Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider relieves pitcher Kevin Gausman (34). Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

MLB best bets, strikeout props for Tuesday 9/26: Jays' Gausman should handle Yanks

A 1-2 mark on Monday wasn't how we wanted to start the final week of the regular season, but we've got plenty of time to scratch out a profit. Let's get back on track with my three favorite strikeout prop bets for Tuesday's MLB slate. 

Kevin Gausman over 7.5 Ks (-120 DraftKings)

We took the over on Kevin Gausman's strikeouts the last time he faced the New York Yankees, and we have no problem running it back at a similar price. In three starts against the Yankees this season, Gausman has racked up 31 strikeouts and given up only two earned runs in 20 innings. New York also has the second-highest strikeout rate in MLB over the last 15 days (30.7 percent), so this has all the makings of yet another over for Gausman.

Reid Detmers under 5.5 Ks (-128 FanDuel)

Reid Detmers has been pitching well with 19 strikeouts and only four earned runs over his last 17.2 innings, but that hot streak likely stops today. The Texas Rangers are batting .291 with a league-leading 1.008 OPS and 39 runs scored over the last week, and they have the second-lowest strikeout rate in the league (16.9 percent) in that span. Although Detmers has been impressive of late, he's still gone under 5.5 Ks seven times in his last nine starts. This number is a tick high against one of the hottest lineups in MLB.

George Kirby under 4.5 Ks (+118 FD)

After two juiced picks to start the day, you knew we had to finish with a plus-money prop. George Kirby doesn't last very long in games if he gives up a few early runs, and he's in danger of doing so Monday night against a Houston Astros lineup that's averaging 5.96 runs per game over the last 30 days, good for second in the league. Houston also has the lowest strikeout rate in MLB (19.3 percent) in that span. Kirby struck out just three batters in his lone start against the Astros this season, so we're hoping for a similar performance this time around. 

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