Athletics @ Boston Picks & Props

The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. JJ Bleday will have the handedness advantage over Brayan Bello today... and moreover, Bello has a large platoon split. JJ Bleday hits a high percentage of his flyballs to center field (38.7% — 84th percentile) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting towards MLB's 3rd-shallowest CF fences today. Extreme groundball hitters like JJ Bleday tend to perform better against extreme flyball pitchers like Brayan Bello.

When it comes to his overall offensive skill, Lawrence Butler ranks in the 77th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Lawrence Butler is projected to bat 1st in the lineup in this game. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Given Brayan Bello's large platoon split, Lawrence Butler will have a gigantic advantage batting from the opposite side of the plate today. Lawrence Butler has a 95th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (37.8%) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's shallowest LF fences today.

The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. David Hamilton will hold the platoon advantage over J.T. Ginn in today's game... and even more favorably, Ginn has a large platoon split. David Hamilton has a 76th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34%) and has the good fortune of hitting them in the direction of MLB's shallowest LF fences today. Home field advantage typically boosts hitter metrics in all categories, and David Hamilton will hold that advantage in today's game. Ranking in the 94th percentile for Sprint Speed at 29.29 ft/sec this year, David Hamilton is remarkably fast.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Darell Hernaiz in the 84th percentile as it relates to his batting average ability. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Darell Hernaiz hits a high percentage of his flyballs to center field (41.6% — 100th percentile) and is fortunate to face the league's 3rd-shallowest CF fences in today's game. Using Statcast metrics, Darell Hernaiz is in the 77th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average this year at .264. In terms of plate discipline, Darell Hernaiz's talent is quite good, putting up a 1.01 K/BB rate this year while placing in in the 98th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Nathaniel Lowe in the 75th percentile when estimating his BABIP ability. Nathaniel Lowe is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card in this game. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Nathaniel Lowe will hold the platoon advantage against J.T. Ginn today... and moreover, Ginn has a large platoon split. Nathaniel Lowe has a 98th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (39.8%) and has the good fortune of hitting them out towards MLB's shallowest LF fences in today's matchup.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Tyler Soderstrom in the 85th percentile when assessing his overall offensive skill. Tyler Soderstrom is penciled in 4th on the lineup card today. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Given Brayan Bello's large platoon split, Tyler Soderstrom will have a tremendous advantage hitting from the opposite side of the plate in today's game. Tyler Soderstrom has a 91st percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (36.6%) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them in the direction of the game's shallowest LF fences in today's matchup.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Nicholas Kurtz in the 96th percentile when it comes to his overall offensive talent. Nicholas Kurtz is penciled in 3rd in the batting order today. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Because of Brayan Bello's large platoon split, Nicholas Kurtz will have a colossal advantage hitting from the opposite side of the plate today. Nicholas Kurtz has an 89th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (35.9%) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's shallowest LF fences in today's game.

Jarren Duran's BABIP skill is projected in the 96th percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Jarren Duran is penciled in 1st on the lineup card in this matchup. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Jarren Duran will hold the platoon advantage over J.T. Ginn in today's matchup... and the cherry on top, Ginn has a large platoon split. Jarren Duran has a 96th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (38.1%) and will have a big advantage hitting them in the direction of the league's shallowest LF fences today.

Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Willie MacIver has a 96th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (38.4%) and is a great match for the park considering he'll be hitting them out towards the game's 3rd-shallowest RF fences today.

When it comes to his batting average skill, Jacob Wilson is projected as the 15th-best batter in MLB by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Jacob Wilson is projected to hit 5th in the batting order in today's game. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Among all major league stadiums, Fenway Park's LF dimensions are the shallowest. In the last two weeks, Jacob Wilson's 60% rate of hitting balls at a base hit-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 47.7%.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Masataka Yoshida in the 90th percentile when estimating his batting average ability. Masataka Yoshida is projected to hit 4th in the batting order today. The #4 park in MLB for boosting batting average to lefties, per the leading projection system (THE BAT), is Fenway Park. Among all major league parks, Fenway Park's RF fences are the 3rd-shallowest. Because of J.T. Ginn's large platoon split, Masataka Yoshida will have a tremendous advantage batting from the opposite side of the plate in this game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Rob Refsnyder in the 95th percentile as it relates to his BABIP talent. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Among all major league stadiums, Fenway Park's LF dimensions are the shallowest. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter stats in all categories, and Rob Refsnyder will hold that advantage today. Rob Refsnyder has been hot lately, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 93.1-mph to 100.5-mph over the last 14 days.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Zack Gelof in the 81st percentile when it comes to his BABIP talent. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Zack Gelof hits many of his flyballs to center field (39% — 89th percentile) and is fortunate to face the league's 3rd-shallowest CF fences in today's game. Zack Gelof has seen a notable improvement in his exit velocity on flyballs lately; just compare his 100.3-mph average in the past 14 days to his seasonal mark of 97-mph. Last season, Zack Gelof had an average launch angle of 17.1° on his hardest-contacted balls, while this season it has significantly increased to 22.8°.

