TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH
#965 HOUSTON with Odorizzi (-148) over Kansas City with Hernandez at 8:10 PM EST
Checking in off Sunday’s 3-1 road loss to the Halos, the ‘Stros will stroll into Kauffman Stadium and do a number on the Royals. Kansas City is struggling right now off four consecutive losses, and this will be a tough series for manager Mike Matheny and his crew.
Up on the bump for the visitors will be right-hander Jake Odorizzi. In his last start at home against the Rockies, No. 17 tossed a gem allowing no earned runs and three hits in 5.0 innings of work. Odorizzi fanned three, walked two, and grabbed the win in the Astros 5-0 shutout victory. Overall, with 16 appearances in the books this year including 15 starts, Jake has showed a great deal of consistency. With 68.2 frames in the books, Odorizzi has been touched for only 35 earned runs and 59 hits. That’s adds up to a 5-6 record with a respectable 4.59 ERA.
Young righty Carlos Hernandez will counter for the home team. Matched up against the Yankees and White Sox (twice) in his last three performances, No. 43 was nicked for two earned runs and 11 hits in 17.2 innings. Hernandez struck out 13 and walked four on his way to a 2-0 tally with a solid 1.02 ERA. Since 2020, Carlos has pitched in 17 games for Kaycee including five starts. With 60.2 frames completed, Hernandez has allowed 29 earned runs and 56 hits. After the math, that adds up to a 3-2 tally with a 4.30 ERA.
Plenty of powerful team trends back this diamond wager. Houston has won 17 of its last 22 as a road favorite, 83 of its last 117 in the first game of a series, and 66 of its last 96 when fighting teams from the AL Central. On the other side of the grass, Kansas City has slipped in seven straight at home in this series, 90 of its last 131 in its own backyard when battling a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage greater than .500, 40 of its last 57 when coming off a loss, and 53 of its last 70 against AL West opponents.
The Astros are clinging to a 2.5-game advantage over the A’s in their fight for a division title and they need to dominate a Royals bunch that is currently in the cellar of the AL Central. Take Houston with Odorizzi. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 55-26 MLB GRAND SLAM TOP SHELF WAGER
Stryker scooped up a sweet diamond winner on the Blue Jays on Sunday and, currently enjoying a blistering 13-4 MLB run in his last 17 Best Bets, there is one more investment that is in prime position to cash. Solid pitching supports this money-maker along with one lucrative 55-26 trend. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Top Shelf Wager for $30.