There are a handful of aces taking the mound Friday, from Dodgers deadline addition Tarik Skubal to Mets standout Christian Scott and Mariners righty Emerson Hancock. How will Skubal look against his former team? Can Scott cap off an undefeated August? Will Hancock deal another gem against the Blue Jays? 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 28, 2026)
- Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Dodgers LHP Tarik Skubal 7+ strikeouts: While the Tigers should be plenty familiar with Skubal’s stuff, the lefty has hit 7+ K in back-to-back starts and 12 of his last 18.
- New York Mets vs. Houston Astros: Mets RHP Christian Scott 6+ strikeouts: Scott has gone for 6+ K in 7 straight and 10 of his last 11, all while facing an average 23.8 batters over his last 5 starts compared to his 18.6 average across his previous 5.
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners: Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock 4+ strikeouts: Hancock has reached 4+ K in 7 of his last 8 starts that weren’t against the Rays, including his 5 K vs. TOR in July, on top of lasting into the 6th inning in 7 of those same 8 outings.
MLB Strikeout Prop Bets Breakdown
Tarik Skubal 7+ K (-173), Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
It has only been four weeks since the Tigers dealt Skubal to the Dodgers, but his homecoming should still be an explosive one. The back-to-back Cy Young winner has posted quality starts in three of his four appearances with Los Angeles, recorded at least six strikeouts in all four. He has gone for seven and 11 strikeouts in his last two, as well. Detroit also averages the 11th-most strikeouts per game in MLB and is tied for the fewest runs in baseball since August 18. Since Skubal spent the first eight years of his professional career in the Tigers’ system, they probably have some pretty decent scouting on him, but his career 2.67 ERA, 0.969 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 at Comerica Park can’t be overlooked either.
Christian Scott 6+ K (-146), New York Mets vs. Houston Astros
Scott has been among the most reliable pitchers to bet on when it comes to strikeouts this summer. The righty has recorded either six or seven strikeouts in seven consecutive starts and 10 of his last 11. His lone miss during that stretch was still a five-punchout showing against the Royals, who average the fifth-fewest strikeouts in MLB. Scott has also given himself more runway to work with as of late, facing an average of 23.8 batters over his last five starts. In his previous five appearances, he faced 18.6 batters on average. The Astros rank around the middle of the pack in strikeouts per game on the season, but they are averaging the fifth-most since August 16. Three of the last five starters or bulk relievers to face Houston have reached six strikeouts.
Emerson Hancock 4+ K (-132), Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners
Hancock hasn’t had too many clean outings as of late, giving up eight hits and two homers his last time out, but he hasn’t gotten battered around either. He has a 2.96 ERA since his back-to-back stinkers in mid-June, prior to which he had a 2.74 ERA. Hancock saw his resurgence hit some bumps in two starts against the Rays, MLB’s least strikeout-prone lineup. But against everyone else, the righty has been pretty lights out. In seven of his last eight starts that weren’t against Tampa Bay, Hancock has gone for five-plus strikeouts. He has also pitched into the sixth inning in seven of those eight appearances. And the last time he faced Toronto, he punched out five across 7.0 scoreless. Hancock finished each of his last three non-Tampa Bay road starts with four-plus strikeouts, as well.
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 Friday 8/28/26
- MLB Best Bets Today: Top NRFI props for Friday 8/28/26
- MLB NRFI Tracker
Good luck with your MLB prop bets today!
