MLB best bets, strikeout props for Thursday 8/31: Pesky Nats should bug Marlins' Garrett

Our first winning day of the week brought our record to 4-5 in strikeout props through three days. We have a few days left to scratch out a third straight winning week, so let's keep the momentum rolling with my three favorite K props for Thursday's tiny MLB slate.

Braxton Garrett under 4.5 Ks (-105 DraftKings)

I've been fading starting pitchers going up against the Washington Nationals all season, and it's worked out quite well. The Nats have the lowest strikeout rate in MLB this year (20.8 percent), and they've recorded the fewest strikeouts per game over the last two weeks (6.5). This is a pesky lineup, one that struck out just three times in six innings against Braxton Garrett in his last start. Washington should be able to give Garrett the same issues Thursday night.

Spencer Strider over 7.5 Ks (-146 FanDuel)

We've got a doozy in the nightcap Thursday, as Spencer Strider and his MLB-best 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings will go against the Los Angeles Dodgers and their .801 OPS. This is the lowest I've seen Strider's K prop all year, and that's because the Dodgers are batting .330 and scoring 7.0 runs per game over the last week. It might be scary to fade this red-hot lineup, but I'll gladly buy the dip on the best strikeout artist in the league. Strider fanned 11 batters in his lone start against the Dodgers this season, and I think he at least gets to eight in the rematch Thursday night. 

Lance Lynn under 5.5 Ks (+122 FD)

Let's stick with the same game for our final pick. Lance Lynn averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 21 starts with the Chicago White Sox, but that number is down to 7.5 Ks per nine innings in five starts with the Dodgers. The right-hander has punched out only four batters over his last 13 innings pitched, and now he has to face a Braves lineup that's recorded the third-fewest strikeouts in MLB over the last 15 days. This is a bad matchup for a pitcher struggling to create swings and misses right now. Take the under.