2023 MLB Future Bets: Regular Season Strike Outs Leader Odds, Best Bets, and Sleepers
That’s right, we’re leaving our bats at home and taking the 60-foot trip from home plate to the pitchers' mound. Yesterday we looked at who could end up leading the league in hits, but today’s story goes out to all you pitching nerds out there–who could be the Strike Out king at the end of 2023?
The odds I will be using in this story are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are the top 10 players with the best odds as things stand today:
Gerrit Cole (+550)
Corbin Burnes (+800)
Dylan Cease (+1000)
Spencer Strider (+1100)
Jacob deGrom (+1200)
Max Scherzer (+1300)
Aaron Nola (+1400)
Carlos Rodon (+1500)
Robbie Ray (+1800)
Shohei Ohtani (+2000)
Just like my hits and home runs stories, I’m going to give you a plethora of guys to bet on, with the hopes that we can land a big one. I’ll cover some of my lower-odds favorites, some middle-of-the-pack guys, and then–everyone’s favorite–my sleepers.
If DraftKings Sportsbook isn’t available in your state, be sure to check out any of the other online casinos in your area.
The Favorites
Gerrit Cole (+550)
I promise this isn’t me playing the Yankees homer card–I really think Cole has what it takes to be the back-to-back strikeout king, and Vegas seems to agree with me. Last season Cole led the league in strikeouts with 257, standing 14 total strikeouts higher than second place finisher Corbin Burnes. Cole collected 11.527 K/9 innings, and could very well put up similar numbers if he’s able to complete a full season.
Corbin Burnes (+800)
Burnes was phenomenal last season and led the NL in strikeouts with 243. His K/9 rate dropped by almost two whole strikeouts from 2021-2022, but it would’ve been hard to keep up that 12.6 k/9 rate anyway. Burnes has a real chance to break through again this year, and is probably worth a look for Cy Young betting as well.
Middle of The Pack
Carlos Rodon (+1500)
Rodon had the highest k/9 rate in the entire MLB last year and finished third in total strikeouts–so why not sprinkle a little bit on the new Yankee?
Shane McClanahan (+2500)
McClanahan had a fantastic season in 2022, but it was one that was unfortunately cut short by injury. In just 28 starts he collected almost 200 strikeouts–Cole, who had 33 starts and led the MLB in strikeouts, finished with just 57 more strikeouts than McClanahan. Had the Rays ace pitched a full season, he would’ve been right in the mix.
Tyler Glasnow (+3500)
We’re staying in Tampa for this risky bet–but if it hits, you’ll be as happy as a clam (which is a saying that I never understood). Glasnow hasn’t completed a full seasons since 2018, so injuries are definitly his bugaboo. However, in the games that he has played, he has posted k-rates that we’ve never seen before. He recorded 13.5 k/9 in 2022, 12.6 in 2021, and 14.3 in 2020. So, a full season for Glasnow in 2023 could produce record setting strikeout numbers.
Sleepers
Zack Wheeler (+5500)
Wheeler’s odds are actually incredibly shocking here, considering he led the NL is strikeouts just two seasons ago. Wheeler has proven his ability to roll with the best of ‘em, and is on a Phillies team that could be the best in baseball. Keep an eye on Wheeler in 2023.
