TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH
#903 SAN DIEGO with Clevinger (-134) over Arizona with Bumgarner at 3:40 PM EST
Off three consecutive losses and still resting 1.5-games back in the NL West standings behind the Dodgers, the Friars will have no trouble piling up runs and grabbing the win in this division battle. Arizona has quietly won two straight (giving up 13 runs in the process) and the D’Backs will be in serious trouble here.
Hitting the hill for the road team will be right-hander Mike Clevinger. With six appearances in the books this season including five starts, No. 52 has been nicked for nine earned runs and 21 hits in 23.0 innings of work. Clevinger struck out 25 and walked nine on his way to a 2-1 record with a 2.84 ERA. Back on June 22nd, Mike faced the Diamondbacks and pitched well surrendering just one earned run and four hits in 4.0 frames. Unfortunately, Big Mike failed to earn a decision in the Padres 10-4 victory.
Aging left-hander Madison Bumgarner will counter for the home team. With 15 starts completed this year, No. 40 has been cranked for 31 earned runs and 79 hits in 74.1 innings. Bumgarner fanned 53 and issued 23 free passes on his way to a dismal 3-7 tally with a 3.75 ERA. Madison’s last six outings haven’t been that special either. With 32.0 frames completed, Bumgarner was bounced for 18 earned runs and 46 hits. After the math, that adds up to a dismal 1-5 record with a soft 5.06 ERA.
A number of profitable team trends support this money-maker. San Diego has tasted victory in six of its last seven in the second game of a series, nine of its last 11 on the road battling a left-handed starter, 19 of its last 26 after allowing five runs or more last, and seven of its last 10 when facing a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500. On the other side of Chase Field, Arizona has dropped 52 of its last 77 after scoring five runs or more last, 89 of its last 126 when facing a foe that owns a winning record, and seven straight in the second game of a series.
If the Padres want to be true division contenders, then they need to start taking care of business on the road against beatable NL West foes. The Diamondbacks fit the bill. Take San Diego with Clevinger. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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