TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, JUNE 18TH
#965 TAMPA BAY with Springs (-157) over Baltimore with Bradish at 4:05 PM EST
In a bad mood off four consecutive straight up losses, the Devil Rays will dig deep and pick up a much-needed victory here. Baltimore has quietly pulled off two upset wins and this is going to be a massive challenge for the Fish.
Lefty Jeffrey Springs will take the bump for the visiting team. In three June starts against the Twins, Cardinals, and Rangers (all Fins wins), No. 59 was nicked for only two earned runs and 13 hits in 16.1 innings of work. Springs struck out 17 and walked five on his way to a 1-0 record and a strong 1.10 ERA. Jeffrey has been at his best with the lights turned off too. During the day, Springs has surrendered only one earned run and 10 hits in 15.7 frames. That adds up to a solid 2-0 tally and blistering 0.57 ERA.
Young righty Kyle Bradish will hit the hill for the home team. With only nine career starts in the books this season, No. 56 has been hammered for 32 earned runs and 53 hits in 42.0 innings. Bradish fanned 43 and issued 17 free passes on his way to a stiff 1-4 mark with an elevated 6.86 ERA. Surprisingly, Kyle has struggled in his own backyard too. At home, Bradish has been bombed for 19 earned runs and 34 hits in 29.0 frames. That’s bad enough for an 0-3 record with a woeful 5.90 ERA.
There are a number of strong team trends that back this Best Bet. Tampa Bay has cashed 22 of its last 32 as a road favorite, 41 of its last 60 when competing on Saturday, 56 of its last 83 when facing a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500, and 44 of its last 59 in this series. On the other side of the yard, Baltimore has fallen in 122 of its last 182 when priced as an underdog, 155 of its last 231 after scoring two runs or less in its last game, 35 of its last 51 when coming off a win, and 72 of its last 102 when matched up against a division foe.
The Devil Rays are a ridiculous 13.0-games back in the AL East and they need wins over the worst team in the AL East in order to have any shot at catching the Yankees by the end of the season. Take Tampa Bay with Springs. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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