By Ryan Gilbert
MLB Pitcher Strikeout Prop #1: Rodon rolls against San Diego
Carlos Rodon (SFG) over 6.5 strikeouts (-130 @ FanDuel Sportsbook)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon has 189 strikeouts in 147.1 IP this season. He’s struck out at least seven batters in 17 of his 25 starts this season.
Rodon had a weak stretch from May 3rd to June 7th in which he reached the seven-strikeout mark in only one of seven starts. Outside of that, he’s hit in 16 of 18 starts, including three straight and nine of his last 10. He had 12 strikeouts in his last start against the Padres.
The Padres are starting to get desperate in the Wild Card race. Rodon has been rolling recently and picked up 12 Ks in his last start against this team. I’ll happily take this line at 6.5 and may run up the ladder a bit as well. He had double-digit strikeouts in two straight, four of his last six, and five of his last nine starts.
MLB Pitcher Strikeout Prop #2: Berrios buries the Cubs
Jose Berrios (TOR) over 5.5 strikeouts (-120 @ DraftKings Sportsbook)
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios hasn’t had a great showing in his first full season with the club. He is 9-5 with a 5.28 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 134.2 IP — dropping his career K/9 just under 9 (980 in 986.1 IP).
Berrios has found a bit of a groove — at least strikeout-wise- over the last two months. He has 56 strikeouts in 51.1 IP across his last nine starts. He had 6+ strikeouts in seven of those nine outings.
The Cubs are among the teams that strike out the most against right-handed starters. They’ve struck out 23.1% overall (ninth-most) and 24.1% in the last 30 days (sixth-most).
The right-hander has been better at home this season with 71 strikeouts in 68 IP. He’s struck out six or more in four of his last five and six of his last eight home starts. I’ll take him to do that again at -120.
MLB Pitcher Strikeout Prop Parlay: The Suarez Special
[Jose Suarez (LAA) 4+ Strikeouts & Ranger Suarez (PHI) 4+ Strikeouts] -128 parlay
Monday night presents us with a smaller slate so I’m turning to a strikeout parlay for the third play of the day. I’m taking José Rances Suárez and Ranger José Suárez to each record at least four strikeouts on Monday night.
Let’s start with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jose Suarez. Jose’s strikeout line is set at 4.5, which seems about fair. He’s hit that in 10 of his 16 starts this season. However, he’s had 4+ strikeouts in 10 of his last 14 starts, including 5+ in four straight and five of six.
He’s facing off against a tough Yankees team tonight. Even with their recent struggles, the Yanks’ lineup is always formidable. So we’re going to go a bit conservative and take 4+ strikeouts at -280 as a parlay piece tonight.
I’m more confident in Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez. Ranger’s line is also set at 4.5, a mark he’s hit exactly half of his 22 starts this season. He was stuck at four strikeouts in six of those starts, bringing it up to 17 of 22 starts.
I’ll add this -320 parlay piece with Ranger Suarez against an Arizona Diamondbacks team that strikes out the 10th-most in the league vs. LHP.
