PITCHER MATCHUP

Shota Imanaga vs St. Louis Cardinals

How the St. Louis Cardinals's current regulars (top 9 by at-bats) project against Shota Imanaga's season-to-date arsenal — not the posted lineup for any single game.

Shota Imanaga's arsenal

Throws LHPvs LHH xwOBA .304vs RHH xwOBA .305Seasons 2026–2025–2024
Four-Seam Fastball 44%Splitter 33%Sweeper 15%Sinker 4%Curveball 3%Slider 1%Changeup 1%

How the St. Louis Cardinals's regulars project

Projected expected wOBA for each of the St. Louis Cardinals's top-9-by-AB hitters against Shota Imanaga, by batting order. A season-to-date read — lower favors the pitcher.

Lineup avg xwOBA .306
  1. 1 JW Jordan Walker RHB .331
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jordan Walker
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .337 xwOBA over 318 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .333 xwOBA over 29 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 149 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .347 xwOBA over 235 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .316 xwOBA over 73 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  2. 2 AB Alec Burleson LHB .331
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Alec Burleson
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .355 xwOBA over 532 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 87 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .295 xwOBA over 107 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .369 xwOBA over 277 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 130 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  3. 3 IH Iván Herrera RHB .316
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Iván Herrera
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .302 xwOBA over 397 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .342 xwOBA over 27 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .286 xwOBA over 135 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .346 xwOBA over 285 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .327 xwOBA over 93 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  4. 4 JW JJ Wetherholt LHB .326
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. JJ Wetherholt
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .354 xwOBA over 187 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 16 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 42 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .317 xwOBA over 125 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 33 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 MW Masyn Winn RHB .295
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Masyn Winn
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 542 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .271 xwOBA over 51 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .284 xwOBA over 142 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .330 xwOBA over 280 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .336 xwOBA over 96 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 NC Nathan Church LHB .282
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nathan Church
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .266 xwOBA over 147 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .305 xwOBA over 21 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .266 xwOBA over 40 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 73 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .304 xwOBA over 45 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  7. 7 JF José Fermín RHB .289
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. José Fermín
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .271 xwOBA over 153 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 7 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .287 xwOBA over 30 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .322 xwOBA over 110 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .290 xwOBA over 26 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  8. 8 NG Nolan Gorman LHB .296
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nolan Gorman
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .291 xwOBA over 365 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .309 xwOBA over 46 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .272 xwOBA over 66 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .334 xwOBA over 122 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 74 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  9. 9 PP Pedro Pagés RHB .289
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Pedro Pagés
    • Four-Seam Fastball (44% usage) projects to .282 xwOBA over 206 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (33% usage) projects to .299 xwOBA over 22 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sweeper (15% usage) projects to .274 xwOBA over 82 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Sinker (4% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 160 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (3% usage) projects to .328 xwOBA over 52 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.