Houston @ Kansas City Picks & Props

Bobby Witt Jr. has an 84th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.8%) and has the misfortune of hitting them in the direction of MLB's deepest RF fences in today's matchup. Bobby Witt Jr. has negatively regressed with his Barrel% lately; his 11.3% seasonal rate has fallen off to 0% over the past 7 days. In the last 7 days, Bobby Witt Jr.'s 31.3% rate of hitting balls at a BABIP-maximizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has taken a nosedive compared to his seasonal rate of 50.7%.

Michael Wacha will have the handedness advantage against Jose Altuve in today's game. Jose Altuve pulls many of his flyballs (40.7% — 99th percentile) and will be challenged by the league's 4th-deepest LF fences in today's game. Playing on the road typically diminishes hitter stats in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which figures to be the case for Jose Altuve in today's matchup. Jose Altuve's ability to hit the ball at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has dropped off from last season to this one, going from 15.7% to 7.8%. In terms of his wOBA and overall offense, Jose Altuve has been lucky this year. His .313 rate has been a fair amount higher than the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected wOBA (xwOBA) at .259.

The #7 venue in MLB for boosting batting average to left-handed batters, via the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Kauffman Stadium. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Vinnie Pasquantino will benefit from the home field advantage in today's game, which should bolster all of his stats. Vinnie Pasquantino has been hot in recent games, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 90.2-mph to 93.4-mph in the last two weeks.

Yainer Diaz is projected to bat 6th in the lineup in today's game. Hitting from the same side that Michael Wacha throws from, Yainer Diaz faces a tough challenge in today's matchup. Yainer Diaz has an 80th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.1%) but may find it hard to clear the game's deepest RF fences today. Playing on the road generally lowers batter metrics in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which ought to be the case for Yainer Diaz today. In the past week, Yainer Diaz's Barrel% has experienced a negative regression, plummeting from his seasonal rate of 9.1% down to 0%.

Long-balls are generally less common at stadiums with deep fences, and Kauffman Stadium has the 2nd-deepest among all major league stadiums. Michael Wacha will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Jeremy Pena in today's game. Jeremy Pena will be at a disadvantage playing as a visiting player today. Jeremy Pena's exit velocity on flyballs has fallen off this year; his 91.3-mph figure last season has fallen off to 88.8-mph. Jeremy Pena's exit velocity on flyballs has decreased recently; his 88.8-mph seasonal average has dropped off to 77-mph over the last 7 days.

Yordan Alvarez projects as the 2nd-best batter in Major League Baseball, via the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Yordan Alvarez is penciled in 2nd in the lineup today. The #7 venue in MLB for boosting batting average to left-handed batters, via the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Kauffman Stadium. Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today.

Zachary Dezenzo's BABIP skill is projected in the 95th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Zachary Dezenzo is notably toolsy, checking in at the 76th percentile in Sprint Speed at 28.01 ft/sec this year.

As it relates to his overall offensive skill, Jonathan India ranks in the 90th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Jonathan India is penciled in 1st on the lineup card today. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today.

Christian Walker is projected to bat 5th on the lineup card in this matchup. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Christian Walker has made substantial gains with his Barrel% lately, improving his 11.3% seasonal rate to 18.2% over the last week.

Isaac Paredes is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card in this game. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. In the last 7 days, Isaac Paredes's 25% rate of hitting balls at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 17.9%.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Salvador Perez in the 81st percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Salvador Perez is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card in this game. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today.

Drew Waters's BABIP talent is projected in the 93rd percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Drew Waters will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which ought to improve all of his stats.

Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Compared to last year, Mauricio Dubon has improved his ability to hit the ball at a launch angle ideal for home runs, increasing his percentage of balls hit between 23° and 34° from 12.1% to 21.4% this season. In notching a .266 batting average since the start of last season, Mauricio Dubon grades out in the 78th percentile.

Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. In the last week's worth of games, Jake Meyers's 83.3% rate of hitting balls at a base hit-maximizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 51.9%. Jake Meyers has suffered from bad luck when it comes to his wOBA since the start of last season; his .284 rate is a fair amount lower than his .321 Expected wOBA, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Freddy Fermin will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Framber Valdez today. Home field advantage typically bolsters hitter stats in all categories, and Freddy Fermin will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Maikel Garcia's batting average skill is projected to be in the 91st percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Maikel Garcia is penciled in 5th in the lineup today. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today.

Mark Canha is penciled in 4th in the batting order today, which would be an upgrade from his 60% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the batting order this season. Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Hitting from the opposite that Framber Valdez throws from, Mark Canha will have an advantage in today's game.

Kauffman Stadium profiles as the #7 ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Kauffman Stadium sits at the 4th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation generally leads to better offense. This contest is projected to have the 12th-most favorable weather for pitching among all the games scheduled today. Batting from the opposite that Framber Valdez throws from, Hunter Renfroe will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically bolsters hitter metrics in all categories, and Hunter Renfroe will hold that advantage today.