Let's kick off a new season with some MLB strikeout props.
Ahead of 2024 MLB Opening Day, I've already fallen in love with a few pitching matchups. I'll be backing one Cy Young candidate and one guy on the opposite end of the talent spectrum on Thursday:
Follow along for two MLB prop picks for March 28:
Pick 1: Alex Wood Over 3.5 (+110)
Guardians vs A's Matchup Preview - Game Time: 10:07 pm ET
Alex Wood may not be a exactly what you think of when I say 'Opening Day starter,' but he earned this spot atop Oakland's rotation. And frankly, his strikeout line is disrespectful.
Wood surpassed 3.5 strikeouts in each of his final three spring starts, registered 15 Ks across the three outings while he wasn't even fully stretched out.
And, Wood draws a Guardians lineup that was awful against lefties last year. Cleveland posted a league-worst .663 OPS against lefties last year and the lowest team batting average against southpaws, too (.232). I'm all over the A's as a team and total pick, because of Wood's platoon advantage, and I love him to rack up at least four strikeouts.
Pick 2: Tarik Skubal Over 6.5 (-125)
Tigers vs White Sox Matchup Preview - Game Time: 4:10 pm ET
Tarik Skubal was electric last year. In 15 starts after coming back from injury he struck out 102 batters in 80.1 innings — elite stuff. He carried that new form into 2024 spring, striking out 19 batters in 14 innings. He's basically full stretched out, too, pitching 86 pitches and 5 innings in his final start of the spring, meaning he should be able to go deep against a crummy White Sox lineup.
Skubal faced the White Sox twice in the final month of the 2023 season (a White Sox lineup that's gotten even worse over the offseason), and struck out a combined 16 batters across his 12 innings of work. The Sox scored just 2 earned runs against him.
