vs Angels · April 10–12, 2026 · 13 games played this season
Apr 10: vs Jack Kochanowicz (RHP) · Apr 11: vs George Klassen (RHP) · Apr 12: vs José Soriano (RHP)
ON THE MOUNDCincinnati starters for this series
Chase Burns
RHP · Apr 10 vs LAA
Dealing
ERA / WHIP
0.82 / 0.91 (4.57 in 2025)
↓
Fastball Velocity
98.5
↓
K%-BB%
27.9% (27.1% in 2025)
~
Hard-Hit Rate Allowed
21.7% (34.3% in 2025)
↓
Whiff Rate
20.6% (15.8% in 2025)
↑
Ground Ball Rate
47.8% (35.9% in 2025)
↑
Chase Rate
36.4%
↓
Start Projection · Apr 10 vs LAA
PROJ IP
5.5
PROJ ERA
3.34
PROJ K
7.5
QS%
50%
Absolutely dominant through two starts, making hitters look helpless. The fastball is sitting where it always does, and the slider has been unhittable. Hitters are barely putting the ball in play, let alone hitting it hard. The projection system is more cautious than the results suggest, but nothing in the data says he is getting lucky.
Brandon Williamson
LHP · Apr 11 vs LAA
Mixed Bag
ERA / WHIP
4.76 / 1.08 (3.77 in 2024)
↑
Fastball Velocity
93.1
↑
K%-BB%
8.7% (11.9% in 2024)
~
Expected ERA
7.78 (4.75 in 2024)
↑
Hard-Hit Rate Allowed
30.6% (42.5% in 2024)
↓
Chase Rate
30.4% (23.0% in 2024)
↑
FIP
6.15
~
Start Projection · Apr 11 vs LAA
PROJ IP
5.0
PROJ ERA
4.34
PROJ K
5.0
QS%
40%
Coming back from Tommy John surgery, his first start against Pittsburgh was ugly: three homers and six earned runs. But he overhauled his entire approach between starts, doubling his changeup usage and shelving the pitches that got crushed. The result was a shutout in Miami. Watch whether he sticks with the changeup and cutter, because that version of Williamson is a completely different pitcher.
Andrew Abbott
LHP · Apr 12 vs LAA
Mixed Bag
ERA / WHIP
3.18 / 1.41
~
Fastball Velocity
92.7
↓
K%-BB%
6.9% (15.5% in 2025)
~
Ground Ball Rate
57.4% (31.8% in 2025)
↑
Hard-Hit Rate Allowed
32.7% (27.0% in 2025)
↑
Expected ERA
4.08
↑
Chase Rate
31.1%
↓
Start Projection · Apr 12 vs LAA
PROJ IP
5.6
PROJ ERA
4.21
PROJ K
6.0
QS%
50%
The strikeouts are down and the walks are up from his All-Star 2025 season, but do not count him out early. Abbott is a grinder who often starts slow and gets tougher as the game goes on, finding ways to keep his team in it even when the stuff is not at its sharpest. His slider has actually gotten nastier this year, and that pitch alone can carry him through a lineup.
HEAT METERProduction vs. 2025 · Bar size = OPS · Bar color = Contact Quality
Sal Stewart
LF/1B On Fire
1.200
xwOBA: 0.476
Elly De La Cruz
SS Steady
0.733
xwOBA: 0.328
Matt McLain
2B Mixed Signals
0.644
xwOBA: 0.363
Eugenio Suárez
DH Fading
0.623
xwOBA: 0.239
Tyler Stephenson
C Trending Up
0.609
xwOBA: 0.299
Spencer Steer
2B Chasing Pitches
0.583
xwOBA: 0.274
Dane Myers
RF Due
0.563
xwOBA: 0.497
Will Benson
LF Cold Start
0.558
xwOBA: 0.164
Nathaniel Lowe
1B Small Sample
0.552
xwOBA: 0.276
TJ Friedl
CF Chasing Pitches
0.452
xwOBA: 0.245
Noelvi Marte
3B Quiet Bat
0.377
xwOBA: 0.140
Jose Trevino
C 10-Day IL
0.258
xwOBA: 0.236
Ke'Bryan Hayes
3B Unlucky
0.248
xwOBA: 0.318
P.J. Higgins
C Early Days
0.000
xwOBA: 0.000
Contact Score .450+
.380–.449
.330–.379
.290–.329
Below .290
Bar size = OPS (actual production). Bar color = Contact Quality (xwOBA). Wide + warm color: it's real. Narrow + warm color: a breakout may be coming. Wide + cold color: results ahead of the contact.
WHO TO WATCH THIS SERIESPlayer cards sorted by OPS
Sal Stewart
LF/1B · 13G, 55 PA
On Fire
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.364 / 0.473 / 0.727
↑
OPS
1.200
↑
Contact Score
0.476
↑
Walk Rate
18.2%
↑
Hard-Hit Rate
54.1% (+9.1 vs 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
14.5% (-11.3 vs 2025)
↓
Barrel Rate
19.0%
↑
Series Projection
R
1.4
HR
0.5
RBI
1.7
SB
0.2
0.274 / 0.354 / 0.475 · 12 PA
The best bat in the lineup through the first two weeks, and the numbers underneath back it up. He came out swinging against the Red Sox at home and has stayed dangerous, making consistently hard contact through the Pirates series, in Texas, and in Miami. Watch how pitchers adjust to him this weekend, because right now nobody has an answer.
