4 Best MLB Strikeout Prop Bets for Thursday, April 17
Generally, Thursday means significantly fewer MLB games and limited betting options. However, we're treated to 10 games today, starting just after noon ET.
Our best strikeout prop bets today span across the entire slate, with one pick from each window. We start with a showdown between the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds at 12:40 p.m. ET and end with the Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers affair at 8:05 p.m. ET.
We went a perfect 4-0 yesterday, cashing our MLB strikeout parlay in the process, which came in at odds better than +1800. Let's keep the good times rollin'.
💰 Today's best MLB strikeout props: April 17
Here are the four best MLB strikeout prop bets and odds today; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. You can also check out our MLB player prop odds tool for the latest MLB odds at the best legal sportsbooks in your region.
⚾ Brady Singer Under 5.5 strikeouts vs. Mariners (12:40 p.m. ET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: +128 via FanDuel (bet $10 to win $12.80)
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Singer never quite lived up to expectations with the Kansas City Royals, who drafted him in the first round in 2018. He mixed in two very solid seasons with two disastrous ones, and the Royals traded him to the Reds this past November for Jonathan India.
Singer has been very good with the Reds so far, though, pitching to a 3.18 ERA with even better peripherals. He's recorded 18 strikeouts over 17 innings. However, he gets a tough matchup at home today against a Mariners team that's been significantly more patient at the plate this year than it was last season.
The right-hander isn't expected to have too much trouble limiting the damage against the Mariners today, as he's projected for a low ERA and WHIP.
Singer is projected to rack up right around five strikeouts, which means this is a good line but the odds are too long. Based on his projection, Under 5.5 should be trading in the -120 range, and it very well could be when the first pitch is thrown. This is already moving at some of our other best MLB betting sites, so bet it at FanDuel before it adjusts its odds, too.
⚾ JP Sears Under 4.5 strikeouts vs. White Sox (2:10 p.m. ET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: +132 via bet365 (bet $10 to win $13.20)
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Athletics southpaw JP Sears has never been known for his ability to send opposing hitters back to the dugout on strikes. Sure, he's averaging 8.47 K/9 through his first three starts, but that number is just 7.47 for his career. So, though he's projected to go almost six innings today, he's expected to rack up just four punchouts.
Once again, it's the tasty plus-money odds doing most of the heavy lifting here, as this Under should be trading in a similar range to Singer's at around -120. The break-even price is -161. In fact, one of our best sports betting sites is already offering this Under at minus money, and Pinnacle - which features one of the most respected trading teams in the sports betting industry - is at -106 after opening at +115.
This is one of my six bets I made today, which is why it comes in at five stars.
⚾ Reese Olson Over 4.5 strikeouts vs. Royals (6:40 p.m. ET) ⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: -110 via BetMGM (bet $10 to win $9.09)
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There were some relatively high expectations for Detroit Tigers right-hander Olson entering this year following an impressive 2024 campaign. And though he has a 6.00 ERA through his first three starts, I think he's due for some positive regression.
Olson's biggest issue thus far is a 9.4% swinging-strike rate vs. a 12.7% mark last year. Unless his stuff has totally fallen off, that should normalize. As should his 11.9% walk rate, which was just over 7% last year.
The Tigers starter is expected to have his way with the Royals tonight. He's projected to allow right around two runs on six hits + walks, and he has a chance to go six innings. Accordingly, he's projected to rack up 5.46 punchouts. We're getting nearly 20% +EV on this bet based on that projection, and some of our best sports betting apps are already moving these odds close to -120.
⚾ Kumar Rocker Under 4.5 strikeouts vs. Angels (8:05 p.m. ET) ⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: +105 via DraftKings (bet $10 to win $10.50)
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No one wants Rocker to be great this season more than I do, but I don't expect him to have an especially dominant performance tonight against the Angels.
Rocker made three starts last season, during which he struck out opposing hitters for fun but also allowed a ton of walks. His 13.3% swinging-strike rate was very promising. However, though Rocker has more or less gotten the walks in check, he's not striking out ... well, really anyone, to start this year.
In those 11 2/3 innings in 2024, he racked up 14 Ks. In 11 1/3 this season, he's at six. Of course, this is a tiny sample size and most preseason projection models expected Rocker to be very good this year, which is why I bet on him to win AL Rookie of the Year.
I think we'll soon see Rocker break out and look as lethal as he did last year, but with a 4.16 strikeout projection tonight and these +105 odds, we're riding with the Under.
💰Today's MLB strikeout parlay
Here is our best MLB strikeout parlay for Thursday's baseball action; use our parlay calculator to get the best odds for any parlay:
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