Best MLB Walks Matchups — Saturday, July 11, 2026
Top walks spot: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Brandon Pfaadt. The lefty is working counts at .180 BB/PA against righties this year — and .121 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 16% of his trips. And Brandon Pfaadt has been tough to walk against righties lately — .048 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 .210 in 19 career PA against Brandon Pfaadt. It all sets up in a park that leans hitter.
The rest of the top of the board
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) (100) vs RHP Kumar Rocker: an elite bat at .156 into an arm around league average against the same side (.091).
- James Wood (WSH) (97) vs RHP Cam Schlittler: an elite bat at .173 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.048).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (77) vs RHP the starter: an elite bat at .157 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Ben Rice (NYY) (69) vs RHP Miles Mikolas: an excellent bat at .124 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.000), hot bat.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (63) vs RHP Casey Mize: an excellent bat at .139 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.033).
- Bryce Harper (PHI) (58) vs RHP Casey Mize: an excellent bat at .135 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.033), due to bounce back.
- Brice Turang (MIL) (56) vs RHP Bubba Chandler: an excellent bat at .122 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.120), hitter's park.
Platoon edges to target
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .180 against righties this year.
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) — lefty bat vs RHP, .177 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .203 against righties this year.
- Ben Rice (NYY) — lefty bat vs RHP, .145 against righties this year.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .149 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.
- PNC Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Brice Turang (MIL) at 56.
- PNC Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Brice Turang (MIL) at 52.
- Oracle Park is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Kyle Karros (COL) at 45.
Lineup watch
270 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.