TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9TH
#927 BOSTON RUN-LINE with Pivetta (-1′ -115) over Kansas City with Lyles at 7:10 PM EST
After getting drilled 9-3 at home by the Royals last night, the BoSox will respond with a beating of their own. Boston is only 5.0-games back in the AL Wild Card race and manager Alex Cora knows his squad can’t afford losses to one of the worst teams in baseball right now.
Veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta will get the call for the home team. With 27 appearances in the books this year including nine official starts, No. 37 has been touched for 43 earned runs and 72 hits in 92.1 innings of work. Nick fanned 112 and issued 36 free passes on his way to a 7-6 mark with a 4.19 ERA. Equally impressive, under the lights, Pivetta has been solid surrendering just 31 earned runs and 54 hits in 71.1 frames. That shakes down to a 6-6 record with a reliable 3.91 ERA.
Struggling righty Jordan Lyles will counter for the visitors. Tossing against the Phillies, Twins, and Yankees in his last three starts, No. 24 was bombed for 13 earned runs and 21 hits in 15.2 innings. Jordan whiffed nine and walked three on his way to a 2-1 tally with a woeful 7.47 ERA. To make matters worse, Lyles has been awful on the road this season surrendering 49 earned runs and 70 hits in 58.1 frames. That’s bad enough for a 2-6 record with a miserable 7.56 ERA.
Plenty of technical reasons to fade the visitors in this spot. Kansas City has fallen in 47 of its last 67 under the moonlight, 16 of its last 22 against AL East competition, 58 of its last 85 against right-handed starters, and 42 of its last 58 as a guest. On the other side of the stadium, Boston has been victorious in 20 of its last 26 checking in off the comforts of four or more home games.
If the BoSox are serious about playoff baseball this season, then they need to dominate bad teams the rest of the way out. Take Boston with Pivetta. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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