Chicago @ Pittsburgh Picks & Props

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Oneil Cruz in the 97th percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent. Oneil Cruz is projected to bat 4th in the batting order today. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Oneil Cruz is likely to have an edge against every reliever from start to finish, since the bullpen of the Chicago Cubs only has 1 same-handed RP.

When it comes to his overall offensive ability, Ian Happ ranks in the 92nd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Ian Happ is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this game. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. As a switch-hitter who is best from the 0 side of the dish, Ian Happ will have the advantage of batting from from his better side against Jared Jones in today's game.

Michael Busch is projected to bat 2nd in the batting order today. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 5th-hottest weather of all games today at 91°. Hitting from the opposite that Jared Jones throws from, Michael Busch will have an advantage in today's matchup. Michael Busch has compiled a .337 wOBA (the best measure of overall offense) this year, ranking in the 78th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Mike Tauchman in the 75th percentile when assessing his overall offensive talent. Mike Tauchman is projected to hit 2nd in the lineup in this game. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Hitting from the opposite that Jared Jones throws from, Mike Tauchman will have an advantage in today's game.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's BABIP talent is projected in the 83rd percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Hitting from the opposite that Jared Jones throws from, Pete Crow-Armstrong will have an advantage in today's game. Over the last 7 days, Pete Crow-Armstrong's Barrel% has experienced a surge, jumping from his seasonal rate of 7.3% up to 21.4%.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the 89th percentile when estimating his batting average ability. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is penciled in 1st in the batting order in today's game, which would be an upgrade from his 75% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the lineup this season. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will have the handedness advantage against Justin Steele in today's matchup.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Nico Hoerner in the 96th percentile as it relates to his batting average ability. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. As it relates to his batting average, Nico Hoerner has had bad variance on his side this year. His .255 rate falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .278. Nico Hoerner has exhibited impressive plate discipline this year, checking in at the 91st percentile with a 1.56 K/BB rate.

Isaac Paredes is penciled in 5th on the lineup card in today's game. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Isaac Paredes's average launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls this season (21.7°) is considerably higher than his 18° angle last year. Sporting a 1.39 K/BB rate this year, Isaac Paredes has demonstrated favorable plate discipline, ranking in the 94th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Cody Bellinger in the 82nd percentile when assessing his overall offensive ability. Cody Bellinger is penciled in 4th on the lineup card today. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Batting from the opposite that Jared Jones throws from, Cody Bellinger will have an edge in today's matchup.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Bryan Reynolds in the 95th percentile when it comes to his BABIP skill. Bryan Reynolds is projected to hit 2nd in the batting order in this game. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Home field advantage generally improves batter stats across the board, and Bryan Reynolds will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Michael A. Taylor will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Justin Steele today. Home field advantage generally improves hitter metrics across the board, and Michael A. Taylor will hold that advantage in today's matchup. Michael A. Taylor has been unlucky this year, compiling a .241 wOBA despite the leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimating his true talent level to be .285 — a .044 disparity.

As it relates to his overall offensive ability, Dansby Swanson ranks in the 86th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Dansby Swanson's true offensive skill to be a .327, suggesting that he has suffered from bad luck this year given the .038 discrepancy between that mark and his actual .289 wOBA.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Seiya Suzuki in the 96th percentile when assessing his overall offensive ability. Seiya Suzuki is projected to hit 3rd in the lineup in this matchup. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Seiya Suzuki's launch angle recently (22.9° in the past two weeks' worth of games) is significantly better than his 16.9° seasonal angle.

Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Henry Davis will have the upper hand today. Home field advantage generally bolsters batter stats across the board, and Henry Davis will hold that advantage in today's game. Henry Davis has seen a notable gain in his exit velocity on flyballs this year; just compare his 94.3-mph average to last year's 92.2-mph mark.

Bryan De La Cruz's BABIP ability is projected in the 90th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Bryan De La Cruz will have an edge in today's game. Bryan De La Cruz will possess the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to bolster all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jared Triolo in the 87th percentile when estimating his BABIP talent. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Jared Triolo will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Jared Triolo will possess the home field advantage in today's matchup, which figures to bolster all of his stats.

Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 5th-hottest weather of all games today at 91°. The switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his strong side (0) today against Justin Steele. Yasmani Grandal will possess the home field advantage today, which should bolster all of his stats. In the past 7 days, Yasmani Grandal's Barrel% has experienced a surge, jumping from his seasonal rate of 9% up to 22.2%.

Connor Joe is projected to bat 5th in the lineup in this matchup. Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Connor Joe will have the handedness advantage over Justin Steele today. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter metrics across the board, and Connor Joe will hold that advantage today.

Built 724 feet above sea level, PNC Park has the 6th-highest elevation in the majors, which often leads to better offense. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer strikeouts), and the weather report calls for the 3rd-hottest weather of all games today at 92°. Miguel Amaya has made notable gains with his Barrel% of late, upping his 4.9% seasonal rate to 15.4% in the last two weeks' worth of games. Miguel Amaya has been hot of late, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 88.1-mph to 92.3-mph in the past week. Miguel Amaya's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has gotten better of late, increasing from 44.1% on the season to 53.8% in the last two weeks' worth of games.

Ji-Hwan Bae has gone over 0.5 in 3 of his last 10 games.