TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND
#969 CHICAGO with Lopez (+105) over Tampa Bay with Archer at 1:10 PM EST
Checking in off yesterday’s 8-4 loss to the Devil Rays, the Pale Hose will get back on track with a solid effort on Sunday afternoon. Manager Tony La Russa isn’t happy about Chicago’s 20-23 record against winning teams, and he wants to leave his hometown with a series victory.
Hitting the hill for the Pale Hose will be right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. In a pair of starts against the A’s and Twins, No. 40 was nicked for no earned runs and two hits in 8.0 innings of work. Lopez fanned eight and walked four on his way to a 1-0 mark with a stunning 0.00 ERA. Overall, with 25.0 frames completed this season, Reynaldo has pitched very well surrendering just three earned runs and 11 hits. Lopez assembled a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 26-7 and posted a 2-0 tally with a beautiful 1.08 ERA.
Returning from the DL with right lateral forearm stiffness, right-hander Chris Archer will make just his third start of the season. In a pair of outings in early April against the Yankees and Marlins, No. 22 was tapped for three earned runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings. Archer struck out six and walked one on his way to an 0-1 mark with a 6.23 ERA. When matched up against the ChiSox in nine appearances (eight starts), Chris put together a 4-2 record with a 4.34 ERA.
There are a handful of quality trends that support this diamond wager. Chicago has won five of its last six when playing on Sunday, 13 of its last 18 against teams from the AL East, and 13 of its last 19 in the third game of a series. On the other side of the bubble, Tampa Bay has slipped in 30 of its last 48 when priced between -100 and -150 at home with Archer holding the pearl.
The White Sox came to Tampa with visions of winning the series and they know they can get that done with a victory here. Take Chicago with Lopez. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 55-17 MLB RUN-LINE SMASH OF THE WEEK
Coming off a 2-1 Saturday that featured a 2-0 SWEEP on the diamond with his 5* MLB Game of the Year WINNER on Tampa Bay and another Best Bet victory on San Francisco, Stryker is going after one payday on Sunday that will steal the cash. This key release serves up a classic mound mismatch and it is backed by one sweet 55-17 trend. Grab Tom’s 55-17 MLB Run-Line Smash of the Week for $30.