Cincinnati @ Chicago picks

The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will face off in a three-game set for the second straight weekend, with Chicago taking two of three off Cincinnati in the previous series. The Cubs scored a whopping 28 runs against the Reds through those three contests, and you could argue that Andrew Abbott was the main reason why Cincinnati was able to snag a 6-4 win last Saturday. The southpaw scattered six hits and gave up just one run — a solo homer to Justin Turner — over 5 2/3 innings of work. That’s been par for the course for Abbott, who’s allowed more than one earned run just once in eight starts this season. In fact, the 25-year-old has allowed just two earned runs total over five starts in May, with three scoreless starts over that span.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Pete Crow-Armstrong in the 85th percentile as it relates to his home run skill.. Pete Crow-Armstrong is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card in today's game.. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-worst outfield defense belongs to the Cincinnati Reds.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Seiya Suzuki in the 97th percentile when assessing his overall offensive skill.. Seiya Suzuki is projected to bat 3rd in the lineup today.. Among all parks, Wrigley Field's LF dimensions are the 5th-shallowest.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Hitting from the opposite that Andrew Abbott throws from, Seiya Suzuki will have the upper hand today.

When it comes to his overall offensive skill, Dansby Swanson ranks in the 89th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X).. Among all parks, Wrigley Field's LF dimensions are the 5th-shallowest.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Batting from the opposite that Andrew Abbott throws from, Dansby Swanson will have the upper hand today.. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-worst outfield defense belongs to the Cincinnati Reds.

Carson Kelly is projected to hit 4th on the lineup card in this matchup.. Among all parks, Wrigley Field's LF dimensions are the 5th-shallowest.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Batting from the opposite that Andrew Abbott throws from, Carson Kelly will have an advantage today.. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-worst outfield defense belongs to the Cincinnati Reds.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Kyle Tucker ranks as the 10th-best batter in the majors.. Kyle Tucker is penciled in 2nd in the lineup today.. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-worst outfield defense belongs to the Cincinnati Reds.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Elly De La Cruz as the 2nd-best hitter in the game as it relates to his BABIP skill.. Elly De La Cruz is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card in today's game.. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. The switch-hitting Elly De La Cruz will get to bat from his good side (0) today against Colin Rea.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Tyler Stephenson in the 88th percentile as it relates to his BABIP skill.. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Tyler Stephenson has made sizeable improvements with his Barrel% in recent games, upping his 13.6% seasonal rate to 20% in the past two weeks' worth of games.. Tyler Stephenson has been hot of late, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 92.4-mph to 96.6-mph in the last two weeks.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Matt McLain in the 95th percentile when assessing his BABIP talent.. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. According to the weather report, the temperature and humidity for this game will be the 5th-best for hitting of all games on the slate.. Matt McLain has made big improvements with his Barrel% in recent games, upping his 11.8% seasonal rate to 28.6% in the past two weeks' worth of games.. Matt McLain has been hot recently, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 90.9-mph to 97.1-mph over the last two weeks.

When it comes to his home run talent, Will Benson ranks in the 88th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X).. Built 599 feet above sea level, Wrigley Field has the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball, which usually leads (as a rule of thumb) to better offense.. Will Benson will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Colin Rea today.. Will Benson has made significant gains with his Barrel% of late, improving his 23.5% seasonal rate to 42.9% over the last 14 days.. Will Benson has been hot recently, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 94.2-mph to 100.2-mph in the last 14 days.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Gavin Lux in the 90th percentile when estimating his BABIP ability.. Gavin Lux is projected to bat 4th on the lineup card in this game.. Gavin Lux will have the handedness advantage over Colin Rea in today's matchup.. In the last two weeks, Gavin Lux's 66.7% rate of hitting balls at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 53.8%.. Gavin Lux has recorded a .336 BABIP since the start of last season, placing in the 94th percentile.