MLB strikeout props for Thursday 4/18: Fade these Under Wonders

Coming off another 2-1 day in strikeout props, we're now 10-2 in our last 12 picks. Let's keep the momentum rolling with three more K props for Thursday's shortened MLB slate.

Kenta Maeda under 4.5 Ks (-104 FanDuel)

Rangers vs. Tigers, 1:10 p.m. ET

Kenta Maeda has been an effective swing-and-miss pitcher throughout his career, but he looks to be over the hump at 36 years old. The Detroit Tigers veteran ranks in the third percentile in fastball velocity this year, which is leading to the lowest strikeout rate (15.9 percent), whiff rate (19.1 percent) and chase rate (23.8 percent) of his career, per Baseball Savant. The Texas Rangers have the third-lowest K rate in MLB (18.9 percent), and they'll look to jump on Maeda early with their league-high 36.7 percent first-pitch swing rate. 

A.J. Puk under 5.5 Ks (-160)

Marlins vs. Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET

The Miami Marlins had high expectations for A.J. Puk in his switch from the bullpen to the starting rotation, but the move hasn't gone as planned. The left-hander is 0-3 through three starts with 10 runs allowed, 14 walks and only eight strikeouts. His stuff just hasn't looked very good to start the season, and he's struck out just 13.8 percent of the batters he's faced. The Chicago Cubs have the highest OPS (.914) and the fourth-lowest K rate (18.7 percent) in MLB against left-handers this season, so this isn't a great matchup for Puk to turn things around. 

Logan Webb under 4.5 Ks (+116 FD)

Diamondbacks vs. Giants, 9:45 p.m. ET

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a gold mine for fading starting pitchers in strikeout props. Arizona has the lowest strikeout rate (17.0 percent), the lowest whiff rate (20.4 percent) and the second-highest chase contact rate (61.4 percent) in baseball this season. Even when you get them to swing at pitches out of the zone, the D-backs consistently make contact and put the ball in play. Logan Webb has the seventh-lowest whiff rate (16.1 percent) among qualified pitchers this year, and current Diamondbacks hitters have struck out only 18.1 percent of the time in 138 combined at-bats against him.