Best MLB Walks Matchups — Monday, June 15, 2026
Top walks spot: Nick Kurtz
Nick Kurtz (ATH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Jared Jones. The lefty is working counts at .241 BB/PA against righties this year — and .282 over the last two weeks, an elite bat that turns into a walk in about 19% of his trips. And Jared Jones has been prone to walking righties lately — .105 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 Jared Jones. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- James Wood (WSH) (92) vs RHP Mitch Spence: an elite bat at .152 into an arm with little track record against the same side, hot bat.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (83) vs RHP Kai-Wei Teng: an excellent bat at .141 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.130).
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (80) vs RHP Nick Martinez: an elite bat at .170 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.040).
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (69) vs RHP Ryan Gusto: an excellent bat at .138 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.043).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (66) vs RHP Chase Burns: an excellent bat at .139 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.035).
- Tyler Soderstrom (ATH) (65) vs RHP Jared Jones: an excellent bat at .134 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.105).
- Gabriel Moreno (AZ) (65) vs RHP Walbert Ureña: an excellent bat at .123 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.148).
Platoon edges to target
- Nick Kurtz (ATH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .241 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .189 against righties this year.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .151 against righties this year.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) — lefty bat vs RHP, .198 against righties this year.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .153 against righties this year.
Lineup watch
180 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.