TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, JULY 30TH
#922 CHICAGO with Cueto (-174) over Oakland with Blackburn at 7:15 PM EST
Off a pair of losses and now resting 3.0-games back from the top spot in the AL Central, the White Sox will approach this game with a sense of urgency. Chicago has five winnable battles at home over its next five games (two against Oakland and three versus Kansas City) and the Pale Hose need to make them count.
Veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto will take the mound for the home team. In 2022, No. 47 has made 13 appearances for the ChiSox (12 starts) and been nicked for only 26 earned runs and 75 hits in 81.0 innings. Cueto struck out 58 and walked 21 on his way to a 4-4 tally with an elite 2.89 ERA. The month of July has been kind to Johnny too. With four starts since June close out, Cueto has allowed just six earned runs and 25 hits in 27.0 frames. That’s good enough for a 2-0 tally with a sound 2.00 ERA.
Righty Paul Blackburn will grab the pearl for the visitors. So far this season, No. 58 has made 19 starts for the Athletics and been popped for 49 earned runs and 99 hits in 101.1 innings of work. Blackburn struck out 82 and walked 29 on his way to a 6-6 tally with a 4.35 ERA. Paul isn’t in the best of form either. In his last three starts versus the Rangers (twice) and Astros, Blackburn was bombed for 21 earned runs and 20 hits in 14.1 frames. That’s bad enough for a woeful 0-3 mark with a ridiculous 13.19 ERA.
This is a terrible wagering spot for the visitors too. Oakland has slipped in 16 of its last 27 against AL Central foes, 43 of its last 71 when facing right-handed starters, and 19 of its last 28 when facing an opponent that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500. On the other side of the yard, Chicago has tasted victory in 39 of its last 53 when battling a foe that sports a team won/loss percentage less than .400.
The White Sox own a frustrating 21-28 record at home this season and manager Tony La Russa’s kids will need to improve that mark to have any shot at postseason play. Take Chicago with Cueto. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 36-16 MLB GRAND SLAM SUPER WAGER
Stryker slipped with the Devil Rays yesterday and returns to the diamond with one Best Bet that will find the cash. Solid pitching supports this top-shelf investment along with one lucrative team trend that owns a reliable 36-16 record. Grab Tom’s MLB Grand Slam Super Wager for $30.