MLB Strikeout Props May 20: Schlittler, Sale, and Harrison Are Your Aces Today

Wednesday’s MLB slate features 15 games, and for bettors who love pitcher strikeout props, the board is loaded with value. Three starters in particular stand out as genuine candidates to pile up punchouts, each backed by dominant recent form and favorable matchups that the books haven’t quite priced up yet.

We’ve broken down the numbers on all three so you can feel confident stepping to the window. Here are the strikeout props we’re targeting on May 20.

Cam Schlittler Is Having One of the Best Rookie Seasons in Years

Cam Schlittler, the Yankees’ 23-year-old right-hander wearing number 31, has been absolutely electric in 2026. Through 10 starts he carries a 6-1 record, a 1.35 ERA, and 68 strikeouts across 60.0 innings. That’s a 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings rate — third-best among American League starters. His WHIP of 0.78 leads the entire AL.

What makes Schlittler so special is his ability to miss bats at every count. Opposing hitters are batting just .168 against him this season, the lowest mark in the AL. His last five starts produced strikeout totals of 8, 6, 5, 8, and 6. In six of his ten outings, he’s reached at least six strikeouts. Now he gets the Toronto Blue Jays, a lineup that has struck out at a league-average clip in May. With Schlittler generating swings and misses on a historically efficient pace, his over 5.5 strikeout line is very much in play — check your book for current lines.

Chris Sale at 37 Is Still One of the Most Dangerous Arms in Baseball

Chris Sale, wearing number 51 for the Braves, is delivering one of the most compelling late-career performances the game has seen in years. His season ERA sits at 1.96, and across nine starts he has racked up 64 strikeouts in 55.0 innings. His last four starts have produced 8, 7, 11, and 8 strikeouts respectively — a run of brilliance that proves this is no fluke.

Tonight Sale faces the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park. Miami is a genuinely good matchup for strikeout hunters. The Marlins carry a 22-27 record and have shown limited plate discipline throughout the season, walking at a below-average rate and making weak contact against quality breaking balls. Sale’s slider and changeup combination generates whiffs at an elite level, and with Janson Junk on the other side, this game is likely to stay close and keep Sale on the mound deep. His over 6.5 strikeout line deserves serious attention — check your book for current lines.

Kyle Harrison Is Rolling for Milwaukee

Kyle Harrison came over from the Red Sox organization to join the Brewers this winter, and wearing number 52 he has quietly put together one of the better young starting pitcher seasons in the NL. His 2026 line: 4-1, 2.09 ERA, 48 strikeouts across 38.2 innings. His strikeout rate of 11.2 per nine is exceptional. His last five starts have shown exactly the kind of consistency bettors want to see: he struck out 8, 3, 12, 5, 6, and 7 in his last six starts, with his blowup game being that early April short outing where he was pulled early.

Tonight Harrison faces the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are a solid offensive team — they sit at 29-20 — but they’ve shown vulnerability to left-handed pitching with a higher strikeout rate in those matchups. Harrison’s fastball-slider combination against a right-heavy Cubs lineup sets up nicely. His 5.5 strikeout line is very reasonable given his average of nearly 6 per start even in his shorter outings. Check your book for current lines and back the under or over depending on the number you find.

Lock These Ks In Before First Pitch

These three starters represent the cream of the strikeout prop board on a deep Wednesday slate. Schlittler’s historic efficiency, Sale’s unmistakable veteran dominance, and Harrison’s emerging brilliance all point toward punchouts tonight. When the matchups align this well, you go to the window with conviction.

• Cam Schlittler OVER 5.5 strikeouts (check your book for current lines)
• Chris Sale OVER 6.5 strikeouts (check your book for current lines)
• Kyle Harrison OVER 5.5 strikeouts (check your book for current lines)

Make sure to lock these in early — lines on strikeout props can move with public action as game time approaches. If you’re new to pitcher props, start with small units and build confidence as you track how the numbers play out. Tonight’s slate is a great classroom.