TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18TH
#961 PHILADELPHIA with Suarez (-146) over Arizona with Castellanos at 9:40 PM EST
In a bad mood off back-to-back blemishes to the Reds and Diamondbacks, the Phillies will get after it in the desert on Wednesday. This 39-81 SU Arizona team checks in off a rare victory and this will prove to be a tremendous challenge for the second-worst team in baseball.
Southpaw Ranger Suarez will hit the hump for the visitors. In his last three starts against the Dodgers, Mets, and Nationals, No. 55 was tripped for only one earned run and three hits in 10.0 innings. Suarez struck out nine and walked six on his way to an 0-0 record with a reliable 0.90 ERA. With 30 appearances this season, Rangers has posted some impressive numbers. Through 50.1 frames, Suarez has allowed only six earned runs and 24 hits. That’s good enough for a 5-3 record with a sweet 1.07 ERA.
Young right-hander Humberto Castellanos will counter for the home team. This will be No. 54’s first appearance since grabbing the start in his own backyard against Colorado on July 7th. So far this season, Castellanos has appeared in eight games (one start) and been punched for four earned runs and 12 hits in just 15.2 frames. That adds up to an 0-1 record with a 2.30 ERA. This will be Humberto’s first career meeting with the Phillies.
This is the ideal spot to fade manager Torey Lovullo’s kids too. Arizona has dropped 36 of its last 51 when matched up against a left-handed starter, 46 of its last 59 when battling a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage greater than .500, and 14 of its last 19 when facing a foe that scored two runs or less last. On the visitor’s side of Chase Field, Philadelphia has won eight of its last 11 after scoring two runs or less last and 14 of its last 20 when coming off a loss.
The Phillies are in a dogfight in the NL East resting 2.5-games behind the Braves for the top spot and they can’t afford any more losses to one of the worst teams in the league. Take Philadelphia with Suarez. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 102-41 MLB HIGH ROLLER BEST BET
Stryker dropped both of his MLB Best Bets on Tuesday with the A’s and Astros run-line (Grand Slam GOM) and he looks to battle back on Wednesday with one diamond investment that will deliver. Strong pitching lines up on this major wager along with one highly profitable 102-41 trend. Grab Tom’s MLB High Roller Best Bet for $30.