TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH
#928 SEATTLE with Anderson (-182) over Texas with Howard at 10:10 PM EST
In a bad mood off yesterday’s one-run home loss to the Rangers and with blemishes in five of their last six overall, the M’s will approach this game with a sense of urgency. Seattle is 8.5-games back in the AL West (trailing by 5.5-games in the hunt for the Wild Card) and the Mariners need this victory badly.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson will take the bump for the home team. Lined up against the Yankees and Rangers in his last two starts for the M’s, No. 31 was nipped for five earned runs and 11 hits in 10.1 innings. Anderson fanned seven and walked two but failed to earn a decision in either game on his way to a 4.36 ERA. Overall, with 18 starts for Pittsburgh and two for Seattle, Tyler has pitched well. In 113.2 innings, Anderson has been touched for 55 earned runs and 110 hits. That adds up to a 5-8 record and a respectable 4.35 ERA.
Hitting the hill for the Rangers will be former Phillies righty Spencer Howard. In his first start for Texas back on August 5th, No. 31 was zapped by the Halos for three earned runs and three hits in 2.1 innings. Howard struck out three, walked two, served up one home run, and was tagged with the loss in the Angels 5-0 victory. Overall, with 30.2 combined innings in the bank this year, Spencer has struggled allowing 21 earned runs and 28 hits. That shakes down to an 0-3 record with a dismal 6.16 ERA.
Technically speaking, this is the perfect spot to fade the visitors. Texas has slipped in 25 of its last 35 against division foes, 46 of its last 64 overall, 37 of its last 51 on foreign soil matched up against a left-handed starter, seven of its last eight in the second game of a series, and 62 of its last 79 as a guest.
With an 8.5-game deficit in the division and 5.5-games back in the hunt for the Wild Card, the Mariners can’t afford any more losses to a bottom-feeder like the Rangers. Take Seattle with Anderson. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S MLB GRAND SLAM MOUND MISMATCH OF THE WEEK
Currently on a blistering 7-1 Major League Baseball run and off a 2-0 SWEEP LAST NIGHT with victories on Oakland and St. Louis, Stryker heads back to the yard looking to nail another Best Bet. Solid pitching supports this money-maker along with a handful of quality team trends that will provide the assist. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Mound Mismatch of the Week for $30.