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 .344vs RHH xwOBA .288Seasons 2026–2025–2024
Four-Seam Fastball 48%Slider 21%Changeup 14%Curveball 14%Cutter 3%

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 .325
  1. 1 SP Salvador Perez RHB .329
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Salvador Perez
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .369 xwOBA over 482 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .292 xwOBA over 297 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .269 xwOBA over 184 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .313 xwOBA over 122 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 154 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  2. 2 BW Bobby Witt Jr. RHB .361
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Bobby Witt Jr.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .386 xwOBA over 517 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .317 xwOBA over 334 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .353 xwOBA over 203 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .354 xwOBA over 106 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .352 xwOBA over 195 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  3. 3 CJ Carter Jensen LHB .320
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Carter Jensen
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .307 xwOBA over 188 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .322 xwOBA over 99 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .327 xwOBA over 66 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .342 xwOBA over 39 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .383 xwOBA over 44 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  4. 4 JC Jac Caglianone LHB .357
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jac Caglianone
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .364 xwOBA over 198 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .403 xwOBA over 100 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .300 xwOBA over 102 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .326 xwOBA over 55 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .329 xwOBA over 54 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 IC Isaac Collins SH .301
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Isaac Collins
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 406 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .296 xwOBA over 74 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .254 xwOBA over 118 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .278 xwOBA over 52 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 58 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 MM Michael Massey LHB .302
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Michael Massey
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .290 xwOBA over 376 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 107 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .281 xwOBA over 172 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .344 xwOBA over 43 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .355 xwOBA over 75 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  7. 7 VP Vinnie Pasquantino LHB .324
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Vinnie Pasquantino
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .336 xwOBA over 592 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 169 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 216 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .328 xwOBA over 97 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 130 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  8. 8 NL Nick Loftin RHB .306
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nick Loftin
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .321 xwOBA over 241 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .288 xwOBA over 106 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .271 xwOBA over 64 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .315 xwOBA over 32 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .320 xwOBA over 65 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  9. 9 MG Maikel Garcia RHB .324
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Maikel Garcia
    • Four-Seam Fastball (48% usage) projects to .349 xwOBA over 472 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (21% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 257 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (14% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 106 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .325 xwOBA over 74 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .307 xwOBA over 144 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
Full pitch-by-pitch breakdown, with pitch-zone heatmaps →

No meeting currently scheduled — this is a durable season matchup read.