TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH
#968 TAMPA BAY with Patino (-112) over Boston with Wacha at 4:10 PM EST
Off yesterday’s frustrating 2-1 home loss to the Bronx Bombers, the Rays will storm back with a solid effort when the BoSox visit on Labor Day. Tampa Bay rests 5.0-games back in the AL East and manager Kevin Cash’s crew understands the importance of winning at home especially at this stage of the season.
Up on the bump for the home team will be young right-hander Luis Patino. With only four starts in the bank this season, No. 1 has been touched for six earned runs and 16 hits in 13.2 innings of work. Patino struck out seven and walked six on his way to a 1-1 record with a 3.95 ERA. Luis’ numbers were solid for the Rays last season. In 2021 with 19 appearances and 15 starts, Patino surrendered 37 earned runs and 69 hits in 77.1 frames. That’s good enough for a 5-3 mark with a 4.31 ERA.
Veteran righty Michael Wacha will toe the rubber for the visitors. So far this year, No. 52 has made 17 starts for the BoSox and been touched for only 27 earned runs and 71 hits in 95.0 innings. Wacha whiffed 76 and walked 26 on his way to a 10-1 tally with a 2.56 ERA. Thankfully, the Rays have been a problem for Michael. In five career appearances against Tampa, Wacha has been waxed for 19 earned runs and 27 hits in 25.1 frames. That’s bad enough for a 2-3 record with an elevated 6.75 ERA.
There are a number of elite team trends that support this investment. Tampa Bay has won 40 of its last 53 at home facing a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage less than .500, 90 of its last 132 when playing in the comforts of home, and five of its last six when playing in the first game of a series. On the other side of the field, Boston has dropped six straight on this field and 10 of its last 12 facing a foe that allowed two runs or less last.
Staring at a three-game series at New York against the Yankees and a five-game set at Toronto versus the Blue Jays, the Rays need to make the most of this three-game homestand against the Red Sox. Take Tampa Bay with Patino. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 23-8 ATS NCAA ELITE CONFERENCE WAGER
Stryker swept the board last night cashing with Florida State and the Astros and he’s back with one more Best Bet that will deliver the cash. Three different power angles support this investment, and these situations hold profitable marks of 23-8 ATS, 10-4 ATS, and 9-2 ATS. Grab Tom’s NCAA Elite Conference Wager for $30.