TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION TUESDAY, JULY 12TH
#952 MIAMI with Castano (-150) over Pittsburgh with Stratton at 6:40 PM EST
Off yesterday’s 5-1 home loss to the Bucs, look for the Marlins to get after it in this right-back rematch. Miami has three more games left in its own backyard against Pittsburgh and they need to dominate a Pirates squad that is 13.0-games under the .500 mark.
Southpaw Daniel Castano will toe the rubber for the Fish. Overall, with eight appearances in the books this season including five starts, No. 20 was bumped for 12 earned runs and 35 hits in 30.0 innings of work. Castano struck out 17 and walked nine on his way to a 1-2 record with a 3.60 ERA. Daniel’s efforts at home have been solid too. Inside LoanDepot Park, Castano has surrendered only six earned runs and 17 hits in 14.3 frames. After the math, that adds up to a respectable 3.77 ERA.
Right-handed reliever Chris Stratton will get the rare start for the Pirates. So far this season, No. 46 has appeared in 36 games and been nicked for 20 earned runs and 42 hits in 35.0 innings. Stratton fanned 33 and issued 11 free passes on his way to a 5-4 tally with a soft 5.14 ERA. The road hasn’t been kind to Chris either. As a guest, Stratton has been slapped for 10 earned runs and 20 hits in 16.0 frames. That equates to a 1-3 mark with a weak 5.62 ERA.
Plenty of quality team trends line up on this Best Bet. Miami has quietly won 11 of its last 12 when facing a foe that owns a team won/loss percentage less than .500 and seven of its last 11 overall. On the other side of the yard, Pittsburgh has fallen in 81 of its last 117 when facing a southpaw, 113 of its last 160 as a guest, and 40 of its last 57 on the road when battling an opponent that carries a team won/loss percentage less than .500.
The Pirates have uncharacteristically won three straight and they are in prime position to fall. Take Miami with Castano. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 91-39 MLB RUN-LINE ABSOLUTE ROAST
Checking in with a little steam off yesterday’s payday on San Diego, Stryker returns with one diamond wager that will grab the cash. A blowout situation has surfaced in MLB and this Best Bet serves up a huge edge on the mound and has the support of one powerful 91-39 team trend. Grab Tom’s MLB Run-Line Absolute Roast for $30.