Best MLB Walks Matchups — Sunday, June 28, 2026
Top walks spot: Kevin McGonigle
Kevin McGonigle (DET) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Hunter Brown. The lefty is working counts at .161 BB/PA against righties this year — and .216 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 14% of his trips. And Hunter Brown has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .143 walks per batter faced. The bullpen behind him is roughly average to that side. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's owned Hunter Brown too — .333 across 3 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park, though the weather fights it.
The rest of the top of the board
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (93) vs RHP Michael King: an excellent bat at .142 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.100).
- Lars Nootbaar (STL) (87) vs RHP Tyler Phillips: an excellent bat at .126 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.200).
- James Wood (WSH) (86) vs RHP Kyle Bradish: an excellent bat at .137 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.035).
- Nick Kurtz (ATH) (81) vs LHP Sam Aldegheri: a strong bat at .107 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.143).
- Michael Busch (CHC) (79) vs RHP Brandon Woodruff: an excellent bat at .141 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.000).
- Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) (77) vs RHP Drew Rasmussen: an excellent bat at .142 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.065).
- Freddie Freeman (LAD) (76) vs RHP Michael King: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.100), hot bat.
Platoon edges to target
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .161 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .183 against righties this year.
- Lars Nootbaar (STL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .159 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .181 against righties this year.
- Michael Busch (CHC) — lefty bat vs RHP, .161 against righties this year.
Lineup watch
72 of today's hitters are still on projected lineups, drawn from each team's last game. Batting order drives the score, so these flip the moment official lineups post — usually about two hours before first pitch. Anyone who doesn't make the official card gets flagged "Not starting" and drops to the bottom.
How to read these walks matchups
Each score (0–100) starts with the hitter's walks per plate appearance against the hand he's facing — weighted toward the last two weeks, then the season, then a two-year baseline. Then it layers in the bullpen, his spot in the order, and park and weather. Higher means more of it points his way. It's context, not a lock — a great spot still goes 0-for-4 sometimes, and a tough one runs into one. The edge is in stacking the odds, and since we grade every board, you can see how often the top of the list delivers.