Best MLB Walks Matchups — Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Top walks spot: Fernando Tatis Jr.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) tops the board at 100, facing LHP Mitch Bratt. The righty is working counts at .133 BB/PA against lefties this year — and .263 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 13% of his trips. And Mitch Bratt has been handing out free passes to lefties lately — .200 walks per batter faced. One catch: the bullpen behind him has been stingy to that side late. He's hitting in a spot worth about 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against Mitch Bratt. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Tyler Stephenson (CIN) (94) vs LHP Jacob Lopez: an elite bat at .166 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.148).
- Manny Machado (SD) (81) vs LHP Mitch Bratt: a solid bat at .096 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.200).
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) (78) vs RHP Jameson Taillon: an excellent bat at .146 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hot bat.
- Sal Stewart (CIN) (77) vs LHP Jacob Lopez: a strong bat at .106 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.148).
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN) (74) vs LHP Jacob Lopez: a solid bat at .085 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.148).
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (71) vs RHP Jake Irvin: an excellent bat at .138 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.067), due to bounce back.
- Drake Baldwin (ATL) (69) vs RHP Eury Pérez: an excellent bat at .134 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.053), due to bounce back.
Platoon edges to target
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) — righty bat vs LHP, .133 against lefties this year.
- Tyler Stephenson (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .232 against lefties this year.
- Manny Machado (SD) — righty bat vs LHP, .102 against lefties this year.
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU) — lefty bat vs RHP, .181 against righties this year.
- Sal Stewart (CIN) — righty bat vs LHP, .138 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.