MLB strikeout props for 5/8: By George, back Kirby vs. Twins

We went 1-2 in our strikeout props on Tuesday night, bringing our record to 4-2 to start the week. Let's get back on track with three more K props for Wednesday's MLB slate. 

Carlos Rodon under 4.5 Ks (+130 DraftKings)

Astros at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET

Carlos Rodon is starting to lose his fastball — literally — at the age of 31. The New York Yankees left-hander has a 22.1 percent whiff rate, which is his lowest since 2018, and his 25.4 percent chase rate is his lowest since 2020. He's going up against a stingy Houston Astros lineup that has the lowest strikeout rate in MLB at 16.8 percent. Their 18.0 percent strikeout rate against lefties is also the lowest mark in the league. Rodon fanned only four Astros hitters in his lone matchup against Houston earlier this season, and this shouldn't be any different. 

Chris Flexen under 3.5 Ks (-130 DK)

White Sox at Rays, 6:50 p.m. ET

Chris Flexen has never been an effective strikeout pitcher, and he's tracking to have the worst full season of his career in terms of forcing swings and misses. The 29-year-old has the sixth-lowest strikeout rate and the 10th-lowest whiff rate in MLB among qualified pitchers. He hasn't recorded more than four strikeouts in a game all season, and he's gone past the fifth inning only once. Flexen also has a minuscule 6.3 percent K rate against current Tampa Bay Rays hitters in his career. 

George Kirby over 6.5 Ks (+105 DK)

Mariners at Twins, 7:40 p.m. ET

Oh, look, an over! This is a good spot for an over based on George Kirby's history against the Minnesota Twins. The Seattle Mariners starter has a 36.6 percent strikeout rate against current Twins hitters in his career, which would be the highest K rate in the league this season by three percentage points. Kirby ranks in the 79th percentile in chase rate and the 71st percentile in strikeout rate this year, and this is a matchup he can exploit.