Texas @ Houston Picks & Props

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Evan Carter ranks in the 76th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Evan Carter will hold the platoon advantage against Lance McCullers Jr. in today's matchup. Evan Carter's ability to hit the ball at a HR-optimizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has improved from last year to this one, rising from 16.7% to 20.4%. With a .262 batting average this year, Evan Carter is ranked in the 76th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Wyatt Langford in the 96th percentile as it relates to his overall offensive ability. Wyatt Langford is penciled in 5th in the batting order in today's game. Wyatt Langford pulls many of his flyballs (34.8% — 87th percentile) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them towards the league's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's matchup. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Wyatt Langford's true offensive ability to be a .352, suggesting that he has suffered from bad luck this year given the .033 discrepancy between that mark and his actual .319 wOBA. Wyatt Langford's 12.6% Barrel% (an advanced standard to study power) grades out in the 81st percentile this year.

As it relates to his overall offensive skill, Josh Smith ranks in the 75th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Josh Smith is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this matchup. Minute Maid Park has the smallest outfield in the majors — generally good for dingers. Batting from the opposite that Lance McCullers Jr. throws from, Josh Smith will have an advantage today. Josh Smith has been hot of late, hitting his way to a .346 wOBA in the last 14 days.

Minute Maid Park has the smallest outfield in the majors — generally good for dingers. Taylor Trammell will hold the platoon advantage against Jack Leiter in today's game. Home field advantage typically boosts batter metrics across the board, and Taylor Trammell will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

Cooper Hummel will possess the home field advantage today, which ought to improve all of his stats. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.324) provides evidence that Cooper Hummel has had some very poor luck since the start of last season with his .280 actual wOBA.

Kyle Higashioka pulls many of his flyballs (39.3% — 98th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards baseball's 2nd-shallowest LF fences today. Extreme flyball hitters like Kyle Higashioka tend to perform better against extreme groundball pitchers like Lance McCullers Jr..

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Adolis Garcia ranks in the 82nd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Adolis Garcia is projected to hit 4th in the lineup today. Minute Maid Park has the 2nd-shallowest LF dimensions among all stadiums. There has been a significant improvement in Adolis Garcia's launch angle from last year's 14.8° to 19.8° this season. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Adolis Garcia's true offensive skill to be a .326, suggesting that he has had some very poor luck this year given the .044 gap between that mark and his actual .282 wOBA.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jake Burger in the 92nd percentile when estimating his overall offensive ability. Minute Maid Park has the 2nd-shallowest LF dimensions among all stadiums. Jake Burger's launch angle this year (17.3°) is quite a bit higher than his 12.8° angle last season. Despite posting a .285 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Jake Burger has experienced some negative variance given the .054 discrepancy between that figure and his estimated true talent wOBA of .339. This year, Jake Burger's 12.7% Barrel%, a reliable metric for measuring power, places him in the 81st percentile among his peers.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Mauricio Dubon in the 83rd percentile when estimating his batting average talent. Mauricio Dubon will possess the home field advantage in today's matchup, which should boost all of his stats. Mauricio Dubon's ability to hit the ball at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has increased from last year to this one, rising from 12.1% to 21.4%. Mauricio Dubon has had bad variance on his side thus far when it comes to his batting average this year; his .262 mark is a good deal lower than his .282 Expected Batting Average, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data. Mauricio Dubon has shown strong plate discipline this year, grading out in the 75th percentile with a 1.83 K/BB rate.

Corey Seager projects as the 8th-best hitter in the majors, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Corey Seager is penciled in 2nd in the batting order in this matchup. Minute Maid Park has the smallest outfield in the majors — generally good for dingers. Corey Seager will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Lance McCullers Jr. in today's matchup. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Corey Seager's true offensive ability to be a .379, suggesting that he has had some very poor luck this year given the .020 disparity between that mark and his actual .359 wOBA.

Isaac Paredes is penciled in 1st in the batting order in this matchup. Isaac Paredes pulls a lot of his flyballs (46.9% — 100th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards baseball's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's matchup. Isaac Paredes will possess the home field advantage today, which figures to boost all of his stats. Isaac Paredes has seen a sizeable increase in his exit velocity this year; just compare his 87.3-mph average to last season's 85-mph EV. Compared to last year, Isaac Paredes has improved his ability to hit the ball at a launch angle ideal for base hits, increasing his percentage of balls hit between -4° and 26° from 39.7% to 45.2% this season.

Victor Caratini is penciled in 5th on the lineup card today. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter stats in all categories, and Victor Caratini will hold that advantage in today's game. Victor Caratini has seen a substantial increase in his exit velocity on flyballs this season; just compare his 92.8-mph average to last season's 89.9-mph average. There has been a significant improvement in Victor Caratini's launch angle from last season's 9.1° to 16° this season.

Jonah Heim's ability to hit the ball at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has increased from last season to this one, increasing from 11.1% to 14.9%.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Yainer Diaz in the 97th percentile when it comes to his batting average skill. Yainer Diaz will benefit from the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to boost all of his stats. Yainer Diaz's launch angle this year (11.8°) is a significant increase over his 8.7° mark last season. Despite posting a .292 wOBA this year, the leading projection system (THE BAT X) believes Yainer Diaz has experienced some negative variance given the .037 discrepancy between that mark and his estimated true talent wOBA of .329.

Jose Altuve's batting average ability is projected to be in the 90th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Jose Altuve is penciled in 3rd in the batting order in this game. Jose Altuve pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (40.8% — 99th percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards baseball's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's game. Jose Altuve will benefit from the home field advantage in today's matchup, which figures to boost all of his stats. Placing in the 77th percentile, Jose Altuve sits with a .274 batting average this year.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Marcus Semien in the 83rd percentile as it relates to his overall offensive ability. Marcus Semien is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card in this matchup. Marcus Semien pulls a lot of his flyballs (38% — 97th percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards baseball's 2nd-shallowest LF fences in today's game. Bats such as Marcus Semien with extreme flyball tendencies are usually more effective when facing pitchers like Lance McCullers Jr. who skew towards the groundball end of the spectrum. Marcus Semien's average launch angle on his hardest-hit balls this season (16.7°) is considerably better than his 13.5° mark last season.

Christian Walker is penciled in 4th in the batting order in this game. Christian Walker pulls many of his flyballs (33.7% — 79th percentile) and has the good fortune of hitting them towards the game's 2nd-shallowest LF fences today. Home field advantage generally boosts batter stats in all categories, and Christian Walker will hold that advantage today.

Minute Maid Park has the 2nd-shallowest LF dimensions among all stadiums. Home field advantage typically bolsters hitter stats across the board, and Brice Matthews will hold that advantage in today's matchup.