Best MLB Walks Matchups — Saturday, August 1, 2026
Top walks spot: James Wood
James Wood (WSH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Reynaldo López. The lefty is working counts at .203 BB/PA against righties this year — and .220 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 16% of his trips. And Reynaldo López 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. He's a fine .286 in 7 career PA against Reynaldo López. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Corey Seager (TEX) (76) vs RHP Ronel Blanco: a strong bat at .118 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.200).
- Brice Turang (MIL) (75) vs RHP José Soriano: a strong bat at .110 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.111).
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) (71) vs RHP Walker Buehler: an excellent bat at .130 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167).
- Jake Bauers (MIL) (70) vs RHP José Soriano: a strong bat at .113 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.111), hot bat.
- Kyle Karros (COL) (69) vs RHP Luinder Avila: a strong bat at .115 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.174).
- Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) (69) vs LHP Andrew Abbott: an excellent bat at .132 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.161).
- Hunter Goodman (COL) (68) vs RHP Luinder Avila: a league-average bat at .075 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.174), due to bounce back.
Platoon edges to target
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .203 against righties this year.
- Corey Seager (TEX) — lefty bat vs RHP, .123 against righties this year.
- Brice Turang (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .136 against righties this year.
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) — lefty bat vs RHP, .146 against righties this year.
- Jake Bauers (MIL) — lefty bat vs RHP, .138 against righties 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.