Thursday’s are usually slower days in baseball as plenty of teams are enjoying a much-needed day off or traveling to their next series. That’s the case today since only 16 teams are taking the field. The day begins with some early baseball in the Bronx and ends in the South Side of Chicago, so let’s get into my favorite player props for today!
Jack Flaherty (DET) Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-145)
I had to pinch myself at first because this line didn't seem right. Jack Flaherty has recorded at least 6 strikeouts in 8 of his 9 starts this season. He ranks in the 95th percentile in strikeout rate and 97th percentile in whiff rate. Flaherty gets plenty of chases with his slider and curveball which are his main punch-out pitches. With all of this in mind, I had his strikeout line set at 6.5.
The Blue Jays pride themselves on putting the ball in play and avoiding swings and misses. However, Flaherty has gone deep into games constantly this season. He's pitched at least 6 innings in all but one outing. That means he only needs one strikeout an inning to reach this mark if he goes his usual length. This line is disrespectful to Flaherty, so back him to record at least 6 punchouts tonight.