2026 MLB Most Strikeouts Picks

After landing a record $32 million salary in his arbitration hearing, Tarik Skubal is favored to lead major league baseball in strikeouts in his final season before becoming a free agent.

Is the Tigers' two-time Cy Young Award winner a strong wager, or will another pitcher get the most punchouts in 2026? Let's check the latest pitching futures and throw out some nasty longshots. Odds are subject to change.

Most Strikeouts
Tarik Skubal (DET)	+350	+350	+350
Paul Skenes (PIT)	+400	+400	+400
Garrett Crochet (BOS)	+450	+450	+450
Hunter Greene (CIN)	+900	+900	+900
Dylan Cease (TOR)	+1200	+1200	+1200
Jacob deGrom (TEX)	+1400	+1400	+1400
Chris Sale (ATL)	+1800	+1800	+1800
Cole Ragans (KC)	+1800	+1800	+1800
Spencer Strider (ATL)	+2000	+2000	+2000
Chase Burns (CIN)	+2200	+2200	+2200
Blake Snell (LAD)	+2500	+2500	+2500
Hunter Brown (HOU)	+3300	+3300	+3300
Logan Gilbert (SEA)	+3300	+3300	+3300
Nick Pivetta (SD)	+3300	+3300	+3300
MacKenzie Gore (TEX)	+4000	+4000	+4000
Bryan Woo (SEA)	+4000	+4000	+4000
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL)	+4000	+4000	+4000
Freddy Peralta (NYM)	+5000	+5000	+5000

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Skubal favored for most strikeouts

Tarik Skubal (+350) has recorded the most strikeouts (469) in the MLB over the past two seasons. Last year, Detroit's left-handed ace finished 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 195⅓ innings, becoming the first pitcher to win back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez 25 years ago.

Tarik Skubal won arbitration. He will make $32 million next year👀 pic.twitter.com/80fNj7uwZa

— SleeperTigers (@SleeperTigers) February 5, 2026

Other top contenders

Paul Skenes (+400) is also coming off a Cy Young season after becoming only the fifth pitcher to win the award in his first or second season. The Pirates right-hander had a 10-10 record last year while leading the National League in ERA (1.97), WHIP (0.948) and WAR (6.5). The 23-year-old's 216 strikeouts tied for 2nd in the NL and 4th in MLB, 39 K's behind league-leader Garrett Crochet.

Garrett Crochet (+450) paced the AL in innings pitched (205.1), strikeouts (255) and K/9 rate (11.2) in 2025. The question is if the 26-year-old is due for regression after making a massive jump in innings pitched in each of the past two years. Last season, Crochet won eight of nine decisions after the All-Star break but his ERA ballooned to 3.20 in the second half.

Best longshots for most K's

Dylan Cease (+1200) signed the largest free-agent contract in Blue Jays franchise history, agreeing to terms on a seven-year, $210 million deal. While the 27-year-old's 4.55 ERA with the Padres in 2025 wasn't that impressive, he's struck out 200+ batters in each of his last five seasons, a rate of 11.3 Ks per nine innings.

Cole Ragans (+1800) punched out 223 batters in 2024, just five behind MLB-leader Tarik Skubal. While the Royals' left-hander only made 13 starts in 2025 because of injuries, he maintained a ridiculous 38.1% strikeout rate and should be back to full health this season.

Jesus Luzardo (+5000) agreed to a new one-year, $11 million deal with the Phillies after an incredible first year in Philadelphia that saw him strikeout 216 batters in 183.2 innings. While is 3.92 ERA was not in the same class as Crochet (2.59), Skubal (2.21) and Skenes (1.97), his 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fourth league-wide.

QUESTION: Would you sign Jesus Luzardo to an extension this offseason❓

Luzardo is 28 years old and will be a UFA in 2027.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/x8b2XNf7lg

— SleeperPhillies (@SleeperPhillies) October 23, 2025

Bryan Woo (+4000) went 15-7 for the Mariners with a 2.94 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 186.2 innings. With his elbow issues in the past, the 26-year-old should continue to improve in his third season. Woo pitched at least six innings in 27 starts in 2025 while increasing his strikeout rate (9.5) and maintaining his command (1.7 walks per nine).

Bryan Woo Most Strikeouts

+4000

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