TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, JULY 9TH
#930 BOSTON with Richards (-130) over Philadelphia with Velasquez at 7:10 PM EST
Off a pair of road losses to the Halos and with a day of rest, the BoSox will have no trouble racing past the visiting Phillies. Philadelphia enters this interleague battle off a stunning 8-0 shutout road win over Chicago (Cubs) and the Phils will have trouble in this spot after taking three of four from the Cubbies.
Hitting the hill for the Red Sox will be veteran right-hander Garrett Richards. In his last three outings against the A’s, Royals, and Devil Rays, No. 43 was tagged for 11 earned runs and 19 hits in 12.1 innings of work. Richards fanned five and issued seven free passes on his way to an 0-1 mark and a stiff 8.03 ERA. Thankfully, Garrett’s overall numbers on the season are much better. With 86.2 frames in the bank, Richards has been touched for 47 earned runs and 104 hits. After the math, that adds up to a 4-5 mark with a 4.88 ERA.
Righty Vince Velasquez will go for the visitors. In his last performance on July 4th at San Diego, No. 21 was hammered for five earned runs and nine hits in only 6.0 innings. Velasquez walked three and served up two dongs and was tagged with the loss in the 11-1 beating that was administered by the Padres. Vince’s road work hasn’t been that great either. With 32.2 frames completed on foreign soil, Velasquez has been smashed for 16 earned runs and 27 hits in 32.2 frames. That equates to a 1-2 tally with a 4.41 ERA.
A multitude of power team trends line up on this investment. Boston has won eight straight in its own backyard, 14 of its last 17 when priced as home chalk, 52 of its last 68 when favored against National League foes, and 20 of its last 28 in the first game of a series. On the other side of Fenway Park, Philadelphia has slipped in 27 of its last 38 when coming off a win and 35 of its last 51 when priced as a road underdog.
The Red Sox lead in the AL East rests at 2.5-games over the second-place Devils Rays and they’ll need to play well at home in this series in order to go into the All-Star break on top in their division. Take Boston with Richards. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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