3 Best MLB Strikeout Prop Bets for Friday 7/18/25

Within a given MLB slate, there are tons of strikeout props to sort through as there are lines posted for most of the day's starting pitchers.

Across today's action, which MLB player props seem to present the best value in FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB betting odds?

We're going to dig into that today, laying out my favorite strikeout props across all the action. You can also do some research of your own by digging into our MLB player prop projections.

Please note lines and MLB projections are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

Today's Best MLB K Prop Picks

Brandon Walter Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+134)

We've been riding the Brandon Walter train for a while now, and I see no reason to get off now.

Walter's seven starts this year have been superb. He has a 2.97 SIERA thanks in large part to his 24.2% strikeout rate and 1.2% walk rate. That elevated strikeout rate is validated by his 11.9% swinging-strike rate.

Walter puts those numbers into a good matchup tonight. The Seattle Mariners have a 24.7% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate on their active roster against lefties, meaning we can give Walter a little boost from his baseline. It's also the best park in the league for strikeouts, according to Baseball Savant.

Add it all up, and I have Walter projected at 6.53 strikeouts tonight. That's likely on the aggressive end of the spectrum, but I don't hate that given his start and the matchup.

Luis Castillo Under 5.5 Strikeouts (+110)

The plus park isn't enough for me to buy into Luis Castillo on the other side, though.

Castillo is undoubtedly in better form than he was earlier in the season. His velo increased on May 25th, and some of his best starts have come in the stretch since then. That includes a pair of outings at home where he went six-plus innings without allowing a run.

I've given Castillo a healthy boost due to that and due to his delightful home park. But even with those boosts, I still have him projected at just 4.99 strikeouts, well below market.

The Houston Astros play a big role in that with their active roster strikeout rate at just 19.7% against righties. It's possible I'm too low on Castillo, given the velo and the environment, but this number just seems too lofty.

Kyle Freeland Over 3.5 Strikeouts (+102)

Kyle Freeland has gone over this number in half of his games at home and more than half overall. Thus, I'm a bit perplexed about why we're getting plus money on the over in a decent matchup.

Freeland will face the Minnesota Twins, who have struggled all year to get the offense clicking. They've got a 23.1% strikeout rate against lefties, a slightly above average mark.

Freeland has also been pitching all right himself. He has cut back on his sinker usage recently, and in eight starts doing so, he has gone over 3.5 strikeouts five times.

After adding in the matchup, I have Freeland projected at 4.56 strikeouts, high enough where you could consider his alt market of 5-plus strikeouts at +235. We'll stick with the baseline for now, though, given how quickly the brown stuff can hit the fans at Coors.

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Which strikeout props stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB betting odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.