TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 8TH
#958 SAN DIEGO with Snell (-184) over San Francisco with Wood at 9:40 PM EST
Off four consecutive division losses and barely hanging on to the last spot in the hunt for the NL Wild Card, the Padres will go for the jugular when the Giants come to town. San Francisco enters this NL West war off two straight road wins over Oakland and the Gints are ripe for a beating.
Surging southpaw Blake Snell will take the mound for the home team. In his last three starts against the Rockies, Twins, and Mets, No. 4 was nicked for only two earned runs and 12 hits in 17.0 innings of work. Snell struck out 21 and walked three on his way to a 3-0 record with a powerful 1.06 ERA. Blake has enjoyed a little success in this series too. Since April 7th, 2021, Snell has faced SF four times and surrendered only eight earned runs and 11 hits in 20.2 frames. That shakes down to a 2-0 mark with a reliable 3.48 ERA.
Left-hander Alex Wood will counter for the visitors. With 21 starts in the books, No. 57 has been cracked for 52 earned runs and 106 hits in 106.0 innings. Wood whiffed 105 and walked 26 on his way to a 7-9 mark with a 4.42 ERA. Alex’s last three performances against the Dodgers, Cubs, and LA (again) haven’t been that great either. With 16.0 innings completed, Wood was waxed for 10 earned runs and 15 hits. After the math, that equates to a 1-2 tally with a soft 5.63 ERA.
This isn’t the best wagering spot for the Giants either. San Francisco has slipped in 12 of its last 17 overall, nine of its last 13 after scoring five runs or more last, 16 of its last 21 in division play, and eight of its last 10 in the first game of a series. On the other side of Petco Park, San Diego has cashed five of its last six at home and six of its last eight in the first game of a series.
After getting outscored by the Dodgers 20-4 in a crucial three-game division series, manager Bob Melvin’s boys will make sure they rally the troops and take care of business here. Take San Diego with Snell. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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