MLB strikeout props for 5/6: Tough matchup for A's Wood

We're back for more strikeout props after a short hiatus, and we're looking to start the week off strong with three winning bets. Here are our three favorite K props for Monday's MLB slate. 

Justin Steele under 4.5 Ks (-134 FanDuel)

Padres at Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET

Justin Steele went down with a hamstring injury in his first start of the season. He's scheduled to return to the mound on Monday for his first start in over a month, and we're interested in fading him considering he'll be limited to around 75 pitches. This is also a tough matchup against the San Diego Padres, who have the fourth-lowest strikeout rate, the third-highest whiff rate and the third-highest chase contact rate in MLB this season. Current Padres hitters have a combined 8.3 percent strikeout rate in 36 at-bats against Steele, so all signs point toward an under here.

Jack Flaherty over 5.5 Ks (-105 DraftKings)

Tigers at Guardians, 6:10 p.m. ET

This number doesn't make much sense to us. Jack Flaherty ranks No. 1 in MLB among qualified pitchers in whiff rate and No. 2 in strikeout rate. The Detroit Tigers right-hander has racked up 50 strikeouts in 36.0 innings, and he's gone over 5.5 Ks in five of his six starts this season. He's also gone at least six innings in five of his six starts. The Cleveland Guardians are a stingy lineup to strike out, but they chase pitches out of the zone at the sixth-highest rate in the league.

Alex Wood under 4.5 Ks (-112 FD)

Rangers at Athletics, 9:40 p.m. ET

Unlike Flaherty, Alex Wood has struggled to generate a ton of swings and misses this season. The Oakland Athletics lefty ranks in the third percentile in chase rate, the 23rd percentile in whiff rate and the 27th percentile in strikeout rate. He also has an unimpressive 14.1 percent K rate in 64 matchups against current Texas Rangers hitters. Wood has gone under 4.5 strikeouts in five of his seven starts this year, and this is a tough matchup for him.