Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay picks

We are going to ride the hot-hitting Phillies here as they look for back-to-back wins vs. the Rays. They will send Cristopher Sanchez to the bump, and he's been solid, giving up two or fewer runs in four straight starts. The Phils' bats should do enough to get Sanchez the run support needed to pick up the win. 

This game will be a pitcher's duel between Philadelphia southpaw Zack Wheeler and Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen. Wheeler was the NL Cy Young runner up last year and he's in the top 10th percentile in xERA (2.48) and xBA (.199) this season. Rasmussen has pitched to a 2.79 ERA across 326 innings since the start of the 2021 season and has a 2.64 ERA in six starts this year. The Phillies are 11th in the majors in OPS (.735) but that number plummets to .650 on the road. Meanwhile, the Rays have an OPS of just .551 against southpaws — the second-worst number in the majors. They also rank 28th in Run First Inning rate (20.6%).

It is expected that we will see a Huge Hitters Umpire (Lance Barksdale) calling pitches in this game.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).. The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 8.1-mph in this contest, the 3rd-strongest of the day for hitters.. With 7 hitters of opposing handedness in the opposing team's projected offense, Zack Wheeler will not have the upper hand while lacking the platoon advantage in most plate appearances today.. Given that groundball hitters hold a substantial advantage over flyball pitchers, Zack Wheeler and his 35.5% underlying GB% (per the leading projection system, THE BAT) will be in a troublesome spot in this outing facing 4 opposing GB bats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Brandon Lowe in the 87th percentile when estimating his home run skill.. Brandon Lowe is penciled in 2nd in the lineup in today's game.. The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jonathan Aranda in the 91st percentile when it comes to his overall offensive ability.. Jonathan Aranda is projected to hit 4th in the lineup in today's game.. The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

As it relates to his batting average ability, Yandy Diaz is projected as the 16th-best batter in baseball by the leading projection system (THE BAT X).. Yandy Diaz is projected to hit 3rd on the lineup card today.. The #8 ballpark in the majors for boosting home runs to righties, via the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Junior Caminero in the 91st percentile when it comes to his batting average skill.. The #8 ballpark in the majors for boosting home runs to righties, via the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).. The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 8.1-mph in this contest, the 3rd-strongest of the day for hitters.

Bryce Harper projects as the 12th-best batter in the league, per the leading projection system (THE BAT X).. Bryce Harper is projected to hit 3rd in the lineup today.. The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects J.T. Realmuto in the 89th percentile as it relates to his overall offensive talent.. The #8 ballpark in the majors for boosting home runs to righties, via the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).. The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 8.1-mph in this contest, the 3rd-strongest of the day for hitters.

Kyle Schwarber projects as the 3rd-best home run batter in MLB, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X).. Kyle Schwarber is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in this matchup.. The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Brandon Lowe in the 87th percentile when estimating his home run skill.. Brandon Lowe is penciled in 2nd in the lineup in today's game.. The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).

The #8 field in baseball for boosting home runs to left-handed hitters, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is George M. Steinbrenner Field.. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the shortest fence height (on average) among all parks.. The weather report projects temperatures in this contest to reach the highest level of all games today at 86°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts).. The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 8.1-mph in this contest, the 3rd-strongest of the day for hitters.. Ben Rortvedt will hold the platoon advantage against Zack Wheeler today.