TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH
#917 MILWAUKEE with Woodruff (-115) over Chicago with Chatwood at 8:15 PM EST
It’s gut-check time for the Brew Crew. Off a pair of blemishes to the Cubs and Twins and with losses in five of their last seven games, the Brewers need to crank their game up a notch. Milwaukee sits 6.5-games behind Chicago in the NL Central and they need to close that gap in a hurry.
In order to get things turned around, manager Craig Counsell will hand the pearl to right-hander Brandon Woodruff. With four starts in the bank this season, No. 53 has pitched well allowing just six earned runs and 16 hits in 21.1 innings. Woodruff has fanned 26 and walked five en route to a 1-1 mark with a respectable 2.53 ERA. Brandon’s lone loss came against the Cubs back on July 24th. In a game at Chicago, Woodruff was touched for two earned runs and four hits through 5.0 frames. Brandon fanned five and walked just one but suffered a frustrating 3-0 loss. Rest assured, Woodruff will be primed for this revenge opportunity.
Toeing the rubber for the Cubbies will be their weakest link in the rotation right-hander Tyler Chatwood. In 2020, No. 32 has made three starts for the Northsider’s against the Royals, Pirates and Brewers and been hammered for nine earned runs and 17 hits in 15.0 frames. Chatwood struck out 23 and walked four on his way to a 2-1 tally with an elevated 5.40 ERA. Since 2018, Tyler has crossed paths with the Brew Crew three times and been slapped for eight earned runs and 14 hits in 12.2 innings. That resulted in an 0-1 record with a lofty 5.69 ERA.
A handful of reliable angles support this Best Bet. Milwaukee has tasted victory in 15 of its last 21 in the second game of a series, 12 of its last 17 priced as a road favorite and 15 of its last 21 against NL Central foes. On the other side of the basepaths, Chicago has quietly dropped 23 of its last 34 as an underdog.
With a third of the season almost in the books and their deficit at 6.5-games, the Brew Crew need this victory badly in order to stay in the hunt for the division crown. Take Milwaukee with Woodruff. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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