TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 11TH
#927 ST. LOUIS with Matz (-154) over Kansas City with Ragans at 7:10 PM EST
After getting rocked 12-8 by the Royals last night, the Cardinals will respond with a beating of their own. St. Louis is resting 9.5-games back in its hunt for an NL Wild Card spot and the Redbirds can’t afford losses to a Royals bunch that is the second-worst team in the American League.
Grabbing the pill for the visitors will be left-hander Steven Matz. On the bump against the Rockies, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Chicago (again), No. 32 has been on fire allowing just two earned runs and 17 hits in 23.0 innings of work. Steven whiffed 20 and walked four on his way to a 3-0 tally with a reliable 0.78 ERA. Equally impressive, in a pair of outings against Kaycee on May 2nd, 2022 and April 17th, 2021, Steve was scratched for just one earned run and six hits in 12.0 frames. That shakes down to a 2-0 mark with an incredible 0.75 ERA.
Southpaw Cole Ragans will counter for the home squad. In his last three performances against the Red Sox, Mets, and Devil Rays, No. 55 was touched for two earned runs and 15 hits in 17.2 innings. Cole struck out 22 and walked four on his way to a 1-0 record with a 1.02 ERA. Luckily, Ragans has been at his worst under the lights surrendering 17 earned runs and 30 hits in 32.0 frames in 12 appearances (three starts). After the math, that adds up to a 2-2 tally with a 4.78 ERA.
Technically speaking, this is a solid spot to fade the home team. Kansas City has fallen in 80 of its last 118 games overall, 36 of its last 58 at home, 41 of its last 70 when playing at night, and 24 of its last 39 against NL foes.
Motivated by last night’s ugly loss to the Royals, the Cardinals will find just enough offense in this pitcher’s duel to cash this ticket. Take St. Louis with Matz. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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