Daily Strikeout Leader: Lucas Giolito Can Come Through Versus the Giants
Each day on FanDuel Sportsbook, there is no shortage of MLB odds to sift through, and you're likely familiar with a lot of them. That includes strikeout props, which are entertaining because they add importance to each pitch.
FanDuel Sportsbook has cranked that up a few notches with its daily strikeout leader market. Not only do you need your guys to rack up Ks -- you need them to get more punchouts than any of the day's other starting pitchers.
Here are today's odds in that market along with some key strikeout numbers -- including strikeouts per start (K/Start), strikeout rate (K%), and called-strike-plus-whiff rate (CSW%).
The Clear Favorite
Max Scherzer (+240) isn't necessarily the best pitcher on this slate, but with the way the matchups break down -- both for him and for the slate's other top arms -- Scherzer is a pretty big favorite to lead the night in strikeouts.
The matchup with the Oakland Athletics is about as good as it gets, and Scherzer owns a 12.8% swinging-strike rate and 29.4% strikeout rate across his last six starts, a stretch that includes a nine-punchout game in his first turn with the Texas Rangers.
He's the clear favorite for a reason. There are some other intriguing options, though.
A Solid Second Tier
Lucas Giolito and Zack Wheeler both stand out at +1000.
Giolito is my pick between the two. He's facing a San Francisco Giants offense that can do damage versus righties (.316 wOBA) but also strikes out a lot in the split (24.8%, fourth-highest). With a 25.0% strikeout rate, Giolito has the stuff to have a big day in this matchup if he's locked in.
Wheeler should have a lot of success against the Washington Nationals, but the Nats just don't strike out much. Washington's 18.9% strikeout rate against right-handers is the second-lowest clip. Wheeler will need to be at his best to push for double-digit Ks in this one. He's amassed just nine punchouts over 8 2/3 innings across two starts versus Washington this season.
Let's Kut a Deal
While I'm varying levels of intrigued by Braxton Garrett (+1800), Logan Gilbert (+2300) and Eduardo Rodriguez (+2000), Kutter Crawford jumps out to me at his +5500 number. That's a really big number for a guy who is pitching well and has a sublime matchup.
Crawford is at home versus the Kansas City Royals. Against righties, KC has the fourth-worst wOBA (.293) and the 11th-highest strikeout rate (23.5%). Crawford is on a heater, pitching to a 29.5% strikeout rate over his last four starts, but the dude might actually be good as he's got a 24.8% strikeout rate and 3.68 FIP since the start of June (12 starts). I'm willing to roll the dice on him at +5500.
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