TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND
#927 HOUSTON with McCullers (-148) over LA Angels with Detmers at 9:38 PM EST
Off three consecutive wins and a day of rest, the Astros will have no trouble beating up on the Angels under the Friday night lights. Los Angeles enters this contest off a huge home upset win over New York (Yankees) and the Halos are in prime position to fall.
Hitting the hill for the visitors will be right-hander Lance McCullers. After missing the first four months of the season with a forearm issue, No. 43 has made three starts in August and allowed only three earned runs and 13 hits in 16.0 innings of work. McCullers struck out 13 and walked 10 on his way to a 1-1 record with a 1.69 ERA. Lance has pitched well in this series too. In five starts against LA last year, McCullers was touched for only nine earned runs and 17 hits in 31.2 frames. That’s good enough for a 2-2 mark with a strong 2.56 ERA.
Southpaw Reid Detmers will toe the rubber for the home team. With 20 starts in the books this season, No. 48 has surrendered 40 earned runs and 81 hits in 103.2 innings. Detmers whiffed 99 and walked 39 on his way to a 5-4 tally with a 3.47 ERA. Reid has faced the ‘Stros twice this season and been hit pretty hard. In a combined 10.0 frames, Detmers was drilled for four earned runs and eight hits (two of which left the park). After the math, that equates to a 3.60 ERA.
Several strong team trends support this Best Bet. Houston has cashed 71 of its last 98 coming off a day of rest, 36 of its last 51 when battling a left-handed starter, 121 of its last 176 in the first game of a series, and 37 of its last 52 versus AL West opposition. On the other side of the field, Los Angeles has slipped in 39 of its last 58 at home versus the ‘Stros, 19 of its last 27 in the first game of a series, and 16 of its last 21 play checking in off a day of rest.
The Halos have dropped 48 of its last 75 against winning teams and they’ll struggle after knocking off the mighty Yankees in their last contest. Take Houston with McCullers. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 17-7 ATS NCAA ELITE INFO BEST BET
Stryker went 1-1 in college football last night on posted plays (WON with Missouri but slipped late with Purdue) and he’s back with one more solid investment that will grab the cash. The X’s and O’s line up perfectly in this contest and one highly profitable 17-7 ATS trend is there for added support. Grab Tom’s NCAA Elite Info Best Bet for $30.