TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH
#920 HOUSTON with Urquidy (-178) over Baltimore with Kremer at 7:10 PM EST
In a bad mood off yesterday’s 2-0 home loss to the O’s, the Astros will get back on track with a solid effort in this rematch. Houston has quietly won 42 of 61 inside Minute Maid Stadium this season and manager Dusty Baker’s crew will have no trouble extending the margin here.
Right-hander Jose Urquidy will grab the pearl for the home team. In 2022, No. 65 has made 23 starts and been nicked for only 54 earned runs and 124 hits in 134.0 frames. Urquidy fanned 104 and issued 28 free passes on his way to a solid 12-4 mark with an elite 3.63 ERA. Jose has been at his best in his own backyard too. At home, Urquidy has surrendered only 19 earned runs and 48 hits in 59.2 innings. That shakes down to a 5-2 tally with a reliable 2.87 ERA.
Young righty Dean Kremer will take the mound for the visitors. So far this year, No. 64 has made 14 starts and been cracked for 29 earned runs and 80 hits in 75.2 innings of work. Kremer struck out 59 and walked 18 on his way to a 5-4 mark with a 3.45 ERA. Dean isn’t in the best form right now either. In his last six starts, Kremer was clocked for 17 earned runs and 37 hits in 34.0 frames. That adds up to a 2-3 tally with a 4.50 ERA.
A number of lucrative team trends support this investment. Houston has tasted victory in 40 of its last 54 after allowing two runs on less in its last game, 38 of its last 54 coming off a loss, 42 of its last 60 at home fighting an opponent that holds a team won/loss percentage of .501 or better, and 20 of its last 27 after scoring two runs or less previously. On the other side of the field, Baltimore has fallen in 236 of its last 352 as a guest and 27 of its last 37 in this series.
The Astros don’t get blanked very often and they will be sure to respond off yesterday’s shutout loss. Take Houston with Urquidy. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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