Best MLB Walks Matchups — Saturday, July 18, 2026
Top walks spot: James Wood
James Wood (WSH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP J.T. Ginn. The lefty is working counts at .201 BB/PA against righties this year — and .343 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 17% of his trips. And J.T. Ginn 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against J.T. Ginn. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Ben Rice (NYY) (71) vs RHP Emmet Sheehan: an excellent bat at .130 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.053), hot bat.
- Munetaka Murakami (CWS) (68) vs RHP Shane Bieber: an excellent bat at .147 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.191).
- Junior Caminero (TB) (58) vs LHP Patrick Sandoval: an excellent bat at .136 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.067).
- Brice Turang (MIL) (53) vs RHP Max Meyer: an excellent bat at .123 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.067).
- Pete Alonso (BAL) (49) vs RHP Spencer Arrighetti: a strong bat at .117 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.059).
- Jake Bauers (MIL) (48) vs RHP Max Meyer: an excellent bat at .130 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.067).
- Ryan Jeffers (MIN) (46) vs LHP Matthew Boyd: an excellent bat at .134 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.051), hot bat.
Platoon edges to target
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .201 against righties this year.
- Ben Rice (NYY) — lefty bat vs RHP, .152 against righties this year.
- Munetaka Murakami (CWS) — lefty bat vs RHP, .172 against righties this year.
- Junior Caminero (TB) — righty bat vs LHP, .193 against lefties this year.
- Brice Turang (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .139 against righties this year.
Where walks come easiest today
- Coors Field is playing as a real hitter's park today (+18% walk park). Top bat there: Kyle Karros (COL) at 45.
- Angel Stadium is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Kevin McGonigle (DET) at 46.
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.