TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, JULY 23RD
#980 LA DODGERS on the run line (-1.5 -113) with Scherzer over Houston with Odorizzi at 9:40 PM EST
After getting blanked 3-0 at home by the ‘Stros yesterday, the Dodgers will get after it in this right back rematch. Los Angeles is still 3.5-games back in the division and manager Dave Roberts knows his troops need to dominate in their own backyard going forward.
Making his first start for LA since coming over in a trade from Washington will be right-hander Max Scherzer. In 19 starts for the Nats this season, No. 31 was scratched for only 34 earned runs and 71 hits in 111.0 innings. Scherzer whiffed 147 and walked only 28 on his way to a strong 8-4 mark with a brilliant 2.76 ERA. Max was effective under the lights too. At night, Scherzer was nicked for just 19 earned runs and 38 hits in 51.2 frames. That equates to a 4-2 tally with a powerful 3.31 ERA.
Journeyman Jake Odorizzi will counter for the Astros. So far this year, with 14 appearances in the books including 13 starts, No. 17 was blasted for 29 earned runs and 50 hits in 60.2 innings of work. Odorizzi fanned 54 and walked 19 on his way to a 4-5 record with a 4.30 ERA. Jake’s last three starts haven’t been his best work either. Facing the Mariners, Rangers, and Pale Hose, Odorizzi was ripped for 10 earned runs and 15 hits in 13.1 frames. That’s bad enough for a 1-1 tally with an elevated 6.75 ERA.
Plenty of powerful team trends support this money-maker too. Los Angeles has been victorious in 94 of its last 132 at home against a right-handed starter, 36 of its last 51 in the second game of a series, 25 of its last 36 matched up against teams from the AL West, and 63 of its last 92 after scoring two runs or less last. Meanwhile, on the other side of Chavez Ravine, Houston has slipped in seven of its last 10 versus NL West opposition and 10 of its last 14 when priced as an underdog in interleague play.
The Dodgers played with too much emotion in last night’s loss, and they’ll be sure to bounce back in a big way with one of their prize possessions on the mound. Take Los Angeles with Scherzer. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 40-19 MLB RUN LINE GAME OF THE WEEK
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