedness advantage against Andrew Abbott today. The Cincinnati Reds infield defense projects as the weakest among every team today. Home field advantage generally improves hitter metrics across the board, and Connor Joe will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jared Triolo in the 90th percentile when estimating his BABIP talent. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Jared Triolo will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which ought to bolster all of his stats. Over the last 14 days, Jared Triolo has improved his Barrel% substantially, increasing it from his seasonal rate of 4.9% to 25%.

Bryan Reynolds's BABIP ability is projected in the 95th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Bryan Reynolds is penciled in 2nd in the lineup today. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. The switch-hitting Bryan Reynolds will bat from his weak side (0) today against Andrew Abbott

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. The switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal will get to bat from his strong side (0) today against Andrew Abbott. The Cincinnati Reds infield defense projects as the weakest among every team today. Yasmani Grandal will hold the home field advantage today, which figures to bolster all of his stats. Yasmani Grandal has seen a notable gain in his exit velocity this season; just compare his 91.2-mph average to last year's 87.9-mph mark.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jonathan India in the 90th percentile when it comes to his overall offensive skill. Jonathan India is projected to hit 1st on the lineup card in today's game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Jonathan India will have the handedness advantage over Bailey Falter in today's matchup.

Bryan De La Cruz's BABIP talent is projected in the 91st percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Bryan De La Cruz will have the benefit of the home field advantage today, which should bolster all of his stats. Bryan De La Cruz's average launch angle on his hardest-hit balls this year (17.3°) is a considerable increase over his 12.3° figure last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ty France in the 83rd percentile as it relates to his batting average talent. Ty France is projected to hit 5th in the lineup in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Ty France will have the handedness advantage against Bailey Falter in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Spencer Steer in the 83rd percentile when it comes to his overall offensive ability. Spencer Steer is projected to bat 4th on the lineup card in this game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Spencer Steer will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Bailey Falter in today's matchup.

Rowdy Tellez is penciled in 5th in the batting order in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Hitting from the same side that Andrew Abbott throws from, Rowdy Tellez will not have the upper hand in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter metrics across the board, and Rowdy Tellez will hold that advantage in today's game.

Joey Bart is projected to hit 4th on the lineup card in today's game, which would be an upgrade from his 63% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the lineup this season. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Joey Bart will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to improve all of his stats. Over the last week, Joey Bart's Barrel% has experienced a surge, jumping from his seasonal rate of 12.3% up to 20%.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Noelvi Marte will hold the platoon advantage against Bailey Falter in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense grades out as the 2nd-worst among every team on the slate today. Noelvi Marte has taken a step back with his Barrel% in recent games; his 5.2% seasonal rate has fallen off to 0% over the last week.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Santiago Espinal in the 83rd percentile when estimating his batting average talent. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Santiago Espinal will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Bailey Falter in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense grades out as the 2nd-worst among every team on the slate today.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest elevation in MLB. High elevation usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer Ks), and the weather report predicts the 3rd-hottest temperature on the schedule today at 81°. Stuart Fairchild will have the handedness advantage against Bailey Falter in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense grades out as the 2nd-worst among every team on the slate today. There has been a significant improvement in Stuart Fairchild's launch angle from last year's 14.1° to 19.9° this season.