It’s a light night on the diamond, but there are still plenty of solid MLB strikeout props to consider for Thursday, Aug. 31. The Dodgers and Braves headline the schedule in a potential NL playoff matchup, and there is value to be found on multiple betting lines this evening.
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Today’s Betting Lines
Here are odds for the games we have on our MLB strikeout props betslip for Thursday. For lines from the top sports betting apps on the entire card, check out our MLB odds page. Also, shop for the best sports betting promos on the market to claim hundreds of dollars in bonus bets.
MLB Strikeout Props (8/31/23)
Here are our best MLB strikeout props for Thursday, Aug. 31.
Lance Lynn
Under Strikeouts
Newly acquired right-hander Lance Lynn takes the mound for the Dodgers against the Braves in a potential postseason matchup. Lynn is tied for 14th in MLB in strikeouts, but you couldn’t tell in his last two starts. He registered three- and one-strikeout performances against the Brewers and Red Sox in his last two, respectively. That’s not a positive trend heading into a contest against the hottest team in baseball.
The Braves are a top-10 team at avoiding strikeouts, have the best batting average in baseball, and are one of only two teams with an OPS above .800 this season. Additionally, in the last 30 days, only one of the 11 Braves batters with at least 40 plate appearances is hitting below .250 in that stretch. Atlanta has also scored at least five runs in six of its last seven games. Lynn has a 5.56 ERA, which could be exploited early, limiting his time on the mound.
The final reason we like Lynn to go Under tonight is that he is a power pitcher, relying on variations of the fastball to generate strikes and outs. Atlanta has 12 batters with a minimum of 150 plate appearances in 2023, and only two of them are hitting fastballs below .250 this season.
Matt Manning
Under Strikeouts
The Yankees’ season has gone up in flames. They have struck out in the double digits in seven of their last eight, including all three games in their current series with Detroit. Although the rough stretch includes allowing relatively average pitchers, they have also faced quite a few above-average pitchers in that stretch.
Tonight, Matt Manning looks to help the Tigers avoid being swept by the struggling Yankees. Manning is getting better, but he is in just his third year. In 13 starts in 2023, he hit the five-strikeout mark only three times. To cover this line, he’ll need one of his better performances against the Yankees, who, despite their record, have been doing quite well scoring runs recently.
Another reason we like Manning to go Under is that his primary pitch is the four-seamer, which he is putting in the zone six points above league average even with a velocity just below league average. The Yankees have 12 batters with 150 or more plate appearances and only three of them hit the four-seamer below .250. His secondary pitch is the slider, which he puts it in the zone 12 points above league average. The Yankees struggle with the slider as a team, but they are above average at plate discipline. If they don’t have to chase the slider, it may not be as impactful.
Braxton Garrett
Under Strikeouts
The Marlins’ lefty isn’t having the best month so far. Through five games in August, Braxton Garrett has tossed only 18 strikeouts. Also, his last start was six days ago against the Nationals, who he is up against tonight. In that outing, he got through five innings, allowed three runs, and tossed only three strikeouts in a 7-4 loss.
The Nationals are coming off a series with the Blue Jays in which they only allowed Kevin Gausman to surpass five or more strikeouts, and he is second in MLB in the category. Their K totals for that series were three, six, and nine. Washington is just one strikeout away from being the best in baseball at avoiding strikeouts. The Nats’ low strikeout count is thanks to their uncanny ability to hit pitches outside the zone. They are also second in contact outside the zone – right behind the Guardians, who also lead the league in strikeouts surrendered.
Garrett’s most-used pitch is the sinker, which he utilizes at a 30% clip. Only two of the nine Washington hitters with more than 150 plate appearances hit the sinker below. 250. That puts a lot of pressure on Garrett’s secondary pitches to rack up Ks tonight. Against a team as good at avoiding strikeouts as the Nationals, relying on secondary and sparingly-used tertiary pitches isn’t likely enough to cover strikeout props.
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