We’ve made it to Friday which is cause for celebration. I like to celebrate with some action. Not just any action, though, MLB player props. Specifically pitcher strikeout props. I guess some of us just like the finer things in life. We’ve got 15 games lined up tonight. Fox Sports 1 is giving us the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 pm ET. MLB Network is tossing us the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres at 10:10 pm ET. Surely we can find something to get down on. Here are two player props that stick out the most.
Don’t forget to check what our MLB analysts have backed with side and total picks for all 15 games tonight. As always, bets can be added to the card so why not follow me on Twitter in case we get some last-second action? It makes sense.
German Marquez Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+105)
Line available at DraftKings at time of publishing
I get that they’re playing at Coors Field tonight but this number seems pretty low. Especially at +105. Crazy even. I’m not saying you have to bet this but I am saying that if you want to bet it, do it now because I don’t think it will stay at plus money. Just a hunch.
The total on this game is 11.5 which is scary but Marquez should be fine. In his last start, which was also at home, he struck out eight Reds in six innings. In fact, in his last five home starts, he has struck out at least five guys in four of them. Walks have been an issue but he still fanning 23 percent of the batters he faces so we should be good here.
The Diamondbacks have struck out fourth-most in MLB over the last seven days which isn’t the biggest sample size but it’s something. Everybody in the lineup is sporting a 20+% K-rate over that span. Marquez got to five against the Diamondbacks in his first start against them this season and I think he can do it again tonight.
This is one of my favorite player props for today.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies.
James Kaprielian Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+110)
Line available at DraftKings at time of publishing
James Kaprielian
I wanted to go with Trevor Bauer over 8.5 +116 (FanDuel) and I still might but this one looks good too. Low numbers at plus money is a good look. This is only Kaprielian’s second start of his career but his first one went well and I don’t think he’s priced right.
Kaprielian was a borderline “strikeout guy” in the minors. He was flashing 30+% strikeout stuff in AAA ball which doesn’t make him Nolan Ryan but it also doesn’t make him a 4.5 plus money guy either. In his last start against the Red Sox, he flushed six of them in five innings. He did walk three so that’s an issue but not one that would get me off him tonight.
The Athletics get the Angels tonight and they have been a team to target in the strikeout market lately. They’ve struck out seventh-most in MLB over the last 15 days. If Drew Butera plays, they will have two guys in the lineup that are striking out 40 percent of the time in that span. Throw in Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh and now there are four guys that are over 30 percent in the lineup. I think Kaprielian can get to five tonight.
This is one of my favorite player props of the night.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels.
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