Zack Littell (TBR) Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-132)
Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing
As the Nationals host the Pirates on this July 4th, all eyes will be on Zack Littell, who’s been a bit of an enigma on the mound lately. With the line set at 3.5 strikeouts, the under seems appealing. Littell has struggled to find his rhythm, averaging just around two strikeouts per game in his recent outings.
Pittsburgh's lineup has been surprisingly disciplined, often making contact and limiting strikeout opportunities. The Pirates have the lowest strikeout rate in the league, and they seem to thrive against pitchers like Littell, who can be prone to allowing hits rather than missing bats. As the Nationals look to solidify their home advantage, expect Littell to pitch to contact more than rack up the punchouts. With a model predicting just over two strikeouts, taking the under might just be the smart play as Washington looks to celebrate Independence Day on a winning note.