Tag: Strikeouts

Awful Angels lineup hit a new low as Astros tallied a record-tying 20 strikeouts

Bettors should take notice.

The Houston Astros walked it off against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep, and that wasn’t even the biggest story from the game.

Led by starter Framber Valdez’s career-high 13 strikeouts, the Astros tallied 20 strikeouts in nine innings to tie the MLB record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game. It breaks their previous franchise record of 18 set in 1964. But this is more about the Angels than the Astros.

LA entered the series with the highest strikeout percentage in the majors. They greatly added to that in Houston, striking out 48 times in three games. That’s the most all-time in a three-game series without extra innings, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale.

At this rate, bettors should be absolutely hammering the over on strikeouts for opposing starting pitchers against the Angels. Astros starters all hit their overs in the series, with Christian Javier racking up 14 in the first game and Jose Uriquidy throwing for eight in the second game.

The Angels’ struggles aren’t isolated between a few players either. It’s everybody, including three-time MVP Mike Trout, who went 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts in the series. All 12 Angels who made plate appearances Sunday had a strikeout, and seven had multiple strikeouts.

There could be more where those came from very soon. Up next for the Angels are the Miami Marlins and ace Sandy Alcantara on Tuesday.

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2022 Tennessee baseball: Vols’ strikeout leaders ahead of SEC play

2022 Tennessee baseball: A look at the Vols’ strikeout leaders ahead of SEC play

No. 5 Tennessee (16-1) will begin Southeastern Conference play Friday.

The Vols will host South Carolina (10-6) Friday-Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. EDT Friday (SEC Network+). Saturday’s contest will begin at noon EDT (SEC Network), while Sunday’s game is slated for 1 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+).

Friday SEC Fan Fest debuts for Tennessee baseball games in 2022

Chase Burns by the numbers ahead of SEC play

Chase Dollander by the numbers ahead of SEC play

Drew Beam by the numbers ahead of SEC play

2022 Tennessee baseball: Vols’ home run leaders ahead of SEC play

2022 Tennessee baseball: Vols’ RBI leaders ahead of SEC play

Ahead of SEC play, Vols Wire looks at every Tennessee pitcher to record a strikeout through 17 games. Tennessee has recorded 204 strikeouts during the 2022 season.

The Vols’ strikeout leaders ahead of conference play are listed below.

MLB Prop Bets: Bank on these pitchers to record the most strikeouts

Making the best MLB prop bet picks to lead baseball in strikeouts in the 60-game 2020 MLB season.

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We continue looking at the available 2020 MLB prop bets at BetMGM with a look at the pitcher to record the most strikeouts in the 60-game 2020 MLB regular season. Below, we make our picks and best bets for which player will finish as MLB’s 2020 strikeout leader.

2020 MLB strikeout leader best bets

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 13 at 1:05 a.m. ET.

Favorite: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees (+230)

With the Houston Astros last year, Gerrit Cole’s MLB-leading 326 strikeouts were the most in a season for any current pitcher. Cole cashed in on his 2019 dominance this offseason with a fat new deal, signing with the New York Yankees, and enters the COVID-altered 60-game season as a heavy favorite to repeat as the majors’ strikeout leader.

The Yankees fan in me expects Cole to dazzle in pinstripes, but the gambler in me hates the +230 value. Too many things can go wrong, between injury and COVID, and a 60-game schedule is too small of a time frame for such little payout. PASS ON COLE LEADING THE MLB IN STRIKEOUTS.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Best Bet:  Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (+550)

Max Scherzer fell out of the MLB’S top-3 in strikeouts last season for the first time since 2011 — when he ranked eighth. He led the NL in strikeouts three consecutive seasons, 2016-18, and led the majors in 2016 an ’18. However, 2019 wasn’t a down year for Scherzer — he led the NL in K’s per nine innings (12.691) a second consecutive season — but he only started 27 games, the first time he’s started less than 30 games since his debut season in the majors (2008).

Questions about a World Series hangover are fair in most cases, but not with Scherzer. He is one of baseball’s fiercest competitors and expect to see the best of him as the Nationals defend their title. I LOVE SCHERZER (+550) TO RECORD THE MOST STRIKEOUTS IN 2020. 

Also see: Best MLB bets to win the 2020 World Series

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Sleeper:  Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (+2500)

Like Scherzer, I believe in a motivational edge for Stephen Strasburg in 2020. Health has always been a concern for Strasburg — who has only started 30+ games in three of 10 career seasons — but he is generally dominant when he pitches. He’s led the NL once in strikeouts (co-leader in 2014), averages 10.6 K’s per nine innings and 241 strikeouts per 162 games for his career.

The major factors of why I LIKE Strasburg (+2500) to fan the most batters in 2020 are the insane value, the COVID-altered schedule 60-game and his performance against NL East foes. Strasburg had the third-most strikeouts against division opponents (most in the NL).

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Top 5 Fantasy Baseball sleeper pitchers

Previewing the fantasy baseball landscape and highlighting the top 5 sleeper pitchers for the 2020 MLB season.

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Fantasy baseball managers will need to act quickly in the shortened 2020 MLB season. The 60-game campaign will mean smaller sample sizes of both successes and struggles will carry more weight, and fantasy owners will need to be ready to pounce on the waiver wire and cut ties sooner than usual. Below, we’ll help you get a head start on the 2020 fantasy baseball season with a look at the top-five sleeper pitchers to target in drafts.

Fantasy baseball: Top 5 sleeper pitchers

Kenta Maeda, SP, Minnesota Twins

Average Draft Position (ADP): 171

Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, Maeda joins Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi at the front of the Twins’ rotation. Maeda went 10-8 over 37 games (26 starts) and 153 2/3 innings last year while pitching to a 4.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 169 strikeouts against just 51 walks.

Maeda will benefit greatly from the change of scenery. He’ll no longer need to pitch in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field and Chase Field, and will instead get to feast on the expected cellar-dwelling Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Steven Matz, SP, New York Mets

ADP: 277

Matz went 11-10 in 32 games (30 starts) while throwing a career-high 160 1/3 innings in 2019. He posted a lackluster 4.21 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, but both those figures improved greatly in the second half of the season, as did his K-BB percentage. The Mets lineup should be much stronger this season and can help provide more win opportunities with improved run support.

Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels

ADP: 198

Heaney was limited to 18 starts and 95 1/3 innings in 2019. He averaged more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings for the second time in his career and walked fewer than three batters per nine for the second straight year. The 29-year-old has been named the Angels’ Opening Day starter and will front a new-look rotation.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs

ADP: 144

Hendricks hasn’t been able to replicate his breakout 2016 campaign in which he pitched to a 2.13 ERA, while going 16-8, but a regression to a 3.44 ERA in 2018 and a 3.46 ERA in 2019 are being viewed too unfavorably. He won’t steal matchups with strikeout totals, but his reliability and consistency will pay off nicely in an otherwise unpredictable season.

Ken Giles, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

ADP: 128

Giles recorded just 23 saves over 53 games last season, but pitched to a sparkling 1.87 ERA with a career-best 14.09 strikeouts per nine innings. He may still struggle to get save opportunities while backing the middling Blue Jays, but should get into games more regularly with teams expected to limit the usage of their top starters in 2020.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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