Best MLB Walks Matchups — Monday, June 22, 2026
Top walks spot: Yordan Alvarez
Yordan Alvarez (HOU) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Dylan Cease. The lefty is working counts at .178 BB/PA against righties this year — and .143 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 13% of his trips. And Dylan Cease has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .167 walks per batter faced. The bullpen behind him hasn't been any better to that side, so there's no relief late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. He's just .087 in 23 career PA against Dylan Cease, but that's a tiny sample and the matchup says regression. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) (100) vs RHP Andre Pallante: an elite bat at .158 into an arm around league average against the same side (.091).
- Taylor Ward (BAL) (100) vs LHP Sam Aldegheri: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.139).
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (100) vs RHP Gerrit Cole: an elite bat at .152 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.118), hot bat.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (96) vs RHP Zebby Matthews: an elite bat at .158 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.035).
- Travis Bazzana (CLE) (93) vs LHP Anthony Kay: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.143), hot bat.
- JJ Bleday (CIN) (76) vs RHP Brandon Woodruff: an excellent bat at .124 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Nathaniel Lowe (CIN) (75) vs RHP Brandon Woodruff: an excellent bat at .130 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
Platoon edges to target
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) — lefty bat vs RHP, .178 against righties this year.
- Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) — lefty bat vs RHP, .158 against righties this year.
- Taylor Ward (BAL) — righty bat vs LHP, .224 against lefties this year.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .160 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .193 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: Mickey Gasper (BOS) at 68.
How it played out
4 of the top 10 walks matchups landed at least one walk. Top play Yordan Alvarez finished with 2 walks. 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.