TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST
#928 ST. LOUIS with Wainwright (-160) over Minnesota with Pineda at 2:15 PM EST
After getting blasted 8-1 at home by the Twinkies yesterday, the Redbirds will grab the series win with a dominant performance of their own. St. Louis is a whopping 9.5-games back in the NL Central and manager Mike Shildt’s boys need to pick up the pace especially at home.
Veteran righty Adam Wainwright will toe the rubber for the Cardinals. In his last two performances against the Cubs and Indians, No. 50 pitched well allowing only three earned runs and 10 hits in 14.0 innings. Wainwright fanned 13 and walked two on his way to a 1-0 tally and a solid 1.93 ERA. Inside Busch Stadium this year, Adam has been at his best too. In his own backyard, Wainwright has surrendered only 24 earned runs and 61 hits in 80.0 frames. That equates to a 4-4 record with a proud 2.70 ERA.
Big right-hander Michael Pineda will counter for the visitors. Matched up against the Tigers and White Sox (twice) in his last three outings, No. 35 was smashed for eight earned runs and 21 hits in 16.1 innings of work. Pineda struck out 13 and walked just one batter on his way to a 1-1 tally with a 4.41 ERA. When tossing with the sun shining, Michael hasn’t enjoyed much success. In daytime starts, Pineda has been popped for 20 earned runs and 47 hits in 49.0 frames. That’s bad enough for a 2-4 mark with a 3.67 ERA.
This is the perfect technical spot to fade the Twins too. Minnesota has dropped 38 of its last 54 on the National League road fighting a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage of .500 or better, 11 of its last 15 on foreign soil, 17 of its last 23 when priced as a road pup, and 18 of its last 23 when facing a foe that scored two runs or less last. On the other side of the yard, St. Louis has won seven of its last nine in the third game of a series and 109 of its last 166 when coming off a blemish provided AW is holding the pearl.
The Cardinals play seven in a row at home counting today’s battle against the Twins and they need to go on a run. Take St. Louis with Wainwright. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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