PITCHER MATCHUP

Tatsuya Imai vs Kansas City Royals

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

Tatsuya Imai's arsenal

Throws RHPvs LHH xwOBA .402vs RHH xwOBA .268Seasons 2026
Slider 43%Four-Seam Fastball 43%Sinker 8%Splitter 2%Changeup 2%Curveball 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 Tatsuya Imai, by batting order. A season-to-date read — lower favors the pitcher.

Lineup avg xwOBA .323
  1. 1 BW Bobby Witt Jr. RHB .353
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Bobby Witt Jr.
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .338 xwOBA over 293 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .369 xwOBA over 446 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .351 xwOBA over 281 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  2. 2 SP Salvador Perez RHB .341
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Salvador Perez
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .317 xwOBA over 254 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .360 xwOBA over 409 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .367 xwOBA over 237 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  3. 3 MG Maikel Garcia RHB .322
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Maikel Garcia
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .300 xwOBA over 248 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .344 xwOBA over 456 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .327 xwOBA over 329 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  4. 4 JC Jac Caglianone LHB .351
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jac Caglianone
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .348 xwOBA over 70 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .359 xwOBA over 125 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .325 xwOBA over 64 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 CJ Carter Jensen LHB .306
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Carter Jensen
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .292 xwOBA over 55 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .316 xwOBA over 91 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 39 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 IC Isaac Collins SH .329
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Isaac Collins
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .336 xwOBA over 53 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .322 xwOBA over 316 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .326 xwOBA over 91 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  7. 7 MM Michael Massey LHB .288
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Michael Massey
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .295 xwOBA over 87 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .273 xwOBA over 285 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .326 xwOBA over 98 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  8. 8 LT Lane Thomas RHB .298
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Lane Thomas
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 128 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .290 xwOBA over 251 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 169 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  9. 9 NL Nick Loftin RHB .323
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nick Loftin
    • Slider (43% usage) projects to .314 xwOBA over 68 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Four-Seam Fastball (43% usage) projects to .341 xwOBA over 166 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Sinker (8% usage) projects to .275 xwOBA over 86 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
Full pitch-by-pitch breakdown, with pitch-zone heatmaps →

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