Cincinnati @ St. Louis picks

Miles Mikolas is mired in another disappointing season. The Cardinals’ righty owns an ERA north of 4.00 and will be vulnerable against a Reds lineup that boasts a .854 OPS against him. Meanwhile, Andrew Abbott is off to a 6–1 start with a 1.84 ERA, so back Cincinnati to win this NL Central clash.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Matt McLain in the 92nd percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent.. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer whiffs), and the weather report forecasts the highest temperatures of all games on the slate at 96°.. The wind projects to be blowing out to LF at 12.9-mph in this match-up, the 2nd-strongest of the day for hitters.. Matt McLain has big-time power (79th percentile) if he makes contact, but that's always far from assured (27.4% K%). Today, however, opposing pitcher Miles Mikolas is a pitch-to-contact type (21st percentile K%) — great news for McLain.. Matt McLain hits a high percentage of his flyballs to center field (39.3% — 92nd percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting out towards MLB's 7th-shallowest CF fences in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Will Benson in the 89th percentile when it comes to his home run talent.. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer whiffs), and the weather report forecasts the highest temperatures of all games on the slate at 96°.. The wind projects to be blowing out to LF at 12.9-mph in this match-up, the 2nd-strongest of the day for hitters.. Batting from the opposite that Miles Mikolas throws from, Will Benson will have an advantage in today's game.. Will Benson has a ton of pop (89th percentile) if he makes contact, but that's always far from assured (32% K%). Today, however, opposing pitcher Miles Mikolas has a pitch-to-contact profile (5th percentile K%) — great news for Benson.

When assessing his BABIP talent, Elly De La Cruz is projected as the 2nd-best hitter in the game by the leading projection system (THE BAT X).. Elly De La Cruz is projected to hit 3rd in the batting order in this matchup.. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer whiffs), and the weather report forecasts the highest temperatures of all games on the slate at 96°.. The wind projects to be blowing out to LF at 12.9-mph in this match-up, the 2nd-strongest of the day for hitters.. As a switch-hitter who performs better from the 0 side of the plate, Elly De La Cruz will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his better side against Miles Mikolas today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Gavin Lux in the 85th percentile when estimating his BABIP ability.. Gavin Lux is projected to bat 2nd in the batting order in this matchup.. Hot weather is strongly correlated with more offense (and fewer whiffs), and the weather report forecasts the highest temperatures of all games on the slate at 96°.. The wind projects to be blowing out to LF at 12.9-mph in this match-up, the 2nd-strongest of the day for hitters.. Batting from the opposite that Miles Mikolas throws from, Gavin Lux will have an advantage today.