TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION THURSDAY, JUNE 23RD
#920 CHICAGO with Cueto (-161) over Baltimore with Kremer at 8:10 PM EST
After getting spanked 9-5 at home by the Blue Jays yesterday, the ChiSox will bounce back with a solid effort here. Resting under the .500 mark with a 33-34 record and 4.5-games back in the division, the Pale Hose need to pick up the pace in their own backyard and they know it.
Veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto will hit the hump for the home team. With seven appearances in the books this season including six starts, No. 47 has been nicked for 14 earned runs and 36 hits in 42.2 innings of work. Cueto struck out 33 and walked 11 on his way to a 1-3 mark with a respectable 2.95 ERA. Johnny’s last outing was his best of the season too. At Houston on June 18th, Cueto limited the hard-hitting Astros to no earned runs and two hits in 7.0 frames. Johnny fanned five, issued two free passes and grabbed the “W” in the team’s 7-0 shutout victory.
Greenhorn righty Dean Kremer will counter for the visitors. So far this year, No. 64 has made three starts for the O’s and been tapped for four earned runs and 14 hits in 15.1 frames. Kremer whiffed 10 and walked four on his way to a 1-1 record with a 2.35 ERA. Unfortunately, with 20 career starts in the books, Dean has experienced growing pains. With 87.2 career innings completed, Kremer was crunched for 59 earned runs and 92 hits. After the math, that equates to a 2-9 mark with an elevated 6.06 ERA.
There are several strong team trends that back this quality investment. Chicago has quietly won eight straight in this series, four of its last five coming off a loss, and four of its last five in the first game of a series. On the other side of the stadium, Baltimore has fallen in 76 of its last 109 when facing a foe that scored five runs or more last, 125 of its last 178 in the first game of a series, 72 of its last 99 on foreign soil, and 37 of its last 52 when coming off a win.
The White Sox are resting with a dismal 15-18 mark inside Guaranteed Rate Field and they need to improve immediately at home if they want to have any real shot at winning the division. Take Chicago with Cueto. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 38-13 MLB HIGH ROLLER BEST BET
Stryker went 1-1 last night on the diamond cashing his AL East Game of the Month on the Yankees but suffered a ridiculous loss on the Twins and he’s back with one more wager that will grab the cash. Strong pitching supports this key release along with one highly profitable 38-13 angle. Grab Tom’s MLB High Roller Best Bet for $30.