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 .301vs RHH xwOBA .334Seasons 2026–2025–2024
Four-Seam Fastball 37%Slider 30%Curveball 15%Changeup 9%Splitter 4%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 .312
  1. 1 BR Bryan Reynolds SH .322
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Bryan Reynolds
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .366 xwOBA over 548 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .300 xwOBA over 269 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .271 xwOBA over 181 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .314 xwOBA over 278 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .252 xwOBA over 58 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .356 xwOBA over 158 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  2. 2 BL Brandon Lowe SH .329
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Brandon Lowe
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .365 xwOBA over 390 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .294 xwOBA over 240 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .330 xwOBA over 108 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .322 xwOBA over 223 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .275 xwOBA over 86 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .325 xwOBA over 118 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  3. 3 NG Nick Gonzales RHB .313
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Nick Gonzales
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .323 xwOBA over 324 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .315 xwOBA over 210 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .293 xwOBA over 75 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 103 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .280 xwOBA over 26 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .335 xwOBA over 98 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  4. 4 JM Jake Mangum SH .298
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jake Mangum
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .309 xwOBA over 213 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .294 xwOBA over 111 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .291 xwOBA over 66 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .276 xwOBA over 112 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .285 xwOBA over 37 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .330 xwOBA over 59 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  5. 5 SH Spencer Horwitz LHB .299
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Spencer Horwitz
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 405 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .279 xwOBA over 144 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 64 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .285 xwOBA over 129 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .319 xwOBA over 53 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .306 xwOBA over 102 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  6. 6 OC Oneil Cruz LHB .337
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Oneil Cruz
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .373 xwOBA over 366 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .325 xwOBA over 211 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .300 xwOBA over 151 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .293 xwOBA over 180 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .301 xwOBA over 72 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .368 xwOBA over 104 BIP — a meaningful edge for the batter.
  7. 7 JT Jared Triolo RHB .302
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Jared Triolo
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 369 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 150 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .302 xwOBA over 61 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .284 xwOBA over 98 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .272 xwOBA over 21 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .271 xwOBA over 71 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
  8. 8 HD Henry Davis RHB .295
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Henry Davis
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .269 xwOBA over 214 BIP — a clear edge for the pitcher.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .324 xwOBA over 109 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .294 xwOBA over 35 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .291 xwOBA over 49 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 11 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .311 xwOBA over 38 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
  9. 9 KG Konnor Griffin RHB .310
    Pitch-by-pitch projection vs. Konnor Griffin
    • Four-Seam Fastball (37% usage) projects to .314 xwOBA over 52 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Slider (30% usage) projects to .310 xwOBA over 42 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Curveball (15% usage) projects to .315 xwOBA over 11 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Changeup (9% usage) projects to .285 xwOBA over 25 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Splitter (4% usage) projects to .303 xwOBA over 6 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
    • Cutter (3% usage) projects to .330 xwOBA over 18 BIP — a roughly even matchup.
Full pitch-by-pitch breakdown, with pitch-zone heatmaps →

Next scheduled meeting: 2026-09-05 game page →