Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson. Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

MLB strikeout props for 6/26: Fade Nelson vs. the Twins

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Jun 26, 2024 2:15 PM ET

Coming off a 2-1 mark in strikeout props, we're now 5-1 through two days to start the week. Not too shabby. Let's keep the profit train rolling with another three-pack of K props for Wednesday's MLB slate.

DJ Herz over 4.5 Ks (+130 DraftKings)

Nationals at Padres, 4:10 p.m. ET

DJ Herz has racked up 26 strikeouts through his first four MLB starts. The rookie left-hander is producing a massive 34.8 percent whiff rate and a 32.5 percent strikeout rate. This is a brutally tough matchup against the San Diego Padres, but they're striking out 20.1 percent of the time against lefties over the last two weeks. This is the first time the Padres will be seeing Herz, and his fastball-changeup combo is good enough to hit this over.

Ryne Nelson under 3.5 Ks (+124 FanDuel)

Twins at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m. ET

Nelson hasn't been an effective swing-and-miss pitcher this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander ranks in the sixth percentile in whiff rate (17.8 percent) and the eighth percentile in strikeout rate (15.1 percent), and he's gone under this line in four of his last five starts. Nelson pitches to contact, and there aren't many teams making better contact than the Minnesota Twins right now. The Twins are batting .296 with a .852 OPS and a 142 wRC+ against righties over the last two weeks, and they have the second-lowest K rate (15.5 percent) in MLB over that span.

Hayden Birdsong over 4.5 Ks (-134 FD)

Cubs at Giants, 9:45 p.m. ET

Welcome to the big leagues, Mr. Birdsong! The 22-year-old will be making his MLB debut on Wednesday night, and what a great matchup this is for him. The Chicago Cubs are struggling mightily against right-handed pitching, striking out a league-worst 31.6 percent of the time against righties over the last week. Birdsong has gone over this line in 12 of his 13 minor-league starts this year, and he has a great chance to do so in his MLB debut.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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