Best MLB Walks Matchups — Friday, July 31, 2026
Top walks spot: James Wood
James Wood (WSH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Bryce Elder. The lefty is working counts at .198 BB/PA against righties this year — and .161 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 15% of his trips. And Bryce Elder has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .158 walks per batter faced. The bullpen behind him is roughly average to that side. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's just .167 in 12 career PA against Bryce Elder, but that's a tiny sample and the matchup says regression. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Brice Turang (MIL) (95) vs RHP Ryan Johnson: a strong bat at .113 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.136).
- Jake Bauers (MIL) (92) vs RHP Ryan Johnson: a strong bat at .117 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.136), hot bat.
- Gleyber Torres (DET) (90) vs LHP Jeffrey Springs: an excellent bat at .132 into an arm fairly stingy with walks against the same side (.071).
- José Ramírez (CLE) (90) vs LHP Mitch Bratt: a solid bat at .100 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167).
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) (89) vs RHP Bradgley Rodriguez: an excellent bat at .127 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167).
- Christian Yelich (MIL) (82) vs RHP Ryan Johnson: a strong bat at .102 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.136).
- JJ Wetherholt (STL) (80) vs RHP Dylan Cease: a strong bat at .102 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.065).
Platoon edges to target
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .198 against righties this year.
- Brice Turang (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .137 against righties this year.
- Jake Bauers (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .140 against righties this year.
- Gleyber Torres (DET) — righty bat vs LHP, .232 against lefties this year.
- José Ramírez (CLE) — righty bat vs LHP, .112 against lefties this year.
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.