TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH
#918 CHICAGO with Lester (-130) over Milwaukee with Lindbloom at 2:20 PM EST
In a nasty mood off a pair of one-run losses to the Brew Crew, the Cubbies will bounce back in a big way inside Wrigley Field on Sunday afternoon. Chicago’s lead in the NL Central is down to 3.5-games over St. Louis and 4.5 over Milwaukee and the Cubs need this victory to keep their cushion comfortable.
To stop the bleeding immediately, manager David Ross will hand the pill to his old buddy Jon Lester. So far this season, No. 34 has made three starts for Chicago against the Indians, Pirates and Reds and allowed two earned runs and seven hits in 17.0 innings. Lester struck out nine and issued four free passes en route to a 2-0 tally with a phenomenal 1.06 ERA. History will work its magic here too. Big Jon has faced the Brew Crew 11 times in his career and assembled a respectable 5-4 mark with a strong 2.97 ERA.
Taking the mound for visiting Milwaukee will be right-hander Josh Lindbloom. In 2020, No. 29 has made three starts against the Twins, White Sox and Pirates and been racked for eight earned runs and 14 hits in only 12.2 frames. Lindbloom whiffed 20 and walked six on his way to a 1-0 mark with an elevated 5.68 ERA. Josh’s last outing at home against Minnesota wasn’t his best effort either. Even though Lindbloom fanned eight, Josh was crushed for four earned runs and seven hits (three dongs) in only 4.0 innings of work.
Plenty of trends line up on this Best Bet. Chicago has won nine of its last 10 as chalk, 67 of its last 91 at home facing a foe that owns a losing record and 52 of its last 76 priced as a home favorite. On the visitor’s side of the field, Milwaukee has slipped in eight of its last 10 coming off a win and nine of its last 13 in Wrigleyville.
Off back-to-back division blemishes, the Cubs will lean on their most experienced arm to get them back on track. Take Chicago with Lester. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM STRYKER’S 14-4 MLB DIVISION BEST BET OF THE WEEK
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