Spring Training is here, so it's the perfect time to peek at the 2025 MLB strikeout odds and see if there are any spots worth adding to the futures portfolio.
Pittsburgh Pirates K artist Paul Skenes is the betting favorite to pace the majors in strikeouts this season, and he also headlines my top MLB picks with Opening Day just around the corner.
MLB strikeout leader odds 2025
| Player |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Paul Skenes |
+400 | +350 | +350 | +475 | +450 |
 Tarik Skubal |
+950 | +600 | +700 | +900 | +800 |
 Garrett Crochet |
+1100 | +1000 | +600 | +600 | +1000 |
 Dylan Cease |
+1400 | +700 | +800 | +1200 | +750 |
 Blake Snell |
+1700 | +1000 | +1200 | +1200 | +1000 |
 Gerrit Cole |
+2500 | +5000 | +5000 | +3500 | +5000 |
 Chris Sale |
+2500 | +2500 | +2000 | +2000 | +3300 |
 Logan Gilbert |
+2800 | +2500 | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 |
 Hunter Greene |
+2800 | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 | +2200 |
 Zach Wheeler |
+2800 | +1200 | +1400 | +2500 | +2000 |
Odds as of 2-20
MLB strikeout best bets
Paul Skenes Over 209.5 strikeouts (-106 at FanDuel)
All eyes will be on Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes this summer, with the 6-foot-6 righty set to build on a dominant debut that earned him National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Skenes sat down 170 batters over just 133 frames for a dominant 11.3 K/9 and 33.1 K%, and he’s worked this offseason to add more pitches to his mix to be more efficient and pitch deeper into games. Additionally, Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington has already indicated there is no concrete plan for Skenes’ workload or innings to be limited.
Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin on expectations for and new pitches from Paul Skenes this season. pic.twitter.com/pRkYnX9j5h
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 15, 2025
My numbers give a slight edge to the Over 209.5 strikeouts available through FanDuel, and it’s also notable that Skenes is trading with an even higher 212.5 total at BetMGM.
| FanDuel Price | My Projection | My Price | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| -105 | 215.8 | -119 | 6% |
Hunter Greene Over 158.5 strikeouts (-115 at BetMGM)
Cincinnati Reds righty Hunter Greene has been a strikeout machine since his 2022 debut in the majors, with his 29.6 K% and 11.25 K/9 both ranking third among starters with at least 300 innings over the past three years.
He recorded 164 punchouts across just 125.2 innings as a rookie and then fanned 169 over a career-high 150.2 innings last year.
I could watch Hunter Greene pitch all day long. Effortless. Greene threw to catcher Jose Trevino. The two still working on communication about glove/spot placement. Trevino with a ton of “atta-boys”
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) February 20, 2025
Greene’s fastball looks great. Painting spots. To me, his split-finger looks to… pic.twitter.com/w5DFyxyaiP
The pitching arsenal, including a fastball that touches triple digits and is complemented by a plus slider, and strikeout upside aren’t in question. It’s Greene missing considerable time in consecutive seasons that looms.
Still, that risk is more than built into this total. The Cincy star is trading with a 161.5 strikeout total at bet365, for comparison. Plus, there’s wiggle room for Greene to miss time and still clear this strikeout benchmark — just like he did in 2024.
| BetMGM Price | My Projection | My Price | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| -115 | 177.8 | -165 | 16% |
Shota Imanaga Over 155.5 strikeouts (-113 at FanDuel)
It was a smooth rookie campaign for Chicago Cubs southpaw Shota Imanaga, and he piled up 174 strikeouts across 173.1 innings for a solid 25.1 K% and 9.0 K/9.
While those underlying strikeout marks, along with his .264 BABIP and 80.2% strand rate are likely unsustainable over the entire 2025 campaign, there’s room for both a splash of statistical correction and the North Sider lefty to still sail Over this 155.5 strikeout benchmark.
Imanaga showed off true durability and pitched five or more innings in 25 of his 29 starts while fanning six or more batters in 18 of 29. And, I’m anticipating Imanaga to accumulate his way to 165-plus punchouts again this season.
Finally, I also value that bet365 has Imanaga’s strikeout total a full 10 Ks higher at 165.5, so the FanDuel number is the one to target.
| FanDuel Price | My Projection | My Price | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| -113 | 170.4 | -139 | 10% |
