TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASETBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH
#958 NY METS with Megill (-175) over St. Louis with Lester at 7:10 PM EST
Frustrated off a pair of dismal home losses to the Redbirds, the Mets will battle back with a solid effort under the Wednesday night lights. With a 5.5-game deficit in the standings and a 4.0-game disadvantage in the NL Wild Card race, New York really needs to pick up the pace especially in its own backyard.
Taking the mound for the Boys from the Big Apple will be right-hander Tylor Megill. In his last three starts against the Yankees and Nationals (twice), No. 38 was touched for eight earned runs and 12 hits in 18.0 innings of work. Megill fanned 23 and walked five on his way to a 2-1 tally with a respectable 4.00 ERA. Pitching inside Citi Field has been a good thing for Tylor as well. At home, Megill has allowed only 19 earned runs and 38 hits through 45.0 frames. That’s good enough for a 3-1 record and a strong 3.80 ERA.
Veteran southpaw Jon Lester will grab the pearl for the visitors. Facing the Reds, Brew Crew, and Cincinnati (again) in his last three performances, No. 34 has surrendered four earned runs and 10 hits in 18.2 innings. Lester fanned nine, walked eight, and allowed four home runs on his way to a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA. Unfortunately, the road has given Big Jon fits this season. On foreign soil, Lester has been lashed for 25 earned runs and 54 hits in 45.1 frames. That’s bad enough for a 2-4 mark with a soft 4.96 ERA.
There are a handful of trends that support this Best Bet. New York has quietly won six of its last nine at home and nine of its last 13 when priced as a favorite. On the other side of ballpark, St. Louis has slipped in five of its last seven on the road matched up against a right-handed starter and six of its last nine against NL East opponents.
If the Mets want to play October baseball, then they need to start plating runs and piling up wins right now. Off the two losses to the Redbirds, the Boys from the Big Apple will get this one. Take New York with Megill. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 77-27 MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE GAME OF THE MONTH
Off a tough one-run loss with the Reds last night, Stryker looks to get back on track on Wednesday with a strong play on the diamond. This key release serves up a classic mismatch on the mound and it is backed by one powerful 77-27 team trend that consistently cashes tickets. Grab Tom’s MLB American League Game of the Month for $30.