PITCHER MATCHUP

Max Scherzer vs Kansas City Royals

How the Kansas City Royals's current regulars (top 9 by at-bats) project against Max Scherzer's season-to-date arsenal — not the posted lineup for any single game.

Max Scherzer's arsenal

Throws RHPvs LHH xwOBA .351vs RHH xwOBA .300Seasons 2026–2025–2024
Four-Seam Fastball 48%Slider 23%Changeup 14%Curveball 13%Cutter 2%

How the Kansas City Royals's regulars project

Projected expected wOBA for each of the Kansas City Royals's top-9-by-AB hitters against Max Scherzer, by batting order. A season-to-date read — lower favors the pitcher.

Lineup avg xwOBA .318
  1. 1 SP Salvador Perez RHB .323
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Salvador Perez
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .361 xwOBA over 461 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .292 xwOBA over 282 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .259 xwOBA over 177 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 111 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  2. 2 BW Bobby Witt Jr. RHB .362
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Bobby Witt Jr.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .384 xwOBA over 487 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .318 xwOBA over 312 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .348 xwOBA over 194 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .378 xwOBA over 96 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  3. 3 JC Jac Caglianone LHB .357
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jac Caglianone
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .361 xwOBA over 177 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .411 xwOBA over 91 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .290 xwOBA over 91 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .320 xwOBA over 47 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  4. 4 CJ Carter Jensen LHB .307
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Carter Jensen
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 157 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .298 xwOBA over 87 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 54 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 29 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 IC Isaac Collins SH .305
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Isaac Collins
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 382 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 66 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .249 xwOBA over 100 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .294 xwOBA over 43 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 MM Michael Massey LHB .292
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Michael Massey
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .278 xwOBA over 347 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 103 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .275 xwOBA over 160 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .330 xwOBA over 42 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  7. 7 VP Vinnie Pasquantino LHB .321
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Vinnie Pasquantino
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .334 xwOBA over 564 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .301 xwOBA over 156 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 203 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .326 xwOBA over 92 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  8. 8 NL Nick Loftin RHB .304
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nick Loftin
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 218 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .292 xwOBA over 95 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .272 xwOBA over 56 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .333 xwOBA over 26 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  9. 9 KI Kyle Isbel LHB .293
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Kyle Isbel
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .306 xwOBA over 341 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (23% usage) projects to .286 xwOBA over 106 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .268 xwOBA over 134 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (13% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 79 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
Full pitch-by-pitch breakdown, with pitch-zone heatmaps →

Next scheduled meeting: 2026-08-25 game page →