TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 8TH
#923 TEXAS RUN-LINE with Scherzer (-1′ -142) over Oakland with Sears at 9:40 PM EST
On a roll off seven straight wins, the Rangers will make it eight in a row when they battle the A’s on Tuesday evening. Texas currently owns a 3.0-game lead over Houston in the AL West and falling to an Oakland squad that is 49.0-games under the .500 mark can’t happen right now.
Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer will make his second start for The Lone Stars. Back on August 3rd, No. 31 faced the White Sox and surrendered just three earned runs and seven hits in 6.0 innings. Max whiffed nine, walked two, and picked up the dub in the Rangers 5-3 victory. Overall, in his 16-year career, Scherzer has been nails allowing 978 earned runs and 2,285 hits in 2,795.2 frames. That’s good enough for a 211-106 record with a blistering 3.15 ERA.
Southpaw JP Sears will hit the hump for the home team. Since June 16th, No. 38 has made nine starts and been pounded for 23 earned runs and 42 hits in 52.1 innings of work. JP fanned 46 and issued 12 free passes on his way to a woeful 1-5 record with a 3.96 ERA. Additionally, at home, Sears has made nine starts and been cracked for 25 earned runs and 46 hits in 51.0 frames. That shakes down to an ugly 0-3 mark with a 4.41 ERA.
There are plenty of powerful trends working against the Athletics here. Oakland has slipped in 81 of its last 113 this season, 19 of its last 26 against division foes, 58 of its last 80 against right-handed starters, 40 of its last 57 at home, and 63 of its last 82 against winning teams.
The Rangers need to create some space in the division standings and knocking off the A’s will help them accomplish that mission. Take Texas on the run-line with Scherzer. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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