PITCHER MATCHUP

Yusei Kikuchi vs Pittsburgh Pirates

How the Pittsburgh Pirates's current regulars (top 9 by at-bats) project against Yusei Kikuchi's season-to-date arsenal — not the posted lineup for any single game.

Yusei Kikuchi's arsenal

Throws LHPvs LHH xwOBA .304vs RHH xwOBA .331Seasons 2026–2025–2024
Four-Seam Fastball 38%Slider 30%Curveball 14%Changeup 8%Splitter 5%Cutter 3%Sinker 1%

How the Pittsburgh Pirates's regulars project

Projected expected wOBA for each of the Pittsburgh Pirates's top-9-by-AB hitters against Yusei Kikuchi, by batting order. A season-to-date read — lower favors the pitcher.

Lineup avg xwOBA .315
  1. 1 BR Bryan Reynolds SH .321
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Bryan Reynolds
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .368 xwOBA over 569 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .296 xwOBA over 281 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .275 xwOBA over 190 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 294 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .259 xwOBA over 62 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .358 xwOBA over 164 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  2. 2 BL Brandon Lowe SH .328
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Brandon Lowe
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .369 xwOBA over 406 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .284 xwOBA over 248 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .332 xwOBA over 111 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 237 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .276 xwOBA over 87 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .343 xwOBA over 126 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  3. 3 NG Nick Gonzales RHB .312
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nick Gonzales
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 343 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 217 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .299 xwOBA over 78 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 107 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 27 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .327 xwOBA over 107 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  4. 4 JM Jake Mangum SH .297
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jake Mangum
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .305 xwOBA over 229 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .299 xwOBA over 119 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .284 xwOBA over 72 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .276 xwOBA over 118 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .286 xwOBA over 39 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .326 xwOBA over 65 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 RO Ryan O'Hearn LHB .318
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Ryan O'Hearn
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .343 xwOBA over 459 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .309 xwOBA over 202 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .302 xwOBA over 102 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .280 xwOBA over 160 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 55 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .286 xwOBA over 113 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 SH Spencer Horwitz LHB .303
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Spencer Horwitz
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .318 xwOBA over 424 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .283 xwOBA over 150 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 66 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .284 xwOBA over 132 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .313 xwOBA over 54 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .302 xwOBA over 104 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  7. 7 OC Oneil Cruz LHB .335
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Oneil Cruz
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .368 xwOBA over 379 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .324 xwOBA over 222 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .300 xwOBA over 157 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .301 xwOBA over 194 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .299 xwOBA over 72 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .364 xwOBA over 109 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  8. 8 JT Jared Triolo RHB .300
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jared Triolo
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .308 xwOBA over 375 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 153 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .302 xwOBA over 61 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .281 xwOBA over 103 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .274 xwOBA over 22 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .265 xwOBA over 73 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
  9. 9 KG Konnor Griffin RHB .318
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Konnor Griffin
    • Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage) projects to .334 xwOBA over 76 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 54 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (14% usage) projects to .312 xwOBA over 16 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (8% usage) projects to .285 xwOBA over 36 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (5% usage) projects to .305 xwOBA over 8 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .328 xwOBA over 24 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.