TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND
#907 ATLANTA with Toussaint (-161) over Colorado with Gonzalez at 8:40 PM EST
Off that ugly three-game sweep in Los Angeles and with blemishes in six of their last eight games, the Braves will pick up a much-needed win on the road against the Rockies. Atlanta’s lead in the NL East is down to 2.0-games over Philadelphia and the Braves need this victory badly.
Right-hander Touki Toussaint will hit the hump for the visitors. In the month of August, No. 62 has appeared in five games for Hotlanta (four starts) and been scratched for only seven earned runs and 17 hits in 24.0 innings of work. Toussaint fanned 20 and walked 11 on his way to a 2-0 tally with an elite 2.63 ERA. Foreign soil has been a good place for Touki as well. On the road, Toussaint has been nicked for only six earned runs and 18 hits in 24.0 frames. After the math, that adds up to a solid 2-1 mark with a powerful 2.25 ERA.
Righty Chi Chi Gonzalez will get the call for the Rocks. With only a relief appearance against the Cubs on the 25th and a start against the Padres on the 18th, No. 50 has been cracked for three earned runs and four hits in 4.0 innings in a limited August. Gonzalez struck out only one batter and served up one home run on his way to an 0-0 tally with a 6.75 ERA. Overall, with 21 appearances in the books including 16 starts, Chi Chi has been tagged for 64 earned runs and 112 hits in 94.2 frames. That shakes down to a 3-6 record with an elevated 6.08 ERA.
This is a good wagering spot for the road team too. Atlanta has won 12 of its last 13 when facing a foe that owns a team won/loss percentage less than .500, 22 of its last 28 as a favorite, and seven of its last nine in the first game of a series. On the other side of Coors Field, Colorado has slipped in five of its last seven at home in this series.
The Braves have some work to do in their division right now and they can’t afford many more blemishes to losing teams. Take Atlanta with Toussaint. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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