Alright. Let’s do this again.
For the second time this season, Spencer Strider will be activated from the IL to re-join the Braves’ rotation. Let’s hope this stint ends up being much longer than the last, as the right-hander injured his hamstring just days after making his 2025 debut against the Blue Jays.
Here’s my best Strider prop bet for Tuesday night’s matchup with the Nationals.
Best Spencer Strider Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Spencer Strider Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-150)
As excited as I am to see Spencer Strider return to the mound, I think it’s (financially) wise to keep expectations realistic on Tuesday. Unlike his first go-around on the IL this season, Strider did not do a rehab assignment to build up for tonight’s MLB start. Instead, he threw a simulated game last Wednesday. One where MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Strider was sitting at just 93-to-94 mph with his fastball in the second inning. It’s very reminiscent of the RHP’s lone MLB appearance in 2025, when his velocity vanished mid-outing versus the Blue Jays. Strider would finish that start with only five strikeouts in his five innings of work.
The other thing to remember here is that Washington simply doesn’t strikeout all that much. The team’s 21.8% strikeout rate ranks in the lower-half of the league, while the Nationals’ 10.0% swinging strike rate is the eighth-lowest mark in MLB. This is a less than ideal matchup.
