Los Angeles @ Athletics Picks & Props

Lawrence Butler has a 90th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.1%) and will have to hit them out towards MLB's 6th-deepest LF fences today. Among all the teams on the slate today, the 4th-weakest outfield defense belongs to the Los Angeles Angels. Lawrence Butler has struggled with his Barrel% of late; his 10.5% seasonal rate has dropped to 0% in the last 7 days. Compared to his seasonal angle of 10.9°, Lawrence Butler has produced a noticeably lower launch angle (3.3°) over the last 14 days. From last year to this one, Lawrence Butler's ability to hit the ball at a launch angle that optimizes BABIP (-4° to 26°) has decreased substantially, plummeting from 46.8% to 38.7%.

Kyle Hendricks will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Brent Rooker in today's matchup. Brent Rooker hits a lot of his flyballs to center field (39.4% — 92nd percentile) but may find it hard to clear baseball's 11th-deepest CF fences in today's game. Among all the teams on the slate today, the 4th-weakest outfield defense belongs to the Los Angeles Angels. In the past two weeks' worth of games, Brent Rooker's exit velocity on flyballs has dropped from his seasonal average of 96.8 mph to 89.4 mph. Brent Rooker's launch angle this year (13°) is quite a bit worse than his 18.4° figure last season.

The 6th-deepest left field dimensions among all major league parks are found in Sutter Health Park. Batting from the same side that Kyle Hendricks throws from, Jacob Wilson faces a tough challenge in today's matchup. Typically, batters like Jacob Wilson who hit a lot of groundballs tend to be less successful when facing pitchers who also induce a lot of groundballs such as Kyle Hendricks. Among all the teams on the slate today, the 4th-weakest outfield defense belongs to the Los Angeles Angels. Compared to his seasonal figure of 7.5°, Jacob Wilson has produced a noticeably lower launch angle (2.3°) over the last two weeks.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Kyren Paris has seen a significant improvement in his exit velocity lately; just compare his 91-mph average in the past two weeks to his seasonal 88.6-mph mark. Kyren Paris's average launch angle on his hardest-hit balls lately (47° in the past two weeks' worth of games) is a considerable increase over his 18.5° seasonal mark. When it comes to his batting average, Kyren Paris has had bad variance on his side since the start of last season. His .170 mark falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .198.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Zach Neto in the 83rd percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Zach Neto is projected to hit 1st on the lineup card today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. This season, Zach Neto has experienced a significant improvement in his exit velocity on flyballs, now sitting at an average of 98.5 mph compared to last year's 94.5 mph mark.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Over the past week, Matthew Lugo has displayed impressive power, recording a a 30% Barrel% (a reliable standard to measure power). Notching a 94.6-mph average exit velocity in the last two weeks' worth of games, Matthew Lugo has been in great form lately.

When assessing his overall offensive ability, Jorge Soler ranks in the 92nd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Jorge Soler is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Despite posting a .291 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Jorge Soler has had some very poor luck given the .049 disparity between that figure and his estimated true talent wOBA of .340.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Yoan Moncada in the 88th percentile when estimating his BABIP talent. Yoan Moncada is projected to hit 3rd in the batting order in this matchup. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). As a switch-hitter who performs better from the 0 side of the dish, Yoan Moncada will have the advantage of batting from from his strong side against Gunnar Hoglund today. The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Taylor Ward in the 92nd percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Taylor Ward is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in this matchup. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Sacramento's 2nd-worst outfield defense on the slate creates a favorable matchup for Taylor Ward, who tends to hit a lot of flyballs.

When estimating his overall offensive ability, Logan O'Hoppe ranks in the 86th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Logan O'Hoppe is projected to hit 5th in the lineup today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Logan O'Hoppe has made sizeable improvements with his Barrel%, bettering his 12% rate last year to 17% this year.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. In the past two weeks' worth of games, Jo Adell's exit velocity on flyballs has seen a big rise, from 97-mph over the course of the season to 106-mph in recent games. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.235) suggests that Jo Adell has had some very poor luck since the start of last season with his .204 actual batting average.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Luis Rengifo in the 76th percentile as it relates to his batting average talent. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Extreme flyball bats like Luis Rengifo are generally more successful against extreme groundball pitchers like Gunnar Hoglund. The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Over the past 7 days, Luis Rengifo's exit velocity on flyballs has seen a big rise, from 90.9-mph over the course of the season to 102-mph recently.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today. Travis d'Arnaud's 94.9-mph exit velocity on flyballs (a reliable stat to assess power) ranks in the 87th percentile since the start of last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Shea Langeliers in the 90th percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Shea Langeliers is projected to bat 5th in the lineup today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Home field advantage generally bolsters batter stats in all categories, and Shea Langeliers will hold that advantage in today's game. Shea Langeliers has seen a notable improvement in his exit velocity on flyballs in recent games; just compare his 100.3-mph average over the last 7 days to his seasonal average of 93.8-mph.

Miguel Andujar's batting average skill is projected to be in the 91st percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Home field advantage typically bolsters batter stats across the board, and Miguel Andujar will hold that advantage in today's game. Miguel Andujar has seen a notable gain in his exit velocity on flyballs this season; just compare his 86.7-mph average to last year's 84.1-mph mark. Miguel Andujar's ability to hit the ball at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has gotten better from last year to this one, going from 9.6% to 13.5%.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). JJ Bleday will hold the platoon advantage against Kyle Hendricks in today's game. Extreme groundball bats like JJ Bleday tend to be more successful against extreme flyball pitchers like Kyle Hendricks. Home field advantage typically improves batter metrics across the board, and JJ Bleday will hold that advantage today. There has been a significant improvement in JJ Bleday's launch angle from last season's 18.6° to 21.6° this year.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Batting from the opposite that Kyle Hendricks throws from, Nicholas Kurtz will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Nicholas Kurtz will have the benefit of the home field advantage today, which ought to improve all of his stats. Over the last 7 days, Nicholas Kurtz's Barrel% has experienced a surge, jumping from his seasonal rate of 9.5% up to 27.3%. Over the last 7 days, Nicholas Kurtz's exit velocity on flyballs has seen a big rise, from 93.1-mph over the course of the season to 95.2-mph recently.

Nolan Schanuel's batting average skill is projected to be in the 89th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Nolan Schanuel is projected to hit 2nd in the lineup today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Nolan Schanuel will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Gunnar Hoglund in today's game. The Athletics outfield defense projects as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams today.

When estimating his overall offensive skill, Tyler Soderstrom ranks in the 83rd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Tyler Soderstrom is projected to hit 3rd in the batting order today. The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Batting from the opposite that Kyle Hendricks throws from, Tyler Soderstrom will have an edge in today's matchup. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter stats across the board, and Tyler Soderstrom will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

The weather report projects temperatures in this matchup to reach the 2nd-highest level of all games today at 84°, which is highly linked to an increase in offense (and a reduction in strikeouts). Luis Urias will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which figures to bolster all of his stats. With a .333 wOBA (a leading indicator of offensive ability) since the start of last season, Luis Urias has performed in the 83rd percentile.