For the first time since his MLB All-Star Game start, Paul Skenes will be back on the mound tonight as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the St. Louis Cardinals.
The pregame narrative: Skenes was called up in mid-May and started shoving immediately. Through 11 starts, he has a 1.90 ERA and a 12.1 K/9, vaulting himself into the middle of the NL Cy Young conversation.
Check out these Paul Skenes props vs. Cardinals for the matchup in Pittsburgh on July 23.
Paul Skenes props vs. Cardinals
Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip. Note: Lines have changed/market no longer available if grey.
| Skenes prop markets | Betting odds |
| Over 6.5 strikeouts | -210 |
| Under 6.5 strikeouts | +155 |
| Over 7.5 strikeouts | -105 |
| Under 7.5 strikeouts | -127 |
| Over 8.5 strikeouts | +188 |
| Under 8.5 strikeouts | -265 |
| Over 18.5 outs | +138 |
| Under 18.5 outs | -180 |
Go to full Cardinals vs. Pirates betting markets.
Pitching on a big stage is nothing new for Skenes. Just last summer, he helped LSU capture a national championship shortly after being drafted No. 1 by the Pirates.
He then became the first pitcher ever to be named an all-star the season after being drafted. But he wasn't just added to the roster ... he was tasked with starting for the National League.
Skenes held the top of a loaded AL lineup scoreless, setting down the likes of Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge in the first inning of last week's MLB All-Star Game.
If he wasn't already brimming with confidence after a stellar first half of the season, he should be now.
Skenes' best start was back in May when he no-hit the Cubs through 6.0 innings while striking out 11. But his past six outings have been remarkable, too.
Since June 11, Skenes has a 1.14 ERA and 51 Ks in just 39.1 innings. In each of those six outings, he pitched at least 6.0 innings while allowing two or fewer runs.
Best Skenes prop bet
Best Bet: Over 7.5 Ks (-105)
I'm not exactly sticking my neck out for this one. Skenes has cashed this over in seven of his past eight starts (and eight of 11 overall).
The headliner of Skenes' arsenal is definitely his four-seam fastball, which averages 99.1 mph on the radar gun. I don't expect the Cardinals to be able to handle that heat.
For one thing, Skenes fanned eight Cardinals over 6.1 scoreless innings when he faced them for the first time last month.
Also, the Cardinals have the fifth-highest K rate against pitches that are 98 mph or above (37.4%), per Baseball Savant.
St. Louis is a league-average strikeout team overall, with a K rate (22.4%) that ranks 15th out of 30 teams. Skenes has already scorched the Cards once and I think he can do it again.
It's also nice to know that Skenes isn't merely a one-pitch pitcher. His three most common offerings (four-seamer, sinker, slider) generate above-average whiff rates.
Key stat: Skenes has averaged 8.1 Ks per outing so far this season.
