TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH
#951 CHICAGO with Imanaga (-108) over San Francisco with Hicks at 3:45 PM EST
Stuck in the cellar in the NL Central and entering off four consecutive losses, the Cubs will avoid the sweep when they face the Giants on Thursday afternoon. Chicago has a massive division series on deck at Milwaukee and manager Craig Counsell knows his troops need to go into that matchup with a little bit of steam.
Up on the bump for the visitors will be southpaw Shota Imanaga. With 14 starts completed this season, No. 18 has been tapped for 26 earned runs and 75 hits in 79.0 innings of work. Shota fanned 81 and issued 12 free passes on his way to a blistering 7-2 record with a respectable 2.96 ERA. Equally impressive, as a guest, Imanaga has been in a zone surrendering only 10 earned runs and 33 hits in 34.2 frames. After the math, that adds up to a 4-1 mark with an elite 2.60 ERA.
Right-hander Jordan Hicks will counter for the hosts. So far this year, No. 12 has made 16 trips to the mound and been slapped for 29 earned runs and 72 hits in 80.2 innings. Jordan whiffed 69 and walked 31 on his way to a 4-4 tally with a 3.24 ERA. Even worse, in four June outings versus the Cardinals, Cubs, Astros, and Diamondbacks, Hicks was hammered for 10 earned runs and 21 hits in 17.2 frames. That’s bad enough for an 0-2 record with a soft 5.19 ERA.
There are a couple of team trends that support this Best Bet. San Francisco has fallen in 15 of its last 24 when matched up against a left-handed starter. Meanwhile, Chicago owns a winning record against teams from the NL West cashing 11 of its last 21.
The Cubs have their best arm picking up the pill and that will prove to be the difference in this game. Take Chicago with Imanaga. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 23-6 MLB DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH
Checking in off a pair of run line victories on Kansas City and Baltimore, Stryker looks to improve his 31-14-1 mark in June (59-35 overall record in MLB) with one strong diamond wager that will bring home the bacon. Major motivation, solid pitching, and one lucrative 23-6 trend all support this Best Bet. Grab Tom’s MLB Division Game of the Month for $30.