- Our favorite MLB strikeout prop from Wednesday’s slate (8/5) comes from the 7:10 pm game between the Blue Jays and Braves
- We’ll break down the Over/Under line of 4.5 Ks for Braves LHP Sean Newcomb
- Newcomb has gone under his prop betting line in both starts in 2020
- Our MLB strikeout props are 20-11 (64.5%) for +7.92 Units on the year
With an Over price of -142 on Newcomb’s Over/Under of 4.5, someone out there is loving his outlook against the Jays tonight. Not us.
Let’s talk about why.
We’ve also got an unusually large slate of strikeout props for today in our chat community — join us here to get them all. And be sure to check out our top NBA props for Wednesday, too.
MLB Strikeout Props for 8/5
Braves LHP Sean Newcomb
Under 4.5 Ks (+118 @ Bookmaker)
I don’t see cause for such a bullish outlook on the Over. And I’m happy to take advantage of this excellent price on a pitcher that has started cold and now faces some sneaky-decent Blue Jays batters.
Through two starts, Newcomb:
- Has struck out 1 & 4 batters
- Has failed to get past 4.1 IP or 82 pitches
- Has a 13.5% kRate (anything around 18% or less is considered poor)
- Owns of an abysmal 1.57 WHIP and 8.33 ERA
- Allowing a hard-hit percentage of 40.7
Keep in mind both of those starts came against the NY Mets, who rank in the bottom third of the league with a 24.5% strikeout rate. The Mets are also the third-worst team in terms of .ISO power (.127), so it’s not like Newcomb was knocked around by a juggernaut lineup.
Newcomb’s issue at the moment is lack of command. He’s generated strikes on 56.5% of pitches, fifth-worst among all starters, while his 4.35 pitches per plate appearance are 13th worst.
Name | Pit/PA | Str | Str% ▲ |
Josh James | 4.45 | 72 | 49.00% |
Robbie Ray | 4.44 | 101 | 52.90% |
Zac Grotz | 4.35 | 83 | 56.10% |
Logan Webb | 3.92 | 84 | 56.40% |
Sean Newcomb | 4.35 | 91 | 56.50% |
Rick Porcello | 3.83 | 78 | 56.50% |
The Blue Jays bats haven’t had a lot of pop, but they’re patient if not potent. Their team K% is 11th-best (22.7%) in the majors, while their swinging strike rate is eighth-best (18.6%).
The Jays are also loaded with righties. As many as eight RHBs are projected to be in the lineup tonight, and that’s significant against Newcomb, whose K% falls to 20.4% against RHBs compared to 26.4% versus LHBs.
Newcomb is an underdog to hit 5.0 innings pitched, so he’ll need to be efficient to hit his Over. We’ve seen nothing so far to indicate he can do that, so I’m happy to lock in +118 on this play and I would play it down to +100.