New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole led the majors in strikeouts last season, trailed closely by Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes.
In 2023, the pair will again be among the favorites to claim the distinction as the best strikeout pitcher in the game.
Joining them in the hunt will be several candidates from last season, such as Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodón.
In addition, pitchers who were sidelined for much of last season with injuries, such as Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, could emerge as threats.
Look at our updated 2023 MLB Strikeouts Leader odds and best bets.
MLB Strikeouts Leader Odds 2023
MLB Strikeouts Leader betting odds are current from Caesars Sportsbook as of Saturday, March 4.
- Gerrit Cole, Yankees (+500)
- Corbin Burnes, Brewers (+800)
- Max Scherzer, Mets (+1000)
- Jacob deGrom, Rangers (+1100)
- Dylan Cease, White Sox (+1200)
- Spencer Strider, Braves (+1200)
- Carlos Rodón, Yankees (+1500)
- Aaron Nola, Phillies (+1500)
- Shohei Ohtani, Angels (+2000)
- Robbie Ray, Mariners (+2000)
- Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (+2500)
- Shane McClanahan, Rays (+2500)
- Hunter Greene, Reds (+2500)
- Cristian Javier, Astros (+3000)
- Shane Bieber, Guardians (+3000)
- Justin Verlander, Mets (+3000)
- Nick Lodolo, Reds (+3000)
- Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (+3000)
- Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (+3000)
Cole and Burnes stand out as the top favorites, but better value can be found further down the board.
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MLB Strikeouts Leader Best Bet 2023
Carlos Rodon was my original best bet for MLB Strikeouts Leader due to his pre-injury value.
However, he has been removed from this list due to forearm tightness forcing him to miss the beginning of the season.
Corbin Burnes, Brewers (+800)| Caesars Sportsbook
Last season, Burnes trailed Cole by just 14 strikeouts for the major league lead. The Brewers ace carried a 30.5% strikeout rate over 202 innings with 243 punchouts.
The 28-year-old is unlikely to be resigned by the Brewers before becoming a free agent after the 2024 season, so there is a good chance they will allow him to pitch extra deep into games.
Look for Burnes to turn in another magnificent stat sheet full of strikeouts.
MLB Strikeouts Leader Contenders 2023
Gerrit Cole, Yankees (+500)| Caesars Sportsbook
The Yankees ace led all of baseball in strikeouts last season (257), and there is no reason to think he will not be in the thick of that race again.
Unfortunately, +500 is not very attractive, with so many intriguing options on the board.
That said, Cole has more strikeouts than anyone in MLB over the last five seasons, striking out no less than 243 in the previous four.
Dylan Cease, White Sox (+1200) | Caesars Sportsbook
Cease produced a full breakout season in 2022, notching 227 strikeouts over 184 frames with a 2.20 ERA.
The right-hander struggles with walks, which could inadvertently cost him in the strikeout race due to an elevated pitch count. That said, Cease did manage to post 184 innings last year and is more than capable of passing the 200 mark if things go well.
See the latest MLB futures odds and picks
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MLB Strikeouts Leader Sleeper 2023
Hunter Greene, Reds (+2500)| Caesars Sportsbook
This wager is the definition of a long shot. However, Hunter Greene has the tools necessary to pull off an upset.
The 23-year-old struck out 164 batters in just 125 ⅔ innings during his rookie season and could make a sizeable leap forward in 2023.
Greene had his fair share of hiccups in 2022 but showcased brilliance at times, posting a 3.64 xFIP. In fact, the Reds right-hander turned in a 1.70 FIP during the second half, albeit in a small sample.
This wager is likely a year (or two) premature, but at +2500, it could be an exciting risk to add to your betting portfolio this offseason.
