MLB best bets, strikeout props for 9/28: It ain't over for these unders

A 2-1 mark in strikeout props Wednesday night helped us claw back to 4-5 on the week. We've still got two days to scratch out a profit for the final week of the regular season, so let's start with my three favorite K prop bets for Thursday's MLB slate. 

Zack Wheeler under 5.5 Ks (+110 DraftKings)

I'd be shocked if the Philadelphia Phillies give Zack Wheeler a full workload in Thursday night's start. Manager Rob Thomson already named Wheeler the Game 1 starter in the wild-card round, so there's no reason to wear him out for his most important start of the season. Get Wheeler some reps, get him out early and let's cash this plus-money under.

A.J. Smith-Shawver under 3.5 Ks (+124 FanDuel)

A.J. Smith-Shawver isn't much of a swing-and-miss pitcher. The Atlanta Braves rookie is averaging just 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings this season, and he's recorded 3.75 Ks per game in his four starts. This is also a tough matchup against a Chicago Cubs lineup that has a strikeout rate of just 22.1 percent over the last week, so we're rolling with another under here.

Chris Sale under 5.5 Ks (+120 DK)

It's a plus-money under day here in strikeout prop land. We know Chris Sale is one of the most prolific strikeout artists in MLB and has been for a long time, but this is a brutal matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. In two starts against the O's this season, Sale has surrendered 13 earned runs in just seven innings pitched. The Boston Red Sox lefty could cruise over this number if he reaches the fifth inning, but we'll trust a Baltimore lineup that clearly has Sale's number this year.