Elly De La Cruz
SS · 13G, 58 PA
Steady
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.231 / 0.310 / 0.423
↓
OPS
0.733
↓
Contact Score
0.328
↑
Strikeout Rate
31.0% (+5.1 vs 2025)
↑
Hard-Hit Rate
41.2% (+7.3 vs 2025)
↑
Avg Exit Velocity
93.6
↑
Barrel Rate
8.8%
↓
Series Projection
R
1.5
HR
0.5
RBI
1.6
SB
0.7
0.252 / 0.343 / 0.451 · 12 PA
Flashes of brilliance mixed with stretches of empty at-bats, the classic Elly experience. He was building momentum through the Pirates series and in Texas before cooling off in Miami. Look for whether he is hunting pitches in the zone or expanding, because that is the whole ballgame with him.
Matt McLain
2B · 13G, 60 PA
Mixed Signals
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.235 / 0.350 / 0.294
↑
OPS
0.644
↑
Contact Score
0.363
↑
Chase Rate
22.2% (-7.0 vs 2025)
↓
Bat Speed
72.0
↑
Hard-Hit Rate
25.0% (-7.9 vs 2025)
↓
Strikeout Rate
25.0%
↓
Series Projection
R
1.6
HR
0.3
RBI
1.2
SB
0.3
0.232 / 0.323 / 0.381 · 12 PA
He exploded against the Red Sox, went ice cold against the Pirates, then settled into a steady groove in Texas and Miami. The quality of contact has stayed solid even when the hits dried up, so the production has room to climb. Watch for early count aggressiveness, because he is at his best when he is not chasing.
Eugenio Suárez
DH · 13G, 52 PA
Fading
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.208 / 0.269 / 0.354
↓
OPS
0.623
↓
Contact Score
0.239
↓
Strikeout Rate
30.8%
↑
Avg Exit Velocity
86.8 (90.2 in 2025)
↓
Hard-Hit Rate
28.1% (-9.5 vs 2025)
↓
Barrel Rate
6.3% (-8.0 vs 2025)
↓
Series Projection
R
0.9
HR
0.3
RBI
0.9
SB
0.1
0.231 / 0.320 / 0.393 · 8 PA
Hit a homer against the Red Sox and looked decent against the Pirates, but the bat has gone quiet in Texas and Miami. The strikeout rate is up and the contact quality has been declining series over series. He needs to start driving the ball again soon, or this early slump could settle in.
Tyler Stephenson
C · 10G, 33 PA
Trending Up
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.167 / 0.242 / 0.367
↓
OPS
0.609
↓
Contact Score
0.299
↓
Avg Exit Velocity
95.3 (90.5 in 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
30.3%
↓
Chase Rate
21.2% (-7.9 vs 2025)
↓
Expected Avg
0.220
↑
Series Projection
R
0.9
HR
0.3
RBI
0.9
SB
0.1
0.231 / 0.320 / 0.393 · 8 PA
Started the season hitless against the Red Sox and Pirates at home, but has been building steadily since. Each series has been better than the last, with a homer in Texas and another in Miami. Pay attention early in games when he tends to be most locked in.
Spencer Steer
2B · 11G, 43 PA
Chasing Pitches
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.200 / 0.233 / 0.350
↓
OPS
0.583
↓
Contact Score
0.274
↓
Chase Rate
37.9% (+9.3 vs 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
30.2% (+7.5 vs 2025)
↑
Walk Rate
4.7%
↓
Barrel Rate
11.1%
↑
Series Projection
R
1.1
HR
0.3
RBI
1.1
SB
0.2
0.233 / 0.325 / 0.403 · 10 PA
Was completely shut down against the Red Sox and Pirates at home, then erupted with five hits and a homer in Texas before coming back to earth in Miami. The chase rate has crept up from where it was last year, which is dragging the rest of his numbers down. See if he can tighten up his approach against a young Angels pitching staff.
Dane Myers
RF · 12G, 20 PA
Due
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.263 / 0.300 / 0.263
↓
OPS
0.563
↓
Contact Score
0.497
↑
Expected Avg
0.380
↑
Chase Rate
18.5% (-9.0 vs 2025)
↓
Strikeout Rate
15.0% (-8.1 vs 2025)
↓
Avg Exit Velocity
88.2
↓
Series Projection
R
0.7
HR
0.1
RBI
0.7
SB
0.2
0.237 / 0.305 / 0.366 · 6 PA
Small sample, but when he has made contact the ball has jumped off the bat. The gap between his results and his contact quality is one of the widest on the team, which means better days should be coming. He had his wrist checked out after a fall on April 9, so keep an eye on whether he is in the lineup.
