MLB Player Props: Expert Fade on Zac Gallen in Royals vs. Diamondbacks

MLB Player Props: Expert Fade on Zac Gallen in Royals vs. Diamondbacks article feature image
Credit:

Harry How/Getty Images. Pictured: Zac Gallen.

Royals vs. Diamondbacks Odds

Wednesday, April 26
3:40 p.m. ET
MLB.TV
Royals Odds
MoneylineTotalRun Line
+235
8.5
-102 / -120
+1.5
+106
Diamondbacks Odds
MoneylineTotalRun Line
-290
8.5
-102 / -120
-1.5
-128
Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here.

Pick: Zac Gallen Under 6.5 Strikeouts (+108)

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Zac Gallen Under 6.5 Strikeouts (+108)

Gallen has cleared this in four of his five starts this season, but I think books are overcorrecting a bit here.

While it’s not surprising that Gallen is averaging a career-high 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings, which is thanks to a career-high 13% swinging strike rate, underlying metrics suggest he should regress toward his career 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings rate moving forward.

This matchup against the Royals should be a tougher one for Gallen to rack up strikeouts. Kansas City has six left-handed hitters, which will suppress his K rate. Also, K.C.’s Nos. 2 and 8 hitters — Vinnie Pasquantino and Nicky Lopez — are extremely tough to strike out.

Gallen has really benefited from getting hitters to swing and miss at pitches out of the zone, but the Royals have the sixth-highest contact rate outside the zone this season, making the matchup slightly tougher to notch Ks.

Gallen’s most likely outcome here is exactly six strikeouts, which I have at about a 20% chance of happening. That’s giving us some nice value on the under since I have him staying under 6.5 Ks 61% of the time, which is a fair price of -155. Getting plus money is especially nice.

About the Author
Sean is The Action Network's Director of Predictive Analytics. He was named the No. 1 fantasy football draft ranker of 2019 by FantasyPros, where he's also finished as the top in-season ranker in three of the past five seasons

Follow Sean Koerner @The_Oddsmaker on Twitter/X.

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