The Saturday MLB schedule has an interesting slate of games, and I'll be looking into starting pitchers Joe Ryan, Griffin Canning, and Reese Olson for my MLB prop picks.
Let's dive into my MLB player props for Saturday, March 29, all of which feature strikeout over/unders.
MLB Player Props Saturday — 3/29
- Joe Ryan Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-135, DraftKings)
- Griffin Canning Over 3.5 Strikeouts (- 125, DraftKings)
- Reese Olson Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-125, DraftKings)
Twins vs Cardinals Player Props: Go With the Consistent Joe Ryan
Joe Ryan has quietly been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the game. A big part of his consistency is generating strikeouts and eating up innings.
Ryan worked into the sixth inning almost exclusively last season, averaging 22.8 batters faced per game. That length allowed him to eclipse this strikeout mark in 87% of his starts this season.
Length is not a concern as he makes his first start of the 2025 season. Ryan worked up to 81 pitches in his final Spring Training start, which points to him working into the sixth against a Cardinals lineup that has a lot more swing and miss in it than last season.
Mets vs Astros Player Props: Back Griffin Canning
Next, we head to Houston, where Griffin Canning will make his New York Mets debut. Canning was originally slated to be a backend of the rotation piece, but with Sean Manaea beginning on the IL, Canning gets thrust into the first series of the year.
Canning most certainly earned his spot in the rotation, as he was spectacular in Spring Training. He racked up 20 strikeouts in over 12 innings of work and now gets a strikeout total that he surpassed 65% of the time last season.
The Astros are a real test of Canning's spring improvements, but this number is far too low for a guy with his history.
Tigers vs Dodgers Player Props: Fade Reese Olson Against LA
Lastly, we head out west, where Reese Olson is set to toe the rubber for the first time in the 2025 season. Olson was a nice surprise for the Detroit Tigers in 2024, as he looked solid in his rookie campaign.
However, Olson is tasked with a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers lineup that can do damage with the ball they put in play. That is not a good sign for Olson who ranked in just the 50th percentile in strikeout rate last season while also struggling with command at times.
Given how difficult it will be for Olson to navigate this lineup, I don't expect him to be ahead in many counts, which means his strikeout should be minimal.
