TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 30TH
#966 TAMPA BAY with Patino (-135) over Boston with Pivetta at 7:10 PM EST
Currently on a 9-1 run and off seven consecutive straight up wins, the Devil Rays will pad their division lead over the Yankees and Red Sox with a solid victory here. Boston enters this contest off a 7-5 road loss at Cleveland and the BoSox will be in serious trouble in this situation.
Young right-hander Luis Patino will be up on the bump for the Rays. In his last performance back on August 21st at home against the Pale Hose, No. 61 was scratched for only two earned runs and five hits in 6.0 innings of work. Patino fanned five, walked one, and grabbed the win in Tampa’s 8-4 victory. Pitching inside Tropicana Field has been a good thing for Luis too. At home, Patino has been bumped for six earned runs and 17 hits in 25.2 frames. That equates to a 2-2 record with a reliable 2.10 ERA.
Righty Nick Pivetta will toe the rubber for the visitors. Matched up against the Twins and Yankees in his last two starts, No. 37 was hammered for eight earned runs and 10 hits in only 5.2 innings. Pivetta struck out six and walked five on his way to an 0-1 tally and a stiff 12.72 ERA. In his last performance against the BoSox on August 1st on this very same field, Nick was cracked for three earned runs and three hits in only 4.2 frames. Pivetta fanned five, walked one, and was tagged with the loss in the Rays 3-2 victory.
A number of highly profitable trends support this Best Bet. Tampa Bay has won six of its last seven in the first game of a series, 48 of its last 62 when coming off a win, 63 of its last 82 at home facing a right-handed starter, and 40 of its last 54 in division play. On the other side of the Trop, Boston has slipped in eight of its last nine as a road underdog and seven of its last eight in this AL East series.
With the Yankees charging, the Devil Rays understand the importance of this home war against a more than capable Red Sox team. Take Tampa Bay with Patino. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 85-36 MLB GRAND SLAM ELITE BEST BET
Stryker went 1-1 on Sunday winning his Preseason Game of the Year on San Francisco but made an error on the diamond with the Bronx Bombers. This top shelf wager backs a highly motivated team that holds a solid advantage on the bump, and one lucrative 85-36 trend is there for support. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Elite Best Bet for $30.