MLB best bets, strikeout props for Monday 9/18: Can Montgomery ward off Red Sox?

We finished with a losing record in strikeout props last week for the first time in five weeks. As disappointing as that felt, we're still on a profitable stretch of picks dating back to early August.

Let's get back on the profit train this week, starting with my three favorite K props for Monday's MLB slate.

Jordan Montgomery over 5.5 Ks (-102 FanDuel)

Jordan Montgomery has gone under 5.5 strikeouts in 15 of his 29 starts this season, but this is a great matchup for an over bet. Over the last 15 days, the Boston Red Sox have recorded the most strikeouts in MLB (149). No other team has more than 134 Ks over that span. Montgomery has reached the sixth inning seven times in his eight starts with the Texas Rangers, and if he does so on Monday night, he should have no problem going over this number. 

John Means under 3.5 Ks (+100 DraftKings)

John Means made his first MLB start in 17 months last week, giving up three earned runs and striking out one batter in 5.0 innings of work against the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran left-hander threw just 75 pitches in the game, indicating that he'll be on a pitch count as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Now he has to face a Houston Astros lineup that has the highest batting average (.291), the most runs scored (85) and the second-lowest strikeout rate (18.7 percent) in the league over the last 15 days. Take the under here.

Lance Lynn under 6.5 Ks (-110 FD)

What are we doing here? Lance Lynn has been one of the least effective strikeout pitchers in MLB since the middle of August. The Los Angeles Dodgers starter has recorded only nine strikeouts over his last five starts, and he's averaging an abysmal 2.45 Ks per nine innings in that span. Lynn has also surrendered 20 earned runs over his last 22 innings pitched. We're going to keep fading Lynn until he proves he should still be lined this high.