Best MLB Walks Matchups — Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Top walks spot: Kevin McGonigle
Kevin McGonigle (DET) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Peter Lambert. The lefty is working counts at .151 BB/PA against righties this year — and .209 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 14% of his trips. And Peter Lambert has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .286 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 4.7 trips, so the volume's there. No real history against Peter Lambert. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- Nick Kurtz (ATH) (100) vs RHP Braxton Ashcraft: an elite bat at .186 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.025), hot bat.
- James Wood (WSH) (82) vs RHP Luinder Avila: an elite bat at .152 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.136), hot bat.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) (66) vs RHP Sandy Alcantara: an excellent bat at .138 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.033), hot bat.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) (63) vs RHP Sandy Alcantara: an excellent bat at .139 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.033), due to bounce back.
- Riley Greene (DET) (63) vs RHP Peter Lambert: a solid bat at .093 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.286).
- Nathaniel Lowe (CIN) (62) vs RHP Nolan McLean: an excellent bat at .124 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.161).
- George Springer (TOR) (61) vs LHP Jake Bennett: an excellent bat at .121 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
Platoon edges to target
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .151 against righties this year.
- Nick Kurtz (ATH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .241 against righties this year.
- James Wood (WSH) — lefty bat vs RHP, .189 against righties this year.
- Kyle Schwarber (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .153 against righties this year.
- Bryce Harper (PHI) — lefty bat vs RHP, .156 against righties this year.
Lineup watch
252 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.