Best MLB Walks Matchups — Sunday, June 21, 2026
Top walks spot: Juan Soto
Juan Soto (NYM) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Zack Wheeler. The lefty is working counts at .169 BB/PA against righties this year — and .227 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 16% of his trips. And Zack Wheeler has been prone to walking righties lately — .108 walks per batter faced. One catch: the bullpen behind him has been stingy to that side late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .203 in 64 career PA against Zack Wheeler. It all sets up in a neutral park, weather helping.
The rest of the top of the board
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (100) vs RHP Brandon Young: an elite bat at .158 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.114).
- Spencer Horwitz (PIT) (83) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: an excellent bat at .123 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.048), hitter's park.
- Ben Rice (NYY) (83) vs RHP Chase Burns: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.143).
- JJ Bleday (CIN) (81) vs RHP Elmer Rodríguez: an excellent bat at .127 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (80) vs RHP Davis Martin: an excellent bat at .137 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.103), hot bat.
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) (80) vs RHP Ryan Gusto: an excellent bat at .132 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.118).
- Michael Busch (CHC) (80) vs RHP Dylan Cease: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167).
Platoon edges to target
- Juan Soto (NYM) — lefty bat vs RHP, .169 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .192 against righties this year.
- Spencer Horwitz (PIT) — lefty bat vs RHP, .140 against righties this year.
- Ben Rice (NYY) — lefty bat vs RHP, .147 against righties this year.
- JJ Bleday (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .154 against righties this year.
Where walks come easiest today
Coors Field is playing as a real hitter's park today (+6% walk park). Top bat there: Spencer Horwitz (PIT) at 83.
How it played out
6 of the top 10 walks matchups landed at least one walk. Top play Juan Soto finished with 1 walk. We post the result next to every projection so you can grade the board yourself — and so the model gets re-tuned against what actually happened.
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.