TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, JULY 26TH
#912 MINNESOTA with Pineda (-155) over Detroit with Manning at 8:10 PM EST
Off back-to-back home losses to the Halos, the Twins will get back on track with a solid effort when the overachieving Tigers pay a visit. Detroit has won seven of its last 10 games overall and, after being swept in a three-game series at Kansas City, the Motor City Kitty’s skid will continue in the Twin Cities.
Veteran right-hander Michael Pineda will take the bump for the Twinkies. In his last start on the road against the White Sox, No. 35 tossed a gem allowing only one earned run and four hits in 5.0 innings of work. Pineda fanned three, issued only one walk and grabbed the “W” in the Twins 7-2 victory. Pitching inside Target Field has been a good thing for Michael too. At home, Pineda has surrendered 20 earned runs and 46 hits in 48.0 frames. That translates into a 2-3 tally and a reliable 3.75 ERA.
Rookie righty Matt Manning will counter for the Tigers. With six career starts in the books, No. 25 has been popped for 18 earned runs and 31 hits in only 28.0 frames. Manning put together a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 13-10 and carries a 2-3 tally with a weak 5.79 ERA. The road has been a problem for Matt. On foreign soil, Manning has been slammed for 13 earned runs and 15 hits in 13.2 innings. That’s bad enough for an 0-3 record with a lofty 8.56 ERA.
A number of negative team trends work against the visitors too. Detroit has fallen in 55 of its last 82 in the first game of a series, 176 of its last 260 when priced as an underdog, 87 of its last 127 on foreign soil, and 101 of its last 144 in division play. Also, Minnesota has won 35 of its last 51 in this series including 20 of its last 26 at home.
The Twins are in the cellar in the AL Central and, if they want to climb out, knocking off the surprising Tigers is absolutely essential. Take Minnesota with Pineda. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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