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Shea Langeliers ranks in the 92nd percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Shea Langeliers is projected to hit 2nd in the lineup in this game. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Shea Langeliers pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (35.8% — 91st percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards MLB's shallowest LF fences in today's game. Shea Langeliers has seen a significant increase in his exit velocity in recent games; just compare his 97.2-mph average in the last two weeks' worth of games to his seasonal 90.8-mph average.

Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Among all major league stadiums, Fenway Park's LF dimensions are the shallowest. Connor Wong will benefit from the home field advantage today, which figures to improve all of his stats. The leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimates Connor Wong's true offensive talent to be a .298, suggesting that he has suffered from bad luck this year given the .059 difference between that figure and his actual .239 wOBA. Connor Wong has recorded a .320 BABIP since the start of last season, ranking in the 85th percentile.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Brent Rooker ranks as the 14th-best batter in Major League Baseball. Brent Rooker is projected to hit 2nd on the lineup card in this matchup. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Brent Rooker pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (33.5% — 79th percentile) and will have a big advantage hitting them towards the game's shallowest LF fences in today's matchup. Batters such as Brent Rooker with extreme flyball tendencies are usually more effective when facing pitchers like Brayan Bello who skew towards the groundball end of the spectrum.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Romy Gonzalez as the 11th-best batter in the league as it relates to his BABIP talent. Romy Gonzalez is penciled in 5th in the batting order today. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Romy Gonzalez has a 95th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (37.8%) and will have a big advantage hitting them out towards the game's 3rd-shallowest RF fences today. Romy Gonzalez will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's game, which should bolster all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ceddanne Rafaela in the 77th percentile when estimating his batting average ability. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Ceddanne Rafaela hits a high percentage of his flyballs to center field (39.2% — 92nd percentile) and will have a big advantage facing the game's 3rd-shallowest CF fences in today's matchup. Ceddanne Rafaela will benefit from the home field advantage in today's game, which should bolster all of his stats. In the past week's worth of games, Ceddanne Rafaela's 60% rate of hitting balls at a base hit-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) shows big improvement over his seasonal rate of 41.4%.

Trevor Story's BABIP ability is projected in the 81st percentile by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Trevor Story is projected to hit 2nd on the lineup card in this game. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Trevor Story has an 80th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (34.4%) and has the good fortune of hitting them out towards MLB's 3rd-shallowest RF fences in today's game. Trevor Story will possess the home field advantage in today's matchup, which should bolster all of his stats.

Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Nate Eaton hits a lot of his flyballs to center field (39.8% — 96th percentile) and is fortunate to face MLB's 3rd-shallowest CF fences today. Nate Eaton will possess the home field advantage in today's game, which should improve all of his stats. Nate Eaton has seen a big gain in his exit velocity on flyballs in recent games; just compare his 104.8-mph average in the last 7 days to his seasonal figure of 90.8-mph. Nate Eaton's launch angle of late (17.7° in the past week's worth of games) is quite a bit better than his 11.4° seasonal figure.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Alex Bregman in the 93rd percentile as it relates to his overall offensive ability. Alex Bregman is penciled in 3rd on the lineup card in this matchup. Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Alex Bregman pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (35.9% — 91st percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the league's shallowest LF fences in today's game. Extreme flyball batters like Alex Bregman tend to be more successful against extreme groundball pitchers like J.T. Ginn.

Fenway Park projects as the #4 park in MLB for RHB batting average, per the leading projection system (THE BAT). Carlos Narvaez has a 75th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (33.9%) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them in the direction of MLB's 3rd-shallowest RF fences in today's matchup. Carlos Narvaez will possess the home field advantage today, which ought to improve all of his stats. Carlos Narvaez has made big strides with his Barrel% lately, improving his 9.4% seasonal rate to 16.7% in the last week. Carlos Narvaez's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-optimizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has improved lately, going from 43.2% on the season to 60% over the last 14 days.

Max Schuemann has gone over 0.5 in 4 of his last 10 games.