TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 2ND
#963 SEATTLE with Flexen on the run line (+1.5 -116) over Tampa Bay with Wacha at 7:10 PM EST
Off that heartbreaking loss at Texas yesterday and with blemishes in four of their last five games, the M’s will travel to “The Trop” and give the Devil Rays a game. Tampa Bay enters this contest on top in the AL East after sweeping Boston (at home) and this will be a tough encore for manager Kevin Cash and his boys.
Up on the bump for the Mariners will be young right-hander Chris Flexen. In his last start at home against the ‘Stros, No. 77 was blasted for seven earned runs and nine hits in only 4.0 innings of work. Flexen fanned three, issued no walks, and was tagged with the loss in M’s 8-5 beatdown. Thankfully, with 19 starts in the bank this year, Chris has been solid on the bump surrendering only 46 earned runs and 114 hits in 108.2 frames. After the math, that adds up to a 9-5 record and a reliable 3.81 ERA.
Veteran righty Michael Wacha will counter for the Rays. In his last three starts against the Yankees, Orioles, and Braves, No. 52 was tagged for seven earned runs and 14 hits in 14.0 innings. Wacha whiffed 16 and walked three on his way to an 0-0 record and a 4.50 ERA. Michael won’t be excited to see the Mariners either. In his lifetime against the M’s, Wacha holds a stiff 0-2 mark and an elevated 8.25 ERA.
There are a number of reliable team trends that support this investment. Seattle has quietly won six of its last seven in this matchup, four of its last five in the first game of a series, nine of its last 12 when battling a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage greater than .500, and seven of its last 10 against teams from the AL East. On the other side of the bubble, Tampa Bay has slipped in 14 of its last 19 at home in this battle.
Kudos to the Rays for sweeping the BoSox and moving into first place in the division. Off that emotional performance, Cash’s boys will be out of gas here. Take Seattle on the run line with Flexen. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 21-8 MLB GRAND SLAM RUN-LINE SUPERPLAY
Currently on a 10-6 diamond run but off a 1-2 Sunday (won with Philadelphia but slipped with 4* Seattle and Boston), Stryker heads back to the yard on Monday armed with a rare run-line wager that will bring home the bacon. Strong pitching supports this money-maker along with one reliable 21-8 team trend. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Run-Line Superplay for $30.