There are a handful of aces taking the mound Monday, including a trio of emerging American League arms in Mariners righty Emerson Hancock, Yankees righty Will Warren and Red Sox lefty Connelly Early. Will Hancock post a third straight quality start? Can Warren pick up where he left off in May? Is Early poised for a bounce-back showing in Tampa? Here is our full breakdown of where we think each starting pitcher will wind up in the strikeout column.
Best MLB Strikeout Prop Bets Today (June 8, 2026)
- Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners: Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock 5+ strikeouts: Hancock, who is 7-for-12 when it comes to hitting 5+ K this season, is fresh off a seven-strikeout showing and is now set to take on an Orioles lineup that ranks 6th in MLB in strikeouts per game.
- Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees: Yankees RHP Will Warren 5+ strikeouts: Warren has posted 5+ strikeouts in 9 of his 12 appearances in 2026, not to mention that he hit that threshold the last time he visited Cleveland and is facing a lineup that struggles mightily against righties.
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox: Red Sox LHP Connelly Early 5+ strikeouts: Despite taking on a disciplined Rays lineup, Early has gone for 5+ K in five straight starts, plus he is going against a team that has issues against lefties and has let each of the last five SP who recorded at least 4.0 IP make it to 5 K as well.
MLB Strikeout Prop Bets Breakdown
Emerson Hancock 5+ K (-146), Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners
Hancock has reached at least five strikeouts in seven of his 12 starts this season. So while he has only done so twice in his last five appearances, the righty was 5-for-7 prior to that point. Hancock got back on track with a seven-strikeout showing his last time out, and now he has a solid matchup with Baltimore coming up. The Orioles have struck out at least five times through five innings in back-to-back contests, as well as four of their last six, and now rank sixth across MLB in strikeouts per game. Considering Hancock has lasted at least 5.0 innings in every single one of his appearances this season, coupled with his 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings, I like him to keep it up in Baltimore on Monday.
Will Warren 5+ K (+113), Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees
Through 12 starts this season, Warren has gone for five or more strikeouts nine times. He was on a streak of eight straight hits at that line before back-to-back three-strikeout showings in May, but the 26-year-old did return to form with five punchouts his last time out against the Athletics. The Guardians boast the eighth-lowest OPS+ in the majors at 94, plus their OPS against righties is 42 points lower than it against versus lefties. When Warren lasts into the sixth inning, he is 6-for-7 in terms of reaching five strikeouts. And while Cleveland averages the fourth-fewest strikeouts per game in MLB, three of the last four starters that have faced them have reached five strikeouts before getting the hook. It also It is also worth noting that Warren tossed five strikeouts in 5.0 innings in his lone appearance against Cleveland in 2025 – also on the road, like he will be on Monday. He is sitting at 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings on the season, which is just about in line with his 9.7 career mark.
Connelly Early 5+ K (-151), Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay is the second-least strikeout-prone team in the big leagues, but Early has been dependable this season regardless of matchup. He has struck out at least five batters in eight of his 12 starts, including five straight. And during his active hot streak, Early has struck out at least six in four of five. Even when he gave up four earned and two homers his last time out, Early still lasted into the sixth frame and racked up six punchouts. Per Baseball Savant, Early ranks in the 75th percentile in chase percentage, which is a great skill to bring to the table against an otherwise disciplined Rays lineup. Tampa Bay also owns a mere .676 OPS against southpaws like Early, compared to their .733 OPS versus righties, so Early should be able to last longer and give himself more opportunities to stack strikeouts in the process. The last five times the Rays have faced a starter that completed at least 4.0 innings, that pitcher proceeded to notched five or more strikeouts.
More MLB Betting Content & Picks
Check out more MLB betting content and player props throughout the season on DraftKings Network.
- MLB NRFI Tracker
- MLB Grand Slam Payout: How the DraftKings Grand Slam Promo Works
- MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Monday 6/8/26
Good luck with your MLB prop bets today!
