Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

MLB strikeout props for 5/20: Fade Detmers against Astros

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 5/20/24

We went 2-1 in strikeout props on Friday to close out a profitable week, but we're not stopping now. Let's gun for another winning week in K props, starting with a three-pack of bets for Monday's MLB slate.

Reese Olson over 4.5 Ks (+125 DraftKings)

Tigers at Royals, 7:40 p.m. ET

The Kansas City Royals are one of the best teams in MLB at avoiding strikeouts, but no one told Reese Olson that. In 58 career plate appearances against Olson, current Royals hitters are batting just .196 with a 31.0 percent strikeout rate. The Detroit Tigers right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters in his lone start against Kansas City earlier this season, and he's gone over this number in four of his last six starts. This is an easy bet at plus money.

Chris Sale over 6.5 Ks (+126 FanDuel)

Padres at Braves, 6:20 p.m. ET (Game 2 of doubleheader)

Chris Sale is starting to look like his old self again. The 35-year-old has struck out 28 batters over his last three starts, and his advanced metrics are off the charts. Sale ranks in the 97th percentile in chase rate (36.9 percent), the 91st percentile in strikeout rate (31.3 percent) and the 84th percentile in whiff rate (31.1 percent). This number is only 6.5 because the San Diego Padres have the third-lowest K rate in baseball this year, but they've been worse against left-handed pitching. Sale can stay hot in this matchup.

Reid Detmers under 4.5 Ks (-132 FanDuel)

Angels at Astros, 8:10 p.m. ET

One of our favorite trends to follow in strikeout props is fading left-handers going up against the Houston Astros. Houston has the lowest strikeout rate against lefties (18.6 percent) this season, and this lineup has a ton of experience against Reid Detmers. In 96 plate appearances against the Los Angeles Angels starter, current Astros hitters have a diminutive 14.4 percent strikeout rate. Detmers managed just eight strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work against Houston last year. He's been much more effective at forcing swings and misses this season, but we still have no problem fading him in this tough matchup.

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