Wednesday, July 5 MLB odds, player props, trends: Bettors backing Cubs' Justin Steele to strike out at least six Brewers

Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele is the surprise MLB leader in ERA among qualified starters and is a +1600 sixth-favorite at DraftKings to win the NL Cy Young Award. Among the most-wagered player props for Wednesday's MLB slate at the sportsbook is the All-Star southpaw Over 5.5 strikeouts at -120 in Milwaukee.

Steele will be joined by fellow starting pitcher Marcus Stroman and shortstop Dansby Swanson as Cubs on the NL team at next week's All-Star Game in Seattle. The 27-year-old Steele has blossomed into one of the Senior Circuit's top pitchers in just his third season. He has a 1.99 ERA since July 22, 2022, the lowest mark in the majors (minimum 22 starts).

This season, Steele is 9-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 15 starts with 76 strikeouts, an average of about 5.0 Ks per game. His season high in strikeouts is eight, which he's reached four different times. That includes his lone 2023 start at Wrigley Field vs. Milwaukee on April 1, in which he struck out eight whiffs over six innings. Both Steele and Stroman tend to let their teammates do the work, as both have benefited from five outs above average apiece courtesy of their defense.

This will be Steele's 10th career start vs. the Brewers. He's 1-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 48.1 innings against Milwaukee, holding Brewers batters to a .194 batting average (34-for-175). Steele has struck out eight or more batters in three of his last four last vs. Milwaukee. Christian Yelich and Willy Adames both have whiffed seven times in 16 at-bats career against Steele.

Other popular MLB player props today at DraftKings:

• Phillies' Taijuan Walker Over 2.5 earned runs (-140) at Rays: Walker has allowed one earned or fewer in five straight starts.
• Mets' Kodai Senga Over 5.5 strikeouts (-105) at Diamondbacks: Senga averages 6.7 Ks per game, but hasn't faced Arizona.
• Tigers' Eduardo Rodriguez Over 4.5 strikeouts (-115) vs. A's: Rodriguez makes his first start since May 28 due to injury and likely will be on a pitch count.
• Rockies' Chase Anderson Over 2.5 earned runs (-155) at Astros: Anderson has allowed at least three earned runs in five straight outings.

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