There are a handful of aces taking the mound Monday, from Orioles righty Brandon Young to Athletics rookie Mason Barnett and Dodgers ace Blake Snell. Can Young continue to mow down disciplined lineups? Will Barnett settle into his spot in the A’s rotation? How will Snell look with his injury absence further in his rear-view mirror? 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 (August 17, 2026)
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles: Orioles RHP Brandon Young 4+ strikeouts: Young has notched 4+ K in 9 straight starts, plus this bet has hit in 6 of his 7 outings that came against teams who rank in the top 10 in fewest strikeouts per game – like the Rays.
- Kansas City Royals vs. Athletics: Athletics RHP Mason Barnett 4+ strikeouts: It’s tough to put a lot of faith in Barnett, who is coming off a 0 K showing last Tuesday, but he has recorded 4+ K in 3 of his 4 outings that have lasted at least 4.0 IP this season.
- Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Dodgers LHP Blake Snell 7+ strikeouts: Snell exploded for 10 strikeouts in his return from the IL last week and now he gets to face a Rockies lineup that he has historically dominated.
MLB Strikeout Prop Bets Breakdown
Brandon Young 4+ K (-137), Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Young has truly broken out in 2026, posting a 3.33 ERA while leading the Orioles to a 16-4 record in his starts. And while his 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings aren’t anything to write home about, he has recorded four-plus in nine straight appearances. He is 15-for-17 dating back to May 1, as well. Young has yet to face the Rays, who average the fewest strikeouts per game in MLB. Looking at the rest of the top 10 in that category, however, Young has logged seven starts against six of those teams. He posted at least four strikeouts in both of his showdowns with the Blue Jays, who average the second-fewest strikeouts per game, plus each of his matchups with the Dodgers, Royals and Braves. He is 1-for-2 against the Astros, but that one hit came on the road.
Mason Barnett 4+ K (+108), Kansas City Royals vs. Athletics
Barnett has been a starter since the end of July, albiet to mixed results. The A’s have lost all three of Barnett’s starts and each of his last nine appearances overall. But when it comes to strikeouts, the righty has posted four-plus punchouts in two of his three starts and three of his four outings that have lasted at least 4.0 innings. So while he didn’t record a single strikeout his last time out, that was against MLB’s most strikeout-averse lineup in the Rays. Barnett’s other three appearances that have gone 4.0 innings or more came against the Astros, Red Sox and Reds, who rank No. 9, 14 and 30 on that list, respectively. The Royals pose a bit more of a threat, averaging the seventh-fewest strikeouts per game in MLB, but each of the last six starters to face Kansas City have struck out at least four.
Blake Snell 7+ K (-149), Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Snell made his long-awaited return from the injured list last Tuesday, proceeding to notch 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings of one-run ball against the Royals. That was coming off a three-month hiatus, and it was only the southpaw’s second start of the season. This time around, he gets to face a Colorado lineup that averages the ninth-most strikeouts per game, rather than a Kansas City squad that averages the seventh-fewest. He also has a long track record of success against the Rockies. Snell has recorded seven-plus strikeouts in 11 of his 14 career starts against Colorado, averaging 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in that sample. He is only 3-for-6 in Denver, but he finished with 12 strikeouts that last time he pitched there.
More MLB Betting Content & Picks
Check out more MLB betting content and player props throughout the season on DraftKings Network.
- MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Monday 8/17/26
- Best MLB Parlays Today: Top Picks for Monday, August 17
- MLB NRFI Tracker
Good luck with your MLB prop bets today!
