These K plays are more than OK

It was nice to wrap Week 3 strong with that +155 SGP hit last night on "Monday Night Football," a good boost to the bankroll. We turn to MLB today and the strikeout market to keep the good times rolling.

Hunter Greene 7+ Ks, Zack Wheeler 5+ Ks (+130 FanDuel)

Hunter Greene has been rolling. His past three starts have seen him average 9.0 Ks/game, exceeding eight strikeouts each time. The Reds and Greene will draw the Pirates this evening, one of our favorite teams to target. On the season, only one team is striking out more against right-handed pitching than Pittsburgh, and in the last 30 days, the Pirates' strikeout rate is fourth-highest in the league. More than that, this Pittsburgh lineup struggles to hit and get on base against righties, owning a bottom-ten mark as an offense. Greene's Ks/inning ranks in the 89th percentile and his swinging strike rate is in the 87th percentile. Add this all up and Greene should be able to work deep into this game and pile up the strikeouts. When he last saw Pittsburgh this season, he finished with 9 Ks. 

Zack Wheeler has registered 5+ strikeouts in 19 of 24 starts this year. He'll see a Chicago Cubs team tonight that is fanning at the third-highest rate against RHP in the past month. The Cubs' wRC+ also ranks sixth-worst, giving us the confidence that Wheeler will have plenty of time to get us to this strikeout number. Wheeler had six strikeouts in his only start against the Cubs this season and has gone for 6+ in 15 of 24.

We'll also ladder up both of these pitchers in spots that look good for plenty of strikeouts.

.5u: Greene 8+ Ks, Wheeler 6+ Ks (+336 FD)

In the news ...

The Chargers are in trouble — The Los Angeles Chargers getting blown out at home by the Jacksonville Jaguars may be the least of their troubles, as the injury concerns continue to pile up. Star defensive end Joey Bosa is expected to miss multiple games with a groin injury and Pro Bowl LT Rashawn Slater is likely out for the season with a biceps tear. This is on top of the ongoing rib injury for Justin Herbert and the continued absence of Keenan Allen, and the Chargers are in trouble before October. Los Angeles is now +400 to win the AFC West, third in the division. Once considered a Super Bowl favorite, it's now -110 for the Chargers to miss the playoffs entirely.

Mac Jones, Trent Williams both to miss multiple weeks — More injury news out of NFL Week 3 has a few teams losing some massive contributors. New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones suffered a severe ankle sprain that will sideline him for weeks, and the 1-2 Pats are now +2000 to win the AFC East. San Francisco 49ers star LT Trent Williams also has a high ankle sprain and will be out for the foreseeable future. Williams is a massive loss for a Niners team competing for a playoff spot in a wide-open NFC. San Francisco is +140 to miss the playoffs.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson retires from racing — One of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time is hanging it up. Jimmie Johnson, who is tied for the most NASCAR Cup Series championship wins, is officially walking away from auto racing after spending the past year competing in the IndyCar Series.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll