TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, JULY 10TH
#979 TAMPA BAY with Baz (-146) over Cincinnati with Lodolo at 1:40 PM EST
Off back-to-back one-run road losses to the Reds, the Devil Rays will show no mercy in this double revenge situation. Tampa Bay has a tough four-game homestand versus Boston on deck and manager Kevin Cash’s crew don’t want to go into that matchup off three consecutive blemishes. Let’s take a look inside the numbers.
Right-hander Shane Baz will grab the pearl and stop the bleeding for the Fish. In his last three outings against the Blue Jays, Brew Crew, and Bronx Bombers, No. 11 pitched well allowing only three earned runs and 14 hits in 16.1 innings of work. Baz struck out 19 and walked six on his way to a 1-0 record with a powerful 1.65 ERA. With eight career starts in the books, Shane’s been impressive too. With 38.0 frames completed, Baz has surrendered only 11 earned runs and 25 hits. That shakes down to a 3-1 tally with a reliable 2.61 ERA.
Greenhorn southpaw Nick Lodolo will counter for the home team. With four career starts in the books, No. 40 has been tapped for nine earned runs and 21 hits in 19.1 innings. Lodolo whiffed 27 and walked eight on his way to a 1-2 mark with a 4.19 ERA. Nick hasn’t performed as well in day outings though. With the sun shining, Lodolo has been slashed for six earned runs and 12 hits in 9.7 frames. That shakes down to a 1-1 tally with a soft 5.59 ERA.
There are a handful of solid team trends that support this diamond investment. Tampa Bay has won 21 of its last 28 when facing a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .400, 16 of its last 22 in the third game of a series, 51 of its last 76 against National League foes, and 41 of its last 59 after dropping the first two games of a series. On the other side of the stadium, Cincinnati has slipped in 40 of its last 58 matched up against AL East foes, eight of its last 11 in the third game of a series, and 40 of its last 54 fighting a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage greater than .500.
With four huge division wars against the BoSox on deck, the Devil Rays will be sure to salvage one win in this series against the Reds. Take Tampa Bay with Baz. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 40-11 MLB HIGH ROLLER DIVISION WAGER
After suffering one-run blemishes on the Devil Rays and Cardinals, Stryker looks to get back on the plus side with one diamond investment that will deliver the cash. Outstanding history, power pitching, and one tremendous 40-11 team trend all support this key release. Grab Tom’s MLB High Roller Division Wager for $30.