The MLB season starts on Thursday and Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider is the preseason betting favorite to lead Major League Baseball in strikeouts.
Strider, who led the majors with 281 Ks last season, is the +145 favorite.
Strider improved his odds from +195 to +145 after a dominant Spring Training that saw him strike out 35 batters over 22.2 innings pitched.
Strider will attempt to become the first player to lead the league in strikeouts in consecutive seasons since Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets in 2019-20.
The 25-year-old Strider went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 58 walks last season, as Atlanta led MLB with 104 wins in the regular season.
He is 32-10 with a 3.37 ERA and 483 strikeouts and 104 walks in 65 regular-season games with the Braves since 2021.
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FOX Sports MLB Analyst Ben Verlander, host of the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast, ranked Strider 25th on his list of best MLB players.
“He’s already setting unprecedented strikeout numbers from the second he came into Major League Baseball,” Verlander said. “And I think if Spencer Strider stays healthy in 2024 and gets the majority of his starts in, I think he can strike out 300 guys next year.”
Here are the odds for the strikeout leader via FanDuel Sportsbook.
2024 MLB STRIKEOUT LEADER ODDS: *
Spencer Strider, Braves: +145 (bet $10 to win $24.50 total)
Corbin Burnes, Orioles: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Pablo Lopez, Twins: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Hunter Greene, Reds: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Dylan Cease, Padres: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Luis Castillo, Mariners: +2100 (bet $10 to win $220 total)
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays: +2300 (bet $10 to win $240 total)
Blake Snell, Giants: +2300 (bet $10 to win $240 total)
Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
* odds as of 3/26/24
2023 MLB STRIKEOUT LEADERS
Spencer Strider, Braves: 281
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays: 237
Blake Snell, Padres: 234
Pablo Lopez, Twins: 234
Gerrit Cole, Yankees: 222
Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks: 220
Luis Castillo, Mariners: 219
Dylan Cease, White Sox: 214
Zack Wheeler, Phillies: 212
Mitch Keller, Pirates: 210
Freddy Peralta, Brewers: 210
The last MLB pitcher to strike out more than 300 batters in a season was Gerrit Cole in 2019, when he pitched for the Astros and tallied 326 Ks.
Second that season was Houston’s Justin Verlander with exactly 300.
Who do you think will strike out the most batters this season? Follow FOX Sports for the latest news on MLB and other sports.
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