It’s July 4, the day America celebrates its Independence Day. MLB is always popular, but combining it with the 4th of July celebrations makes it even better. Several games on today’s schedule will stand out from the rest as a result.

Phillies Face the Rays

The Philadelphia Phillies are embarking on a sizzling streak as they prepare to unleash their ace, Aaron Nola, on the pitcher’s mound. Nola will face the Tampa Bay Rays offense, who suffered a devastating setback by losing 15 points to the Seattle Mariners last Friday. However, the Rays have been in a state of despair during their previous two games, succumbing to demoralizing losses.

Despite Bryce Harper’s struggles, the Phillies have shown an impressively stable offense over the past two weeks. Throughout the season, they have managed to maintain a solid 9th and 1st classification in terms of wRC. This achievement is largely attributed to his remarkable ability to minimize strikeouts, with a low strikeout rate of 21.4%.

In addition, his .270 batting average has played a major role in his success. In contrast, the Rays have shown an even higher batting average of .296, along with a strikeout rate of 22%.

Despite their slow performance with only a 3% slugging percentage, surprisingly, the team managed to hit the same number of home runs (14) as their opponents during that season.

Reds Take On the Nationals

The Cincinnati Reds will diligently prepare to face the Washington Nationals, hoping Patrick Corbin will be their starting pitcher. Corbin’s fortune currently lies in his remarkable durability as one of the most resilient pitchers in Major League Baseball. Interestingly, your xERA surpasses your ERA, paving the way for greater opportunities for hard contact.

Since June 1, the Reds have encountered minimal difficulties when facing left-backs. Although his wRC is 95, his OPS is a solid .745. Remarkably, they have managed to reach an impressive eight career at-bats above .320 xwOBA against lefties this season. This intriguing statistic may pose a challenge to Corbin.

With a wRC of 86 and a walk rate of 4.8%, the Nationals have slowed as June progresses. However, his strikeout rate of less than 20% proves particularly advantageous when facing a team with limited pitching resources. In addition, this season has seen them handle seven formidable bats with an impressive .320 xwOBA, further strengthening their prospects against the Reds.

Yankees And O’s HitThe Field

Despite their diminished appearance since the beginning of the season, the New York Yankees possess the ability to secure some points against the Baltimore Orioles. As they move forward with their series against the Orioles, Yankee Stadium is forecasting scorching temperatures and stormy winds, causing potential unrest.

When it comes to determining the outcome of this game, the most influential factor lies in the ability of the player who can hit the ball farther. This is particularly significant when starting pitchers are taken into account. Of all the teams in the AL East, only the Orioles possess the ability to emerge victorious.

Their position in the league standings places them tenth in wRC and thirteenth in wOBA. What sets them apart is their reliance on a diverse group of players, encompassing both young talents and experienced individuals, who come together as a cohesive unit and present a formidable challenge to their opponents.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ prized slugger, remains absent from the lineup, leaving a tremendous void that has plagued the team. Deprived of Judge’s immense talent, the Yankees find themselves wandering into a realm of baseball techniques, amplifying their vulnerability to degradation.

It was June 4 that Judge’s unfortunate toe injury occurred. However, even a month later, the repercussions persist as the Yankees maintain a miserable .213 batting average and have the dubious distinction of owning the lowest wOBA among all MLB teams.