TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH
#965 SEATTLE with Kikuchi (+125) over NY Yankees with Gil at 1:05 PM EST
Off four consecutive losses including three straight to the Bronx Bombers, the M’s will close out this series with a huge upset victory. Seattle has six straight home games on deck from August 10th to August 15th and the Marines need to grab a little confidence before heading back to T-Mobile Park.
Up on the bump for the visitors will be young southpaw Yusei Kikuchi. In his last three starts against the Devil Rays, Astros, and A’s, No. 18 was touched for only seven earned runs and 19 hits in 17.0 innings of work. Kikuchi fanned 24 and walked five on his way to a 1-1 record with a respectable 3.71 ERA. Working with the lights turned off has worked well for Yusei too. In daytime starts, Kikuchi has been nicked for only 11 earned runs and 29 hits in 45.2 frames. After the math, that adds up to a solid 3-2 mark with a strong 2.17 ERA.
Rookie right-hander Luis Gil will get the call for the Yanks. In his first career start at home against the Orioles on August 3rd, No. 81 was nipped for no earned runs and four hits in 6.0 innings. Gil whiffed six, walked one, and grabbed the win in NY’s 13-1 blowout victory. Luis throws hard (averages 98 MPH) and owns a good slider and changeup. However, Gil has struggled to throw strikes in his career and, off the emotional performance in his first outing, he will have trouble in his second start.
There are a handful of quality team trends that support this Best Bet. Seattle has won seven straight in the fourth game of a series and seven of its last 10 when competing on Sunday. On the other side of Yankee Stadium, New York has fallen in four of its last five in the fourth game of a series and 25 of its last 39 in day games this season.
In what should be a classic pitching duel in the Bronx, the M’s southpaw’s experience will prove to be the difference against the greenhorn from the Big Apple. Take Seattle with Kikuchi. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 36-15 MLB RUN-LINE MASSIVE DATABASE SMASH
Stryker followed up Friday’s 2-0 sweep with another 2-0 performance last night cashing with a pair of run-line wagers on the Astros and Dodgers and he returns on Sunday with one more run-line investment that will deliver. Solid pitching supports this key release along with one powerful 36-15 trend that will prove to be the difference. Grab Tom’s MLB Run-Line Massive Database Smash for $30.