Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

MLB best bets, strikeout props for Thursday 9/21: If you don't like Skubal, you're a screwball

That's more like it. We went 2-1 on Wednesday to improve to 6-3 on the week in strikeout props. Let's keep the momentum rolling with my three favorite K props for Thursday's MLB slate. 

Max Fried under 4.5 Ks (+126 FanDuel)

Whenever a left-handed starting pitcher goes up against the Washington Nationals, he's an auto-fade in my book. The Nats have the lowest strikeout rate against lefties in MLB (20.02 percent), and they also have the second-fewest number of strikeouts in the league. Max Fried has gone over 4.5 Ks in eight of his 13 starts this season, but we have no problem fading him against a pesky Washington lineup, especially at plus money.

Jose Berrios over 6.5 Ks (+100 DraftKings)

It's almost sad how far the New York Yankees offense has fallen. Over the last 15 days, the Yankees have the lowest batting average (.190) and the second-worst strikeout rate (31.8 percent) in MLB. Jose Berrios has gone over 6.5 strikeouts in three straight starts, and he struck out eight in his lone start against New York this season. Take the over. 

Tarik Skubal over 6.5 Ks (-146 FD)

Tarik Skubal has been a strikeout machine of late, punching out 48 batters over his last six starts for an average of 8.0 per game. The Detroit Tigers starter has also gone at least six innings in five of those six starts and has lowered his ERA from 4.18 to 3.25 in that span. Now he gets to face an Oakland Athletics lineup that's batting .204 as a team with a 30.4 percent strikeout rate over the last week. Lay the juice on this one.

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