TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD
#909 SAN DIEGO with Clevinger (-145) over LA Angels with Heaney at 7:10 PM EST
Back on the diamond off three straight wins including yesterday’s 11-4 beatdown of the Angels, the Padres will come right back and pick up another huge victory on Thursday night. The Friars hold a 23-15 record and, with a 5.0-game deficit in the NL West standings, they simply can’t afford losses to a 12-25 SU Halos squad.
After spending five years in Cleveland, right-hander Mike Clevinger will make his first start for San Diego. So far this season, No. 52 hit the hill four times for the Tribe and allowed just eight earned runs and 20 hits in 22.2 innings of work. Clevinger struck out 21 and issued 11 free passes on his way to a 1-1 mark and a 3.18 ERA. Big Mike’s career numbers are solid too. With 101 appearances in the books (88 starts), Clevinger was nicked for only 186 earned runs and 422 hits in 523.1 frames. After the math, that adds up to a solid 42-22 mark with a superb 3.20 ERA.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney will hit the hump for LA. In his last four outings against the M’s, A’s, Dodgers and Rangers, No. 28 was torched for 15 earned runs and 23 hits in 21.2 innings. Heaney fanned 26 and walked eight en route to a 1-2 mark with an elevated 6.23 ERA. So far this year, Andrew has made seven starts for the Angels and only managed to get through six innings once. That could be trouble for a Los Angeles bullpen that was forced to use six arms in yesterday’s blowout loss.
There are a number of solid team trends that help our cause. San Diego has tasted victory in 10 of its last 12 against American League foes, 18 of its last 23 as an interleague favorite and eight of its last 11 when coming off a win. On the other side of the field, Los Angeles has fallen in 50 of its last 71 overall, 20 of its last 26 when priced as a home pup and 41 of its last 53 when facing a right-handed starter.
The Padres are in great form right now posting victories in 12 of their last 16 contests and they’ve got the better arm on the bump. Take San Diego with Clevinger. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM STRYKER’S 135-56 MLB GRAND SLAM TOP SHELF WAGER
Off a nice victory on the Brew Crew in Major League Baseball yesterday, Stryker scoots back over to the diamond on Thursday with one investment that will get it done. This solid selection serves up a classic mound mismatch and it’s supported by one highly profitable 135-56 team trend. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Top Shelf Wager for $30.