Will Benson
LF · 12G, 28 PA
Cold Start
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.192 / 0.250 / 0.308
↓
OPS
0.558
↓
Contact Score
0.164
↓
Hard-Hit Rate
17.6% (-19.6 vs 2025)
↓
Strikeout Rate
32.1% (+5.7 vs 2025)
↑
Barrel Rate
0.0% (-15.4 vs 2025)
↓
Avg Exit Velocity
89.3 (92.4 in 2025)
↓
Series Projection
R
0.6
HR
0.1
RBI
0.6
SB
0.1
0.210 / 0.309 / 0.375 · 5 PA
Had a decent stretch in Texas against the Rangers but has gone cold since, especially in Miami. The contact quality has been poor throughout, which means the few good results he had were more luck than skill. He needs to find his power stroke to turn things around.
Nathaniel Lowe
1B · 7G, 15 PA
Small Sample
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.214 / 0.267 / 0.286
↓
OPS
0.552
↓
Contact Score
0.276
↓
Hard-Hit Rate
50.0% (+17.9 vs 2025)
↑
Chase Rate
36.6% (+9.3 vs 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
13.3% (-12.8 vs 2025)
↓
Expected Avg
0.289
↑
Series Projection
R
0.6
HR
0.1
RBI
0.6
SB
0.0
0.239 / 0.340 / 0.395 · 5 PA
Limited action so far with only a handful of plate appearances spread across four series. He has put together competitive at-bats when he plays, but there is not enough of a sample to draw real conclusions. A full series would tell us a lot more.
TJ Friedl
CF · 13G, 56 PA
Chasing Pitches
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.167 / 0.286 / 0.167
↓
OPS
0.452
↓
Contact Score
0.245
↓
Hard-Hit Rate
14.7% (-12.4 vs 2025)
↓
Chase Rate
33.3% (+11.6 vs 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
25.0% (+8.2 vs 2025)
↑
Avg Exit Velocity
83.6 (87.1 in 2025)
↓
Series Projection
R
1.6
HR
0.3
RBI
1.1
SB
0.2
0.236 / 0.335 / 0.364 · 12 PA
Patient at the plate with plenty of walks but not much damage when he swings. Miami was his best series, with five hits after a long dry spell against the Red Sox, Pirates, and Rangers. Watch for whether he starts pulling the ball with any authority, because the power has been completely absent so far.
Noelvi Marte
3B · 8G, 22 PA
Quiet Bat
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.150 / 0.227 / 0.150
↓
OPS
0.377
↓
Contact Score
0.140
↓
Chase Rate
55.2% (+18.1 vs 2025)
↑
Strikeout Rate
36.4% (+12.8 vs 2025)
↑
Barrel Rate
0.0% (-9.0 vs 2025)
↓
Walk Rate
9.1%
↑
Series Projection
R
0.6
HR
0.2
RBI
0.6
SB
0.1
0.244 / 0.307 / 0.411 · 5 PA
Very few at-bats to work with, and neither the results nor the contact quality have been encouraging. He has not been making competitive swings, and until that changes the numbers will stay cold. Needs more consistent playing time to find a rhythm.
Ke'Bryan Hayes
3B · 12G, 33 PA
Unlucky
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.097 / 0.152 / 0.097
↓
OPS
0.248
↓
Contact Score
0.318
↑
Expected Avg
0.267
↑
Strikeout Rate
9.1% (-10.4 vs 2025)
↓
Avg Exit Velocity
91.9
↑
Chase Rate
27.1%
↓
Series Projection
R
0.8
HR
0.1
RBI
0.8
SB
0.1
0.239 / 0.305 / 0.353 · 7 PA
Only three hits across four series, and most of the at-bats have been unproductive. But the underlying contact quality tells a different story, suggesting he has been hitting the ball harder than the results show. If the luck turns even slightly, the numbers could move in a hurry, but the production so far has been almost nonexistent.
Jose Trevino
C · 3G, 12 PA
10-Day IL
AVG / OBP / SLG
0.091 / 0.167 / 0.091
↓
OPS
0.258
↓
Contact Score
0.236
↓
Avg Exit Velocity
75.5 (87.9 in 2025)
↓
Expected Avg
0.219
↓
Strikeout Rate
25.0% (+12.1 vs 2025)
↑
Chase Rate
30.0% (-5.5 vs 2025)
↓
Series Projection
R
0.8
HR
0.1
RBI
0.8
SB
0.1
0.239 / 0.305 / 0.353 · 7 PA
Backup duty means just a handful of plate appearances spread thin. Not enough data to read anything into the numbers. When he does catch, watch how he handles the pitching staff as much as anything.
P.J. Higgins
C · 1G, 3 PA
Early Days
Series Projection
R
0.5
HR
0.1
RBI
0.5
SB
0.0
0.218 / 0.282 / 0.317 · 5 PA
A 32-year-old career backup who has bounced between the majors and minors since the Cubs drafted him in 2015. He started as a second baseman at Old Dominion before converting to catcher, and pitchers have always loved throwing to him. He is here because of his glove and his game management skills, not his bat, and three plate appearances tell you nothing about either.