2022 MLB strikeout leader odds: White Sox All-Star snub Dylan Cease favored entering second half

One of the biggest snubs from the 2022 All-Star Game Tuesday night was Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease. The 26-year-old is 9-4 with a 2.15 ERA and MLB-best 150 strikeouts, and is the +300 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook to win that title. The last White Sox pitcher to lead the American League in the category was Chris Sale with 274 in 2015, but he wasn't the MLB leader – the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (301 strikeouts) was.

Actually, Cease wouldn't have been allowed to pitch in the All-Star Game even if he had been chosen for the roster -- he last started Sunday and dominated the Twins, allowing zero runs and one hit with eight strikeouts over seven innings. Cease has struck out at least eight batters 14 times this year (most in MLB). He's tallied nine punchouts seven times and reached the 10-strikeout threshold four times. Cease leads the majors at 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which would break his own club single-season record of 12.28 last year. He is the fastest Sox pitcher to reach 500 career strikeouts.

Unless the Sox want to give Cease some extra rest, he should pitch Friday vs. Cleveland. He hasn't allowed more than one earned run in a start since May 24 vs. Boston when he was shelled for seven. Cease is +1000 to win the AL Cy Young.

Milwaukee's Corbin Burnes and the Yankees' Gerrit Cole are +350 on the strikeouts prop; Cole is tied for second in the majors with 147 strikeouts alongside Tampa's Shane McClanahan (+400), while Burnes is fourth with 144.

It could be a touch risky betting McClanahan because the Rays might limit his innings some in the second half, as he's already within about 13 of his career-high 123.1 innings thrown last year. McClanahan is the +220 AL Cy Young favorite. Burnes (+650 for NL Cy Young) and Cole (+800 for AL Cy) are proven workhorses.

Seattle's Robbie Ray, who won the 2021 strikeout title with 248 while also winning the AL Cy Young with Toronto, is +700 to repeat on the Ks prop. The lefty sits sixth with 135. 

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