MLB Strikeouts Leader Odds 2024: Strider a Heavy Favorite After Sizzling 2023

Spencer Strider led MLB in strikeouts in 2023, and he's the early favorite to do so again in the latest 2024 MLB strikeouts leader odds and predictions based on the best MLB odds from our best MLB betting sites.

As if it wasn't already clear that Spencer Strider was the best strikeout artist in baseball entering the 2023 MLB season, he finished the year with 281 punchouts - a whopping 44 more than any other pitcher.

In hindsight, it was easy money for anyone who bet the Atlanta Braves star at +900 entering the season. This time around, Strider is the overwhelming favorite across our best sports betting sites to lead MLB in strikeouts in 2024, owning the second-shortest odds of any stat leader favorite entering the season.

Strider is already the clear NL favorite in the latest Cy Young odds, too. Is it a foregone conclusion that he also paces the majors in punchouts for a second straight season? Or can anyone challenge the strikeout king in 2024?

Here's our look at the best odds for the 2024 MLB strikeouts leader, with our best MLB picks among the favorites, contenders, and long shots.

MLB 2024 strikeouts leader odds

(Odds updated March 28)

MLB 2024 strikeouts leader favorite

Spencer Strider (+175 via BetRivers)

There isn't much to add that hasn't already been said about Strider, whose dominant fastball and wipeout slider have flummoxed batters over the last two seasons.

Strider ran away with the strikeout crown in 2023, and every projection model expects him to finish with 30-plus more punchouts than any other pitcher. It's the same story in the individual player betting markets, as Strider's strikeout line is priced at 250.5 through BetMGM - 24 more than anyone else.

The most significant concern with laying short odds on a pitcher in any market is the omnipresent injury risk that hangs over the position every year. Strider is probably worth a bet at this price, anyway. He's that good.

MLB 2024 strikeouts leader odds: Contender

Kevin Gausman (+1600 via BetMGM)

Gausman entered the 2023 season with odds as high as +7000 at some shops to finish with MLB's most strikeouts. He nearly completed the job, too, finishing second behind only Strider during his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Can he surpass the Braves star in 2024? Gausman's 237 strikeouts in 2023 were the most in his career, though he did erase 227 batters in 2021 during his final year with the San Francisco Giants before striking out 205 batters in 2022.

That level of consistency makes him an intriguing bet in this market, especially if he can flirt with 185-195 innings, as he has over the past few years. It'll take more than that to beat a healthy Strider. But if Atlanta's ace falters, Gausman is next in line.

MLB 2024 strikeouts leader odds: Long shot

Cole Ragans (+4000 via BetRivers)

We highlighted Kodai Senga at 50/1 odds during the offseason, and we're getting a similarly long price now on Cole Ragans.

Ragans isn't exactly a household name after one-and-a-half mediocre seasons with the Texas Rangers. But he truly broke out after the Kansas City Royals acquired him prior to the 2023 trade deadline. Over his final 12 starts, he ranked sixth in strikeout rate (31.1%) and swinging strike rate (15%) while posting the lowest zone-contact rate (78.5%) among all qualified starters.

The hurdler was as untouchable as any pitcher in baseball down the stretch of last season, and the 26-year-old is only scratching the surface of his potential. There's a chance he falls hard in 2024, but this is still a good price for a sprinkle.

Recent MLB strikeouts leaders

*Pandemic-shortened season

MLB 2024 strikeouts leader odds analysis

This is a tough market to bet because of the perceived inevitability of another dominant season from Strider, who could have taken off the final month of the 2023 season and still finished with the MLB lead in strikeouts.

If Strider is healthy in 2024, he's a virtual lock to cash in this market once again. The Braves' ace led the majors with a ridiculous 13.5 K/9 last season, which was somehow worse than the 13.8 K/9 mark he put up during his first full season in 2023.

The one caveat to all of this, obviously, is injury. Because this is a market focused squarely on volume production, the winner will always feature some combination of efficiency and durability. That's a tough needle to thread, especially with nearly half of all starters injured at some point during the regular season.

Strider has stayed remarkably healthy in his two-plus seasons in the bigs, but that's true of many pitchers who inevitably hit the IL. Backing Strider in this market is a bet on him staying healthy, and supporting anyone else is a bet against that.

Strikeouts leader FAQs

Who's the favorite to lead MLB in strikeouts during 2024?

Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves is expected to lead the league in strikeouts this season with odds as short as +125.

Who led MLB in strikeouts during 2023?

Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider led MLB in strikeouts during 2023.

When will the 2024 MLB strikeouts leader be decided?

Whoever leads MLB in strikeouts at the conclusion of the regular season will win this market. The 2024 season ends on Sept. 29.

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