TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 22ND
#914 CLEVELAND with McKenzie (-169) over Detroit with Boyd at 7:10 PM EST
Resting a half-game back for the top spot in the AL Central standings and off Friday’s brutal loss to the Motor City Kitty’s, the Indians will show no mercy in this important rematch. Cleveland needs this win to keep the pressure on Minnesota in the division and the Indians can’t afford to lose home games to a Detroit squad that holds a weak 10-14 record.
With pitcher Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger out of the mix for breaking COVID-19 protocol, manager Terry Francona will hand the pearl to rookie right-hander Triston McKenzie. This will be the first major league start for No. 75 and he is going to shine. In 60 minor league games since 2015 (59 starts), McKenzie has been touched for only 98 earned runs and 230 hits in 329.0 frames. Triston struck out 394 batters and walked 98 on his way to a solid 26-16 mark with a tremendous 2.68 ERA.
On the bump for the road team will be southpaw Matthew Boyd. With five starts in the bank, No. 48 has been at his absolute worst this season surrendering 25 earned runs and 34 hits (eight of which left the building) in 23.1 innings. Boyd has whiffed 27 and walked 10 on his way to an ugly 0-3 record with a brutal 9.64 ERA. Matthew has faced the Tribe 11 times in his career with 10 starts and assembled a soft 2-4 mark with a 3.79 ERA. In his last two outings against the Indians on July 18th, 2019 and June 21st, 2019 at Cleveland, Boyd was bombed for 10 earned runs and 12 hits (five of which left the park) in only 12.0 innings of work. After the math, that adds up to an 0-2 tally with an elevated 7.50 ERA.
There are a number of power angles that line up on this wager. Cleveland has tasted victory in 46 of its last 61 when matched up against a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500 and 48 of its last 69 in division play. Meanwhile, Detroit has fallen in 41 of its last 57 on foreign soil and 64 of its last 80 after scoring five runs or more in its last game.
The AL Central race between the Twins, Indians and White Sox is going to be a good one. Rest assured, off the loss yesterday, the Tribe will bounce back and stay in the hunt. Take Cleveland with McKenzie. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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