By Only Players Staff
Updated 7/29/24 3:13am ET
The Pirates star has registered at least eight strikeouts in eight of his last nine starts. However, the prop of 7.5 has juice on the under.
Photo Courtesy: Icon Sportswire
Automated transcript is below. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
It’s one of the best days of the week. Paul Skenes day. The stud pitcher of the Pittsburgh Pirates, former number one overall pick. Taken the mound and we’re all kind of on Panda watch with his strikeouts prop. So let’s set the stage here. Pirates in Houston and significant road favorites of -165.
So not only is Pittsburgh a road favorite, but it’s solid chalk, all things considered. Now the Astros have a pitcher going, there’s not anything to write home about. Jake Bloss gave it four earned in his last outing, but was decent in the previous two, just not one of their main pitchers. But the focus here, at least from a betting standpoint, really a baseball standpoint, is on Paul Skenes. So what do we make of his props? Let’s take a look. So his strikeouts prop is seven and a half, just like it’s been basically the entire season.
However, significant juice on the under, under at minus 160. Outs recorded 18 and a half, so he has to pitch into the seventh inning. Unders minus 200, so if he gets through six and goes into the seventh and gets an out, that over plus money cashes. Five hits, unders -170, and earned runs allowed over one and a half -140. So things to keep in mind, obviously Houston lineup is much better than other lineups.
In terms of their third fewest strikeouts in all of baseball in strikeouts per game. I understand that, but this is Paul Skenes who’s been lights out. He’s gone at least eight strikeouts in eight of his last nine starts. And the staff or the managing crew is allowing him to pitch deep. He threw 104 pitches in the last game. So I have to bet over, especially when you’re getting plus 125. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Let’s keep pressing on Skenes.
Because he has the goods and he did throw 107 pitches in a recent outing and then came back and had 11 strikeouts. So I don’t think there’s going to be sort of a hangover effect, if you will, after throwing 104 pitches. This guy’s frame is huge. He’s young. He’s got the gas. So I will go over seven and a half strikeouts for Skenes. I don’t want to worry about the side because I don’t want to have to rely on the Pirates offense. So let’s just stick with the strikeout prop.
