TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, MAY 20TH
#914 SAN FRANCISCO with Junis (-125) over San Diego with Manaea at 10:15 PM EST
Off a road loss to the Rockies and a day of rest, the Giants will return home and take care of business against the visiting Padres. San Diego enters this matchup off a huge 2-0 shutout win at Philadelphia and this will be a difficult encore for manager Bob Melvin and his boys.
Right-hander Jakob Junis will toe the rubber for the Gints. In his last two starts against the Cardinals, No. 34 was nicked for four earned runs and nine hits in 10.2 innings. Junis struck out eight and walked three on his way to an 0-1 tally with a respectable 3.38 ERA. Inside Oracle Park, Jakob has been at his best surrendering only two earned runs and seven hits through 10.0 frames. After the math, that equates to a sensational 1.80 ERA.
Aging southpaw Sean Manaea will hit the hump for the visitors. In his last four starts (all Padres losses), No. 55 was tapped for 15 earned runs and 24 hits in 24.0 innings of work. Manaea whiffed 31 and walked nine on his way to an 0-2 mark with a soft 5.63 ERA. On the year, with 43.0 frames completed, Sean has been smacked for 18 earned runs and 34 hits. That equates to a 2-3 record with a 3.77 ERA.
There are several strong trends that support this wager. San Francisco has won 22 of its last 28 when coming off a day of rest, 54 of its last 74 when priced as a favorite, 42 of its last 58 against division foes, and 44 of its last 61 in the first game of a series. On the other side of the park, San Diego has slipped in 21 of its last 29 as a guest facing a foe that owns a team won/loss percentage greater than .500 and five of its last seven when facing a right-handed starter.
Currently in third place looking up at the Friars and Dodgers in the NL West standings, the Giants will gain a little ground by taking care of business at home. Take San Francisco with Junis. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 13-0 ATS 4* NBA PLAYOFF GAME OF THE MONTH
Stryker cashed both of his Best Bets last night winning with Boston in the NBA and Houston on the run-line in MLB and he’s back with one more hardwood honey that will hit paydirt. A stunning 13-0 ATS power angle supports this Best Bet along with a rewarding 34-11 ATS postseason situation. Grab Tom’s NBA Playoff Game of the Month for $30.