Best MLB Walks Matchups — Sunday, June 21, 2026
Top walks spot: Ben Rice
Ben Rice (NYY) tops the board at 100, facing RHP Chase Burns. The lefty is working counts at .147 BB/PA against righties this year — and .189 over the last two weeks, an excellent bat that turns into a walk in about 13% of his trips. And Chase Burns has been handing out free passes to righties lately — .143 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. He's owned Chase Burns too — .333 across 3 career trips. It all sets up in a neutral park.
The rest of the top of the board
- JJ Bleday (CIN) (98) vs RHP Elmer Rodríguez: an excellent bat at .127 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) (97) vs RHP Davis Martin: an excellent bat at .137 into an arm prone to walking the same side (.103), hot bat.
- Spencer Horwitz (PIT) (94) vs RHP Michael Lorenzen: an excellent bat at .123 into an arm tough to walk against the same side (.048), hitter's park.
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) (93) vs RHP Ryan Gusto: an excellent bat at .132 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.118).
- Michael Busch (CHC) (90) vs RHP Dylan Cease: an excellent bat at .128 into an arm handing out free passes to the same side (.167).
- Juan Soto (NYM) (90) vs RHP Zack Wheeler: an elite bat at .156 into an arm with little track record against the same side.
- Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) (88) vs RHP Mike Paredes: an excellent bat at .136 into an arm with little track record against the same side, due to bounce back.
Platoon edges to target
- Ben Rice (NYY) — lefty bat vs RHP, .147 against righties this year.
- JJ Bleday (CIN) — lefty bat vs RHP, .154 against righties this year.
- Kevin McGonigle (DET) — lefty bat vs RHP, .152 against righties this year.
- Spencer Horwitz (PIT) — lefty bat vs RHP, .140 against righties this year.
- Bryce Eldridge (SF) — lefty bat vs RHP, .143 against righties this year.
Where walks come easiest today
Coors Field is playing as a real hitter's park today (+6% walk park). Top bat there: Spencer Horwitz (PIT) at 94.
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.