TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 29TH
#907 PHILADELPHIA with Suarez (-180) over Arizona with Bumgarner at 9:40 PM EST
After ripping off six consecutive wins and then getting blanked at home by the Pirates, the Phillies will travel to the desert and start a new streak against the overachieving Diamondbacks. Philadelphia is locked into the No. 2 slot in the NL Wild Card race and manager Rob Thomson will make sure his troops take care of business here.
Southpaw Ranger Suarez will take the mound for the road team. In 2022, No. 55 has made 22 starts and been tapped for only 45 earned runs and 112 hits in 120.0 innings. Suarez whiffed 102 and walked 45 on his way to an 8-5 mark with a 3.38 ERA. Ranger’s efforts on foreign soil have been outstanding too. As a guest, Suarez has surrendered just 18 earned runs and 53 hits in 67.2 frames. That’s good enough for a 6-1 mark with a powerful 2.41 ERA.
Aging left-hander Madison Bumgarner will counter for the D’Backs. With 25 starts completed, No. 40 has been nipped for 67 earned runs and 147 hits in 133.0 innings of work. Bumgarner fanned 97 and issued 43 free passes on his way to an ugly 6-13 tally with a 4.53 ERA. Madison is having a horrible August too. Facing the Cardinals, Giants, Pirates, and Rockies, Bumgarner was blasted for 20 earned runs and 33 hits in 22.2 frames. That’s bad enough for an 0-3 record with an elevated 7.94 ERA.
A number of strong team trends support this Best Bet. Philadelphia has tasted victory in 18 of its last 24 in the first game of a series, 35 of its last 51 when fighting a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500, and seven of its last eight when facing a left-handed starter. On the other side of the field, Arizona has fallen in 104 of its last 150 when matched up against an opponent that owns a team won/loss percentage greater than .500 and seven of its last 10 when battling a foe that allowed five runs or more last.
After sweeping the ChiSox in the Windy City, the Diamondbacks will get a quick reality check here. Take Philadelphia with Suarez. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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