Best MLB Walks Matchups — Thursday, July 23, 2026
Top walks spot: Jonathan Aranda
Jonathan Aranda (TB) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Shane Bieber. The lefty is working counts at .122 BB/PA against righties this year — and .083 over the last two weeks, a strong bat that turns into a walk in about 11% of his trips. And Shane Bieber has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .182 walks per batter faced. The bullpen behind him is roughly average to that side. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.5 trips, so the volume's there. He's owned Shane Bieber too — .500 across 2 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Matt Olson (ATL) (99) vs RHP Griffin Canning: a strong bat at .117 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.100).
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) (98) vs LHP Ian Seymour: an excellent bat at .135 into an arm around league average against the same side (.088).
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (97) vs RHP Randy Dobnak: an excellent bat at .148 into an arm fairly stingy with walks against the same side (.080), hot bat.
- Drake Baldwin (ATL) (85) vs RHP Griffin Canning: a strong bat at .105 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.100).
- Junior Caminero (TB) (85) vs RHP Shane Bieber: a solid bat at .097 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.045), hot bat.
- Riley Greene (DET) (82) vs RHP Randy Dobnak: a solid bat at .100 into an arm fairly stingy with walks against the same side (.080).
- Vinnie Pasquantino (KC) (75) vs RHP Troy Melton: a strong bat at .110 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.188).
Platoon edges to target
- Jonathan Aranda (TB) — lefty bat vs RHP, .122 against righties this year.
- Matt Olson (ATL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .117 against righties this year.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) — righty bat vs LHP, .172 against lefties this year.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .164 against righties this year.
- Drake Baldwin (ATL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .117 against righties this year.
Lineup watch
72 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.