TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 30TH
#968 MINNESOTA with Archer (-136) over Boston with Crawford at 7:40 PM EST
With plenty of steam off three consecutive wins, the Twins will stay hot and grab another dub over the BoSox. Minnesota’s deficit in the AL Central standings rests at just 1.5-games behind Cleveland and manager Rocco Baldelli’s boys understand the importance of this victory.
Hungry right-hander Chris Archer will grab the pearl for the home team. With 22 starts in the bank this year, No. 17 has allowed 44 earned runs and 76 hits in 91.1 innings. Archer fanned 78 and issued 43 free passes on his way to a frustrating 2-7 mark with a 4.34 ERA. Thankfully, Chris has been at his best with the candles burning. At night, Archer has surrendered only 19 earned runs and 41 hits in 50.2 frames. That shakes down to a 2-2 tally with a respectable 3.38 ERA.
Struggling young righty Kutter Crawford will counter for the BoSox. In 2022, No. 50 has made 20 appearances (11 starts) and been slapped for 43 earned runs and 77 hits in 73.0 innings of work. Crawford struck out 72 and walked 25 on his way to a 3-5 mark with a soft 5.30 ERA. Kutter’s last four outings have been horrible. Facing the Blue Jays, O’s, Yankees, and Royals, Crawford was crushed for 20 earned runs and 28 hits in 19.1 innings. That’s bad enough for an 0-2 record with a rough 9.31 ERA.
This is a challenging wagering spot for the visitors too. Boston has fallen in 12 of its last 17 in the second game of a series, nine of its last 11 when facing a foe that allowed two runs or less last, and 11 of its last 12 after scoring only two runs or less. On the other side of Target Field, Minnesota has quietly won six of its last seven when coming off a win.
The Twins are in a dogfight in the division with the Guardians right now and home wins are critical at this stage of the AL Central race. Take Minnesota with Archer. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 41-20 MLB GRAND SLAM DIAMOND WAGER
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