Best MLB Walks Matchups — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Top walks spot: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Michael Lorenzen. The lefty is working counts at .180 BB/PA against righties this year — and .111 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 16% of his trips. And Michael Lorenzen has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .111 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .231 in 13 career PA against Michael Lorenzen. It all sets up in a park that leans hitter.
The rest of the top of the board
- James Wood (WSH) (95) vs RHP Tatsuya Imai: an elite bat at .162 into an arm fairly stingy with walks against the same side (.083).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (82) vs RHP Seth Lugo: an elite bat at .160 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.053).
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (55) vs LHP Andrew Abbott: an excellent bat at .122 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.133), due to bounce back.
- Freddie Freeman (LAD) (54) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: a strong bat at .116 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.111), hitter's park.
- Jonathan Aranda (TB) (48) vs RHP Will Warren: a strong bat at .114 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.033).
- Corbin Carroll (AZ) (43) vs RHP Germán Márquez: a strong bat at .113 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.222), hitter's park.
- Brice Turang (MIL) (42) vs RHP the starter: a strong bat at .117 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hot bat.
Platoon edges to target
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .180 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .188 against righties this year.
- Juan Soto (NYM) — lefty bat vs RHP, .179 against righties this year.
- Freddie Freeman (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .128 against righties this year.
- Jonathan Aranda (TB) — lefty bat vs RHP, .129 against righties this year.
Where walks come easiest today
- UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Shohei Ohtani (LAD) at 100.
- Petco Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Corbin Carroll (AZ) at 43.
- Oracle Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Bryce Eldridge (SF) at 41.
- PNC Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Matt Olson (ATL) at 41.
Lineup watch
288 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.