On Monday’s MLB schedule, several pitchers present intriguing strikeout potential, highlighting a mix of rising talent and steady veterans. Among them, Yoshinobu Yamamoto stands out as he goes against a Colorado Rockies lineup susceptible to strikeouts, making his strikeout potential a focal point for bettors seeking promising prop bets on August 18, 2025. Meanwhile, other pitchers like Paul Skenes, Cade Horton, Jack Flaherty, and Trevor Rogers bring varied strikeout profiles to the day’s contests.
Paul Skenes’ Strikeout Trends Against a Tough Blue Jays Team
Paul Skenes has delivered a stellar MLB season with a 2.13 ERA and an elite 0.96 WHIP, showcasing impressive skill on the mound. Despite this, his strikeout totals have been uneven recently. Maintaining a strong 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) over 148 innings pitched, Skenes struggled in his last start versus Milwaukee, managing just four strikeouts in four innings. The Blue Jays, known for their discipline against high-velocity right-handers, present a challenging matchup.
Given this, emphasizing contact over strikeouts seems to be a more likely strategy for Skenes. The betting market reflects this with an under of 6.5 strikeouts appearing to be a safer choice for his prop bet.
Jack Flaherty’s Inconsistent Season Meets Strong Astros Lineup
Jack Flaherty’s 2025 season has been marked by inconsistency, reflected in his 4.76 ERA and 20 home runs allowed over 124.2 innings. However, his ability to generate strikeouts remains formidable, sitting at an 11.0 K/9 rate. In his previous outing against the Chicago White Sox, Flaherty struck out six batters over 4.1 innings but surrendered five runs.
Facing the Houston Astros, one of the hardest teams to strike out, Flaherty will contend with a lineup adept at making contact, ranking near the bottom in strikeout rates against right-handed pitching. This matchup likely limits his total strikeouts, making the under 6.5 strikeouts the safer bet.
Cade Horton’s Growing Strikeout Potential Against the Brewers
Cade Horton has emerged as a steady presence for the Chicago Cubs, posting a 3.07 ERA and accumulating 67 strikeouts across 85 innings. While his strikeout rate of 7.1 K/9 is modest, Horton has demonstrated flashes of stronger strikeout ability, including an eight-strikeout performance against Toronto in his most recent game.
The Milwaukee Brewers, typically more susceptible to strikeouts from right-handers, offer a promising matchup. With a prop bet line set at just 3.5 strikeouts, Horton does not need a dominant showing to exceed this mark, making him a valuable option for bettors looking for reliable strikeout production.
Trevor Rogers’ Efficient Style Faces Contact-Oriented Red Sox
Trevor Rogers has had a strong 2025 campaign, boasting a 1.43 ERA and 0.81 WHIP over 69.1 innings. Known for his precision and ability to limit hard contact, Rogers maintains a modest strikeout rate of 7.8 K/9. In his last start, he struck out six Mariners, but now he faces a Boston Red Sox lineup that ranks low in strikeouts against left-handers.
Given Rogers’ contact-oriented pitching style and the Red Sox’s disciplined approach, he is more likely to induce weak contact than accumulate high strikeout totals. With a relatively high strikeout line set at 5.5, the under appears to be the most reliable wager on Rogers for this outing.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Strikeout Upside Against Rockies’ Vulnerable Lineup
Yoshinobu Yamamoto enters this start displaying a strong strikeout capability, with a 10.3 K/9 and a total of 145 strikeouts in 126.2 innings pitched. Though his previous outing was rough—walking five batters and allowing six runs in less than five innings against the Los Angeles Angels—his matchup against the Colorado Rockies sets a different tone.
The Rockies’ road performance this season has been among the poorest, with one of the highest strikeout rates in the league away from their home stadium at Coors Field. While Yamamoto’s command has shown some inconsistency, when he is on form, he possesses the pitching arsenal to exceed his strikeout prop line. Given the plus-money odds offered, his strikeout potential makes this a high-upside bet worth consideration.
Implications for Bettors Targeting Strikeout Props on August 18
The varied strikeout profiles among these pitchers offer distinct opportunities for bettors on August 18. Yamamoto’s matchup against the Rockies highlights the most promising strikeout upside, balancing risk and reward effectively. Skenes and Flaherty, facing tougher lineups, lean toward under bets on strikeouts due to recent trends and opponent strengths. Horton’s favorable matchup and Rogers’ contact-oriented style similarly influence their respective strikeout prop bets, emphasizing caution and strategic selection.
Overall, Monday’s MLB strikeout props provide a spectrum from bold to conservative plays, allowing bettors to tailor their approach based on pitcher tendencies and opponent vulnerabilities, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s strikeout potential standing out as a particularly attractive option.