Best MLB Walks Matchups — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Top walks spot: Nick Kurtz
Nick Kurtz (ATH) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Mitch Keller. 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 Mitch Keller has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .147 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. He's owned Mitch Keller too — .500 across 2 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (87) vs RHP Hunter Brown: an excellent bat at .141 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD) (82) vs RHP Drew Rasmussen: an elite bat at .170 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.037), due to bounce back.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (76) vs RHP Tyler Phillips: an excellent bat at .138 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.095), hot bat.
- James Wood (WSH) (75) vs RHP Michael Wacha: an elite bat at .152 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.056), hot bat.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) (71) vs RHP Tyler Phillips: an excellent bat at .139 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.095), due to bounce back.
- Tyler Soderstrom (ATH) (68) vs RHP Mitch Keller: an excellent bat at .134 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.147).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (66) vs RHP Brady Singer: an excellent bat at .139 into an arm fairly stingy with walks against the same side (.077).
Platoon edges to target
- Nick Kurtz (ATH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .241 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.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .189 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.