Backing the Washington Nationals offense against strikeouts has been profitable all season long, no matter if it’s a left-handed or right-handed pitcher. Ken Waldichuk will get the ball for the Oakland Athletics, and the former reliever has a tough matchup after tying a season high in strikeouts last start. He headlines our top MLB player prop bet for Athletics-Nationals.
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Best MLB Player Prop Bet: Ken Waldichuk | August 13
Ken Waldichuk O/U 5.5 Strikeouts
Ken Waldichuk may have his toughest matchup in terms of strikeouts today against the 52-66 Washington Nationals. Waldichuk turned heads in his last start, as he pitched six innings and fanned seven Texas Rangers batters. He threw 92 pitches, which were his most in any game this season since May 19. The good news for bettors fading Waldichuk is that the Athletics bullpen is fresh and sportsbooks are not offering an outs line. Time will tell how deep Waldichuk goes into this game, but backing a Nationals offense that ranks in the top 10 in strikeout rate against lefties in the last 30 days sounds like a good bet.
Five of the eight left-handed pitchers to get the Nationals since the All-Star Break have stayed under their strikeout total, including Cincinnati Reds rookie Andrew Abbott, who punched out just three batters and issued five walks. Waldichuk just isn’t the same pitcher as some of these other ones that have stayed under. He ranks in the 38th percentile in strikeout rate and eighth percentile in walk rate. The leash could be short if Waldichuk doesn’t have great command and extends at-bats. The middle of the Nationals offense consists of Lane Thomas, Joey Meneses and Keibert Ruiz, who all have a strikeout rate lower than 21% to lefties this season.
Best Athletics-Nationals MLB Player Prop Bet: Ken Waldichuk Under 5.5 Strikeouts -142 (FanDuel)
