MLB betting: Can Kyle Harrison hit the Over on K's vs. Dodgers?

The 22-year-old southpaw impressed when he was called up to the big club at the end of the 2023 season, and he has already followed that up with an impressive 2024 debut. Harrison earned the Giants their first win of the season as he struck out five and only allowed two runs on six hits and didn't issue any walks through six innings. Since he was able to do that against a power-hitting team like the San Diego Padres, there is reason to believe he could be just as solid — if not better — against a stacked Dodgers lineup.

Even with two wins already in the series, Dodgers hitters are striking out at the plate. Logan Webb struck out five in his start against LA on Tuesday, while the Giants bullpen K'd another six batters. In fact, every hitter in LA's lineup struck out at least once in that game with the exception of Freddie Freeman. That was against Webb, who is a righty, and the Dodgers have managed fewer hits against left-handed pitching so far this season.

This suggests that Harrison's chances of hitting the Over on strikeouts is more likely than his odds entail.

Giants beat writer Susan Slusser recently wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle that the rookie is working on his longevity in games, however he is solid through the first three innings.

"Harrison has very been good his first time through the order, when opponents hit .239 off him, with a 24-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ," Slusser said. "His second time through, he has held opponents to a .233 average and cut his home runs allowed from 5 to 2. In limited opportunities, his third time through, he has gotten 20 of 28 batters out and held them to a .200 average — but given up three home runs."

With Harrison also being better about giving up the long ball as his career progresses, his chances of getting more strikeouts only look better. 

Sure, the Dodgers hitters have gotten the better of the Giants pitching through the first two games of this early-season series. However, they will be going up against a rookie pitcher in Kyle Harrison that is living up to the hype by sending batters back to the dugout. Given how well he through in his season debut, there is plenty of reason to think he can strikeout over 5.5 in his first game against L.A.