TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 6TH
#916 BOSTON with Bernardino (-130) over Toronto with Bassitt at 1:35 PM EST
Off three consecutive losses and now 4.0-games back in the hunt for an American League Wild Card spot, the BoSox will dig deep and avoid being swept by the visiting Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon. Toronto is playing its six consecutive division game, and this will prove to be a tough spot for manager John Schneider and his crew.
Southpaw reliever turned starter Brennan Bernardino will take the mound for the home team. With 33 appearances in the books this season including five starts, No. 83 was nicked for only 11 earned runs and 31 hits in 36.1 innings of work. Brennan struck out 42 and walked 10 on his way to a 1-1 record with a solid 2.72 ERA. Fenway Park has been kind to the southpaw, too. In his own backyard, Bernardino has surrendered just six earned runs and 19 hits in 19.2 frames. That’s good enough for a 1-1 mark with a strong 2.75 ERA.
Up on the hill for the visitors will be right-hander Chris Bassitt. In his last two outings against the Orioles and Dodgers, No. 40 has struggled a touch allowing six earned runs and 11 hits in 11.0 innings. Chris whiffed 13 and walked six on his way to an 0-1 tally with a 4.91 ERA. Even worse, in day starts, Bassitt has been bombed for 28 earned runs and 48 hits in 32.0 frames. That’s bad enough for a 2-2 record with an elevated 7.88 ERA.
A trio of reliable team trends support this Best Bet. Boston has tasted victory in 16 of its last 21 at home when playing on Sunday and 33 of its last 44 when taking the field off the comforts of two or more home games. On the other side of the field, Toronto has experienced problems against AL East foes this season dropping 23 of its last 33 overall.
The Red Sox need to gain a little ground in the AL Wild Card race, and they need this victory in order to get that done. Take Boston with Bernardino. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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