Strikeout ScoutMLB Strikeout Prop Glossary
A quick reference for the pitching stats and betting terms used across Strikeout Scout.
Betting terms
Strikeout prop
A sportsbook market on how many batters a specific starting pitcher will strike out in a game. It's posted as a number (the line) — you bet whether the real total finishes over or under it.
The line
The number the sportsbook sets for a prop, often at a half-strikeout (e.g. 6.5) so there's no tie. A whole number (e.g. 6) can result in a push.
Over / Under
The two sides of a prop. Over wins if the pitcher exceeds the line; under wins if he falls short.
Push
A tie — the actual total lands exactly on a whole-number line. The bet is refunded, no win or loss.
−110 (the vig)
Standard prop pricing: you risk $110 to win $100. The extra $10 is the sportsbook's cut (the "vig" or "juice").
Break-even
The win rate you need just to cover the vig. At −110, that's about 52.4% — anything below loses money over time.
ROI
Return on investment: your profit as a percentage of total money risked. A positive ROI means a strategy made money after the vig; the break-even ROI is 0%.
Pitching stats
K/9 (strikeouts per nine)
How many batters a pitcher strikes out per nine innings — the cleanest single measure of bat-missing ability, independent of how deep he pitches.
Strikeout rate (K%)
The share of batters faced who strike out. Used for lineups, it captures how strikeout-prone an offense is.
IP/GP (innings per start)
Average innings a starter throws per outing. More innings means more chances to rack up strikeouts, so it scales the projection.
Opponent K/G
The opposing team's strikeouts per game. Higher means a more strikeout-prone lineup (good for overs); lower means a high-contact lineup (good for unders).
Handedness split
How a lineup's strikeout rate changes against left- vs. right-handed pitching. Some offenses whiff far more against one arm.
FIP
Fielding Independent Pitching — an ERA-scale estimate built only from strikeouts, walks, and home runs, stripping out defense and luck.
WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched — baserunners allowed per inning.
Strikeout Scout terms
Projection (Proj K)
Our estimated strikeout total for a start: innings per start × K-per-inning × how strikeout-prone the opponent is, then nudged by handedness and (optionally) recent form. See How it works.
DIFF
The gap between our projection and the posted line. A large DIFF means our model and the market disagree — though on its own that's rarely enough to bet on.
SS Pick (★ / ★★ / ★★★)
Our highest-conviction plays for a slate, rated one to three stars. ★★★ and ★★ are home-team unders on weak-strikeout starters facing high-contact lineups; ★ is an over on a strikeout-prone opponent. Most starters get no pick.
LC / LU
Lineup status on the matchups page: LC = lineup confirmed (the official batting order is posted); LU = lineup unconfirmed (projected from the team's most recent game until the card drops).