Opening Day is just around the corner as bettors finalize their MLB futures bets. Strikeouts are a big question mark coming into the season. The new pitch clock could have in impact on how many Ks are thrown. Nevertheless, the MLB futures odds for strikeout leaders still features many of the big name pitchers that baseball fans know and love. Aces like Gerrit Cole and Corbun Burnes top the list, with young stars like Spencer Strider and Hunter Greene making appearances. Let’s take a look at where the MLB futures odds for this season’s strikeout leader stand.
MLB Futures Odds: Gerrit Cole Leader for Most Strikeouts, Others Close
Per DraftKings,
Gerrit Cole +550
Corbin Burnes +900
Spencer Strider +900
Dylan Cease +1000
Jacob deGrom +1200
Carlos Rodon +1300
Max Scherzer +1400
Aaron Nola +1400
Robbie Ray +1900
Hunter Greene +2000
DraftKings Sportsbook has Cole (+550) as the favorite to lead Major League Baseball in strikeouts in 2023. However, the rest of the field is not far behind and certainly pushing to take down the Ks crown.
Spencer Strider and Hunter Green stick out as the youngest pitchers in the Top Ten of the strikeout futures odds board. Strider is 24 years old, while Greene is 23. Strider burst on to the scene last season for the Atlanta Braves, posting 202 strikeouts in 131 2/3s IP.
That performance earned Strider a vote of confidence from the Braves organization in the form of a 6-year $75 million contract extension. He also garnered attention and respect from baseball writers and analysts, coming in second place in NL Rookie of the Year voting to his teammate Michael Harris III.
If Strider can continue his torrid strikeout rate and post more innings pitched in 2023 he should move up the MLB futures odds board as the season progresses.
The same can be said for Hunter Greene, who put up 164 Ks across 125 innings a year ago. At 23-years old Greene was one of the top prospects in Major League Baseball. Sportsbooks are betting on his talent, and that as he gains experience he will earn those short odds to takedown the strikeout leader this year.
Many veteran pitchers also find themselves toward the top of the MLB strikeout leaders odds board. Jacon deGrome (+1200) and Carlos Rodon (+1300) will be top contenders if they can stay healthy. Both are joining new teams– deGrome with the Texas Rangers and Rodon the New York Yankees– who are counting on them to post strong numbers and high innings pitched.
With Opening Day on Thursday, bettors should stay up to date on last minute news and changes to the MLB futures odds markets. OddsShopper will have expert analysis leading up to the start of the campaign and everyday throughout the year, including the OddsShopper betting model that finds the best bet in every MLB market. Bettors can try it out with a 7-day OddsShopper Premium trial.
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