New York @ Chicago Picks & Props

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Extreme flyball hitters like Brett Baty tend to be more successful against extreme groundball pitchers like Shota Imanaga. Brett Baty has seen a big gain in his exit velocity on flyballs this season; just compare his 95.5-mph average to last season's 91.3-mph mark. Brett Baty's ability to hit the ball at a BABIP-maximizing launch angle (between -4° and 26°) has gotten better in recent games, going from 47.2% on the season to 57.9% over the last two weeks. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.343) suggests that Brett Baty has had some very poor luck this year with his .321 actual wOBA.

Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today. Home field advantage generally improves hitter stats in all categories, and Carson Kelly will hold that advantage in today's game. Carson Kelly has compiled a .343 Expected wOBA (xwOBA) this year, grading out in the 81st percentile for offensive ability according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Jeff McNeil's ability to hit the ball at a HR-maximizing launch angle (between 23° and 34°) has increased of late, going from 17.2% on the season to 25% in the last week. Sporting a 1.03 K/BB rate this year, Jeff McNeil has demonstrated impressive plate discipline, checking in at the 99th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ian Happ in the 92nd percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Ian Happ is projected to bat 3rd in the lineup in today's game. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. As a switch-hitter who is stronger from the 0 side of the plate, Ian Happ will get to bat from his better side against a pitcher with a large platoon split (Nolan McLean) in this game. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today.

As it relates to his overall offensive skill, Francisco Alvarez ranks in the 79th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Batting from the opposite that Shota Imanaga throws from, Francisco Alvarez will have the upper hand in today's matchup. In comparison to his 88.7-mph average last year, Francisco Alvarez's exit velocity has noticeably risen this season, now sitting at 93.4 mph. Francisco Alvarez has seen a notable improvement in his exit velocity on flyballs lately; just compare his 101.8-mph average over the last week to his seasonal figure of 96.7-mph.

When assessing his overall offensive skill, Michael Busch ranks in the 94th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Michael Busch is projected to bat 1st in the lineup in this game. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Michael Busch will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Nolan McLean in today's game... and even more favorably, McLean has a large platoon split. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today.

When assessing his overall offensive talent, Dansby Swanson ranks in the 86th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today. Home field advantage generally bolsters batter stats across the board, and Dansby Swanson will hold that advantage in today's game.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Starling Marte in the 92nd percentile as it relates to his BABIP ability. Starling Marte is penciled in 4th on the lineup card in this matchup. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Starling Marte will hold the platoon advantage over Shota Imanaga today. Bats such as Starling Marte with extreme flyball tendencies are usually more effective when facing pitchers like Shota Imanaga who skew towards the groundball end of the spectrum.

When assessing his overall offensive talent, Francisco Lindor ranks in the 95th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Francisco Lindor is projected to bat 1st in the batting order today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. As a switch-hitter who is best from the 0 side of the dish, Francisco Lindor will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his good side against Shota Imanaga today. Francisco Lindor pulls many of his flyballs (36.3% — 92nd percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the game's 6th-shallowest LF fences in today's game.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Seiya Suzuki ranks as the 18th-best hitter in the game. Seiya Suzuki is penciled in 5th on the lineup card in this game. Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Extreme flyball bats like Seiya Suzuki generally hit better against extreme groundball pitchers like Nolan McLean.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Juan Soto ranks as the 3rd-best batter in Major League Baseball. Juan Soto is projected to hit 2nd on the lineup card today. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Juan Soto has been unlucky this year, notching a .395 wOBA despite the leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimating his true talent level to be .413 — a .018 discrepancy. Juan Soto has posted a .394 Expected wOBA (xwOBA) this year, ranking in the 99th percentile for hitting ability according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today. Matt Shaw will have the benefit of the home field advantage in today's matchup, which ought to boost all of his stats. Matt Shaw's launch angle in recent games (17.7° over the past 14 days) is a significant increase over his 13.9° seasonal angle.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Nico Hoerner as the 11th-best hitter in the game when assessing his batting average ability. Nico Hoerner has primarily hit in the back-half of the batting order this year (76% of the time), but he is projected to bat 2nd on the lineup card in today's game. Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Brandon Nimmo in the 92nd percentile when it comes to his overall offensive skill. Brandon Nimmo is projected to hit 5th on the lineup card in this game. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Brandon Nimmo has a 95th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (37.6%) and will have a big advantage hitting them out towards the game's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. This year, Brandon Nimmo has an average exit velocity of 91.9 mph, which is one of the best in the majors at the 90th percentile.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT X), Pete Alonso ranks as the 15th-best hitter in the game. Pete Alonso is penciled in 3rd on the lineup card today. Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Pete Alonso will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Shota Imanaga today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Luisangel Acuna in the 82nd percentile when it comes to his BABIP ability. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Luisangel Acuna will have the handedness advantage against Shota Imanaga today. Hitters such as Luisangel Acuna with extreme flyball tendencies are usually more effective when facing pitchers like Shota Imanaga who skew towards the groundball end of the spectrum.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Luis Torrens will hold the platoon advantage against Shota Imanaga in today's matchup. Based on Statcast metrics, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected Batting Average (.301) may lead us to conclude that Luis Torrens has been unlucky this year with his .225 actual batting average. Luis Torrens's 95.5-mph exit velocity on flyballs (an advanced standard to assess power) grades out in the 86th percentile this year. The standard deviation of Luis Torrens's launch angle this year (23.4°) is in the 100th percentile. A low deviation like this tends to lead to a higher rate of base hits.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Moises Ballesteros in the 81st percentile as it relates to his batting average skill. Moises Ballesteros has primarily hit in the back-half of the lineup this year (53% of the time), but he is projected to hit 4th in the lineup in this matchup. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Given Nolan McLean's large platoon split, Moises Ballesteros will have an enormous advantage batting from the opposite side of the plate today. The New York Mets infield defense grades out as the 11th-worst among every team today.

Mark Vientos is projected to hit 4th in the lineup in this matchup. Wrigley Field has the 6th-shallowest LF dimensions in the majors. Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Mark Vientos will have the benefit of the platoon advantage against Shota Imanaga in today's matchup. Mark Vientos has been hot lately, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 91.4-mph to 94.8-mph in the past week.

Wrigley Field sits at the 10th-highest altitude in Major League Baseball. High elevation often leads to higher offensive output. Hitting from the opposite that Shota Imanaga throws from, Tyrone Taylor will have an advantage in today's matchup. Tyrone Taylor pulls many of his flyballs (34.7% — 86th percentile) and sets up very well considering he'll be hitting them towards the league's 6th-shallowest LF fences today. Tyrone Taylor has been unlucky this year, posting a .260 wOBA despite the leading projection system (THE BAT X) estimating his true talent level to be .300 — a .040 difference.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has gone over 0.5 in 5 of his last 10 games.