MLB strikeout props for Fri. 7/19: Fade the O's vs. Eovaldi

Baseball is finally back after what felt like a month-long All-Star break, and we're jumping right back into the action. Let's get back in a groove with our three favorite strikeout props for Friday's loaded MLB slate.

Matt Waldron over 3.5 Ks (-118 FanDuel )

Padres at Guardians, 7:10 p.m. ET

Waldron isn't the most effective swing-and-miss pitcher in the league, but he does have one of the best whiff-inducing pitches at his disposal. The San Diego Padres starter throws his knuckleball 38 percent of the time and generates a 27.4 percent whiff rate with the unique pitch. The knuckler should be even more effective in this matchup because no hitter in the Cleveland Guardians lineup has seen it before. Waldron has gone over this line in 14 of his 19 starts this season, and we like his chances here.

Edward Cabrera under 5.5 Ks (-112 FD )

Mets at Marlins, 7:10 p.m. ET

Cabrera isn't a starter who's going to eat up innings, especially with the way he's pitching right now. The Miami Marlins right-hander has an 8.26 ERA through 28.1 innings, and he's walked nine batters over his last four starts. Cabrera hasn't recorded more than 11 outs in three straight starts, so he'll need to be exceptionally efficient with his strikeouts if he's going to hit this over. We'll fade that with a New York Mets lineup that's striking out only 18.8 percent of the time in 69 plate appearances against Cabrera.

Nathan Eovaldi over 5.5 Ks (-110 DraftKings )

Orioles at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. ET

This is a bet on opportunity, as Eovaldi has been a workhorse for the Texas Rangers of late. The big right-hander has finished seven innings in four straight starts, and he's given up two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five. Eovaldi should also be fresh coming off the All-Star break, and he has a 26.1 percent K rate in his career against current Baltimore Orioles hitters.