MLB strikeout props for 5/23: Fade Flaherty vs. Blue Jays

We went 2-1 in strikeouts props on Wednesday for the second time in three days, bringing our record back over .500 for the week. Let's keep chugging toward a profitable week with three K props for Thursday's MLB slate.

Paul Skenes under 7.5 Ks (-115 DraftKings)

Giants at Pirates, 12:35 p.m. ET

Paul Skenes sure has looked the part since getting called up from the minors. The star prospect has 18 strikeouts and a 46.2 percent K rate through two starts, but that simply isn't sustainable. Both starts came against the ice-cold Chicago Cubs, but this will be a much tougher task against the San Francisco Giants. Over the last week, the Giants have the highest batting average (.330), the second-highest OPS (.924) and the fourth-lowest strikeout rate (19.1 percent) in MLB. Skenes will have to be lights out again to hit this over, and while that's entirely possible, we're fine betting against it.

Jack Flaherty under 5.5 Ks (+124 FanDuel)

Blue Jays at Tigers, 6:40 p.m. ET

Who's excited to fade a few of the best strikeout artists in baseball? Jake Flaherty ranks in the 97th percentile in whiff rate (35.9 percent) and the 95th percentile in strikeout rate (33.0 percent) among qualified pitchers. He's cleared this number in eight of his nine starts this season, and most of them haven't even been a sweat. So, why are we taking the under? The Toronto Blue Jays rank No. 1 in MLB in whiff rate (21.7 percent) and chase contact rate (62.1 percent). Flaherty has just a 22.4 percent K rate in his career against current Blue Jays hitters, so he has a good chance to come back to Earth in this matchup.

Andrew Heaney over 4.5 Ks (-160 DK)

Rangers at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. ET

This is a lot of juice to pay, but we still think it's too cheap. The Philadelphia Phillies have a 21.8 percent strikeout rate this season, but that number jumps up to 28.0 percent against left-handed pitching. They have 163 Ks against lefties, while no other team in baseball has more than 140. Andrew Heaney is an above-average pitcher in terms of chase rate, and that's where this Phillies lineup is vulnerable against lefties. The Texas Rangers starter has gone over 4.5 Ks in five of his last six starts, and this is the easiest matchup he'll see for generating strikeouts.