Pittsburgh @ Chicago Picks & Props

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Jack Suwinski will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Colin Rea in today's game. Last season, Jack Suwinski had an average launch angle of 8.5° on his hardest-contacted balls, while this season it has significantly increased to 25.1°. Jack Suwinski's average launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls lately (30.3° over the past 14 days) is a significant increase over his 25.1° seasonal figure. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.219) suggests that Jack Suwinski has been unlucky since the start of last season with his .165 actual batting average.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Henry Davis pulls a lot of his flyballs (36.2% — 93rd percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards MLB's 6th-shallowest LF fences in today's matchup. Henry Davis's speed has improved this year. His 27.73 ft/sec Statcast Sprint Speed last year sits at 28.22 ft/sec now. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.312) provides evidence that Henry Davis has suffered from bad luck this year with his .239 actual wOBA. In terms of the ability to lift the ball for power, Henry Davis ranks in the 94th percentile with a 23.1° launch angle, which is among the highest angles in MLB.

Nico Hoerner is penciled in 6th in the batting order in today's game. The leading projection system (THE BAT) projects Wrigley Field as the 5th-worst ballpark in MLB for right-handed batting average. Braxton Ashcraft will hold the platoon advantage against Nico Hoerner in today's game. Nico Hoerner has an 84th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.7%) but may find it hard to clear the league's 5th-deepest RF fences today. Out of all the teams in action today, the 3rd-strongest infield defense is that of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Bryan Reynolds in the 96th percentile when it comes to his BABIP skill. Bryan Reynolds is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. As a switch-hitter who is stronger from the 0 side of the plate, Bryan Reynolds will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his strong side against Colin Rea in this game. Bryan Reynolds's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has increased from last year to this one, rising from 44.3% to 49.5%.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. In terms of his wOBA and overall offense, Jared Triolo has had bad variance on his side this year. His .247 rate falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected wOBA (xwOBA) at .318. In terms of plate discipline, Jared Triolo's skill is quite strong, putting up a 1.7 K/BB rate this year while placing in in the 86th percentile.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Reese McGuire will have the handedness advantage over Braxton Ashcraft in today's game. The Pittsburgh Pirates have just 1 same-handed RP in their bullpen, so Reese McGuire stands a good chance of holding the advantage against every reliever all game. Reese McGuire will hold the home field advantage in today's game, which should bolster all of his stats. Reese McGuire has seen a big increase in his exit velocity on flyballs this season; just compare his 93.4-mph average to last year's 89.1-mph figure.

When it comes to his overall offensive skill, Tommy Pham ranks in the 75th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Tommy Pham is projected to bat 4th in the batting order in this game, which would be an upgrade from his 60% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the batting order this season. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Tommy Pham has seen a significant increase in his exit velocity in recent games; just compare his 94.2-mph average in the last two weeks to his seasonal 91.7-mph average.

When assessing his overall offensive ability, Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks in the 79th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Pete Crow-Armstrong is projected to hit 5th in the lineup today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Hitting from the opposite that Braxton Ashcraft throws from, Pete Crow-Armstrong will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Pete Crow-Armstrong will probably have an advantage against every reliever for the whole game, since the bullpen of the Pittsburgh Pirates has just 1 same-handed RP.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Matt Shaw will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which should bolster all of his stats. In the last 7 days, Matt Shaw's Barrel% has experienced a surge, jumping from his seasonal rate of 6.4% up to 25%. Matt Shaw has been hot in recent games, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 84.3-mph to 94.8-mph in the past week. Compared to his seasonal average of 11.7°, Matt Shaw has significantly improved his launch angle in recent games, posting a 32° angle in the past week's worth of games.

When it comes to his overall offensive talent, Ian Happ ranks in the 88th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Ian Happ is projected to bat 4th in the lineup in this matchup. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. The switch-hitting Ian Happ will get to bat from his strong side (0) today against Braxton Ashcraft. Ian Happ will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to improve all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Andrew McCutchen in the 82nd percentile when it comes to his overall offensive talent. Andrew McCutchen is penciled in 5th in the batting order today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Andrew McCutchen pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (34.6% — 86th percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards the league's 6th-shallowest LF fences in today's game. Andrew McCutchen has been hot recently, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 89.5-mph to 92.1-mph in the last 14 days.

When assessing his overall offensive ability, Michael Busch ranks in the 92nd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Michael Busch is projected to hit 1st on the lineup card today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Michael Busch will have the handedness advantage over Braxton Ashcraft in today's matchup. Michael Busch will probably have the upper hand against every reliever throughout the game, since the bullpen of the Pittsburgh Pirates has just 1 same-handed RP.

Spencer Horwitz is projected to bat 2nd on the lineup card in this game. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Batting from the opposite that Colin Rea throws from, Spencer Horwitz will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Spencer Horwitz has a 93rd percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.8%) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Over the last week, Spencer Horwitz's 25% rate of hitting balls at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 20.1%.

Ronny Simon is projected to hit 1st in the batting order in this game, which would be an upgrade from his 94% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the lineup this year. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Ranking in the 87th percentile for Sprint Speed at 28.84 ft/sec this year, Ronny Simon is quite fast.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa's batting average skill is projected to be in the 87th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Over the last 7 days, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's 60% rate of hitting balls at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 45.9%.

Kyle Tucker projects as the 11th-best batter in the game, via the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Kyle Tucker is projected to bat 3rd on the lineup card today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Kyle Tucker will have the handedness advantage over Braxton Ashcraft in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates have just 1 same-handed RP in their bullpen, so Kyle Tucker stands a good chance of never facing a bullpen mismatch all game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Owen Caissie in the 97th percentile when estimating his BABIP skill. Owen Caissie is projected to bat 5th in the lineup in today's game. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Owen Caissie will have the handedness advantage over Braxton Ashcraft in today's game. Owen Caissie has a good chance to have the upper hand against every reliever for the whole game, since the bullpen of the Pittsburgh Pirates has just 1 same-handed RP.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Dansby Swanson in the 87th percentile as it relates to his BABIP ability. The 6th-shallowest left field dimensions in the league are found in Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Dansby Swanson will have the benefit of the home field advantage today, which figures to improve all of his stats. In the past week, Dansby Swanson's exit velocity on flyballs has seen a big rise, from 94.2-mph over the course of the season to 102.7-mph in recent games.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Seiya Suzuki ranks as the 16th-best hitter in the majors. Seiya Suzuki is projected to bat 2nd in the lineup today. The 6th-shallowest left field dimensions in the league are found in Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Seiya Suzuki will benefit from the home field advantage in today's game, which figures to bolster all of his stats.

Carson Kelly is projected to hit 4th on the lineup card in this matchup. The 6th-shallowest left field dimensions in the league are found in Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation generally leads to better offense. Carson Kelly will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which ought to bolster all of his stats. Carson Kelly has been hot in recent games, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 89.6-mph to 92.6-mph over the last week.