Best MLB Walks Matchups — Thursday, July 2, 2026
Top walks spot: TJ Rumfield
TJ Rumfield (COL) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Ryan Gusto. The lefty is working counts at .110 BB/PA against righties this year — and .154 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a walk in about 11% of his trips. And Ryan Gusto has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .158 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 4.3 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against Ryan Gusto. It all sets up in a hitter's park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (94) vs RHP Jared Jones: a strong bat at .117 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.105).
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (92) vs RHP Randy Vásquez: a strong bat at .120 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.042).
- Junior Caminero (TB) (88) vs RHP Stephen Kolek: a solid bat at .091 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.000), hot bat.
- Freddie Freeman (LAD) (86) vs RHP Randy Vásquez: an excellent bat at .123 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.042).
- Bryce Harper (PHI) (81) vs RHP Jared Jones: a strong bat at .113 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.105).
- Jonathan Aranda (TB) (72) vs RHP Stephen Kolek: a strong bat at .116 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.125).
- Yandy Díaz (TB) (67) vs RHP Stephen Kolek: a strong bat at .101 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.000).
Platoon edges to target
- TJ Rumfield (COL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .110 against righties this year.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .147 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .184 against righties this year.
- Freddie Freeman (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .130 against righties this year.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .151 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: TJ Rumfield (COL) at 100.
Lineup watch
162 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.