TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH
#908 OAKLAND with Manaea (-110) over Houston with Valdez at 4:37 PM EST
Off that crushing 10-5 loss to the Astros yesterday, the A’s will go after this game with all they’ve got. Oakland understands it can’t fall behind 2-0 in this best-of-five series and it needs this victory like blood.
On the bump for the Athletics will be southpaw Sean Manaea. With 11 starts in the bank this season, No. 55 has been as solid as they come allowing only 27 earned runs and 57 hits in 54.0 innings. Manaea struck out 45 and walked only eight on his way to a 4-3 record and a respectable 4.50 ERA. In his last outing against the ‘Stos at home back on September 10th, Sean was in a zone surrendering just one earned run and two hits in 7.0 frames. Manaea and the A’s grabbed a nice 3-1 victory on that day.
Southpaw Framber Valdez will hit the hump for the Astros. So far this year, No. 59 has appeared in 11 games for Houston (10 starts) and been cracked for 28 earned runs and 63 hits through 70.2 innings of work. Valdez fanned 76 and issued 16 free passes en route to a 5-3 tally with a 3.57 ERA. The fact that this game is being played with the sun shining works against Framber. In day performances, Valdez has been bombed for nine earned runs and 23 hits in 20.1 frames. After the math, that equates to an 0-2 mark with a 3.98 ERA.
A number of really good team trends support this Best Bet too. Oakland has tasted victory in 39 of its last 51 games against a left-handed starter and 43 of its last 59 when coming off a loss. Across the yard, Houston has slipped in 10 of its last 11 after scoring five runs or more and eight of its last 11 if they check in off a victory.
If the A’s want to turn this into a real series, then they’ll need to come out and make a statement here. That’s exactly what manager Bob Melvin’s boys will do. Take Oakland with Manaea. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM STRYKER’S 16-0-1 ATS 4* NBA PLAYOFF GAME OF THE YEAR
Stryker cashed a big ticket with the Heat on Sunday in Game 3 and he’s back on Tuesday with his one and only NBA Playoff Game of the Year. Two outstanding postseason angles support this Best Bet and these situations boast elite marks of 16-0-1 ATS and 19-3-1 ATS. Grab Tom’s NBA Playoff Game of the Year for $30.