Best MLB Walks Matchups — Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Top walks spot: Yordan Alvarez
Yordan Alvarez (HOU) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Sandy Alcantara. The lefty is working counts at .180 BB/PA against righties this year — and .167 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 16% of his trips. And Sandy Alcantara has been around league average against righties lately — .088 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. No real history against Sandy Alcantara. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- James Wood (WSH) (98) vs RHP Gabriel Hughes: an elite bat at .171 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hitter's park.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (75) vs RHP Aaron Nola: an elite bat at .157 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.114).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (74) vs RHP Logan Henderson: an elite bat at .175 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.042), due to bounce back.
- Ben Rice (NYY) (64) vs RHP Bubba Chandler: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167), hot bat.
- Ben Rice (NYY) (60) vs RHP Mitch Keller: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167), hot bat.
- Mike Trout (LAA) (54) vs RHP Hunter Dobbins: an elite bat at .162 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.333), hitter's park.
- Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) (51) vs LHP Max Fried: a strong bat at .104 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hot bat.
Platoon edges to target
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) — lefty bat vs RHP, .180 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .199 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .174 against righties this year.
- Juan Soto (NYM) — lefty bat vs RHP, .198 against righties this year.
- Ben Rice (NYY) — lefty bat vs RHP, .148 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: James Wood (WSH) at 98.
- Angel Stadium is playing as hitter-friendly today (+3% walk park). Top bat there: Mike Trout (LAA) at 54.
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.