Chicago @ Cincinnati Picks & Props

Nico Hoerner is penciled in 6th in the batting order in this game. Playing on the road generally lowers batter stats in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which ought to be the case for Nico Hoerner today. Nico Hoerner's 1.3% Barrel% (a reliable metric to evaluate power) ranks in the 6th percentile this year. Nico Hoerner's maximum exit velocity (an advanced metric to measure power) has been 104.7 mph this year, checking in at the 3rd percentile. Nico Hoerner has done a weak job optimizing his launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls. His 6.4° figure is among the lowest in Major League Baseball this year (14th percentile).

Ben Brown will hold the platoon advantage over Santiago Espinal in today's matchup. Santiago Espinal's average launch angle on his hardest-hit balls this year (8.1°) is considerably worse than his 11.3° figure last year. By putting up a .288 Expected wOBA (or xwOBA, an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) based on Statcast data) this year, Santiago Espinal is ranked in the 19th percentile for hitting ability. This year, Santiago Espinal's 0.9% Barrel%, a reliable standard for measuring power, places him in the 4th percentile among his peers. Santiago Espinal's 85.7-mph exit velocity on flyballs (a reliable standard to study power) ranks in the 2nd percentile this year.

Seiya Suzuki will be at a disadvantage playing on the road in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Matt McLain in the 94th percentile when assessing his BABIP talent. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Matt McLain has an 86th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (35%) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them towards the league's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter stats in all categories, and Matt McLain will hold that advantage today. This year, Matt McLain's flyball exit velocity (a reliable standard to study power) grades out in the 86th percentile at 96.2 mph.

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Ian Happ ranks in the 90th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Ian Happ is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this matchup. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Ian Happ has a 79th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34%) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards MLB's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Ian Happ's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-maximizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has increased from last year to this one, going from 44% to 50%.

When estimating his overall offensive ability, Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks in the 81st percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Pete Crow-Armstrong has primarily hit in the back-half of the batting order this year (77% of the time), but he is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card today. Great American Ball Park grades out as the #5 stadium in the majors for left-handed batting average, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT). Great American Ball Park has the 6th-shallowest right field fences in MLB. The Barrel% of Pete Crow-Armstrong has significantly improved, with an increase from 8% last year to 13.9% this year.

Nick Lodolo will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Kyle Tucker in today's matchup. Playing on the road generally weakens hitter metrics in all categories due to the lack of home field advantage, which figures to be the case for Kyle Tucker in today's game. Kyle Tucker's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-maximizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has fallen off from last season to this one, decreasing from 44.9% to 38.8%. Kyle Tucker's maximum exit velocity (an advanced standard to measure power) has been 108.1 mph this year, placing in the 25th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Elly De La Cruz as the 2nd-best hitter in Major League Baseball when assessing his BABIP talent. Elly De La Cruz is projected to bat 3rd in the lineup in this game. Great American Ball Park grades out as the #5 stadium in the majors for left-handed batting average, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT). The switch-hitting Elly De La Cruz will get to bat from his good side (0) today against Ben Brown. Elly De La Cruz has a 75th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (33.5%) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards the game's 7th-shallowest LF fences today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Dansby Swanson in the 91st percentile when it comes to his overall offensive ability. Dansby Swanson is penciled in 4th in the lineup in this game. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Among all stadiums, Great American Ball Park's left field fences are the 7th-shallowest. Batting from the opposite that Nick Lodolo throws from, Dansby Swanson will have an advantage in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Among all stadiums, Great American Ball Park's left field fences are the 7th-shallowest. Justin Turner will have the handedness advantage against Nick Lodolo today. Extreme flyball hitters like Justin Turner tend to perform better against extreme groundball pitchers like Nick Lodolo. Justin Turner's ability to hit the ball at a HR-optimizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has increased from last season to this one, rising from 19.1% to 34%.

Carson Kelly is penciled in 5th on the lineup card in today's game. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Among all stadiums, Great American Ball Park's left field fences are the 7th-shallowest. Carson Kelly will hold the platoon advantage over Nick Lodolo today. Carson Kelly has made notable gains with his Barrel%, upping his 6.6% rate last year to 15% this year.

Austin Hays is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in today's game. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Austin Hays pulls a lot of his flyballs (34.2% — 83rd percentile) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them towards baseball's 7th-shallowest LF fences today. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter stats in all categories, and Austin Hays will hold that advantage today. Austin Hays has made significant improvements with his Barrel%, bettering his 6.8% rate last year to 15.8% this season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Matt Shaw in the 79th percentile when assessing his batting average talent. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Batting from the opposite that Nick Lodolo throws from, Matt Shaw will have an advantage in today's matchup. Matt Shaw has a 91st percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.2%) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards baseball's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Matt Shaw is quite quick, ranking in the 91st percentile in Sprint Speed at 28.92 ft/sec this year.

TJ Friedl is penciled in 1st on the lineup card in this game. Great American Ball Park grades out as the #5 stadium in the majors for left-handed batting average, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT). TJ Friedl will hold the platoon advantage against Ben Brown in today's matchup. TJ Friedl pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (38.7% — 97th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards MLB's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Home field advantage typically improves hitter metrics across the board, and TJ Friedl will hold that advantage in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Among all stadiums, Great American Ball Park's left field fences are the 7th-shallowest. Home field advantage generally improves batter stats in all categories, and Connor Joe will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Great American Ball Park grades out as the #5 stadium in the majors for left-handed batting average, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT). Hitting from the opposite that Ben Brown throws from, Will Benson will have an edge in today's game. Will Benson pulls a lot of his flyballs (35.4% — 89th percentile) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards baseball's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Home field advantage generally boosts hitter metrics across the board, and Will Benson will hold that advantage in today's matchup. Will Benson's 12.6% Barrel% (a reliable metric to measure power) grades out in the 87th percentile since the start of last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Tyler Stephenson in the 88th percentile when estimating his BABIP talent. The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Tyler Stephenson has an 86th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (35%) and has the good fortune of hitting them in the direction of MLB's 8th-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Tyler Stephenson will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's game, which figures to improve all of his stats. This season, Tyler Stephenson has experienced a significant increase in his exit velocity on flyballs, now sitting at an average of 96.2 mph compared to last year's 93.8 mph mark.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Gavin Lux in the 90th percentile when estimating his BABIP skill. Gavin Lux is projected to hit 5th in the batting order in this matchup. Great American Ball Park grades out as the #5 stadium in the majors for left-handed batting average, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT). Great American Ball Park has the 6th-shallowest right field fences in MLB. Hitting from the opposite that Ben Brown throws from, Gavin Lux will have the upper hand in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Spencer Steer pulls a lot of his flyballs (36.5% — 93rd percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's 7th-shallowest LF fences today. Home field advantage generally improves hitter metrics across the board, and Spencer Steer will hold that advantage today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT) ranks Great American Ball Park as the 5th-best venue in baseball for righty batting average. Among all stadiums, Great American Ball Park's left field fences are the 7th-shallowest. Home field advantage typically boosts batter metrics in all categories, and Jose Trevino will hold that advantage in today's matchup. Sporting a 2.11 K/BB rate since the start of last season, Jose Trevino has demonstrated favorable plate discipline, grading out in the 76th percentile.