TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASEBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH
#960 ARIZONA with Gallen (+105) over LA Dodgers with Kershaw at 9:40 PM EST
Off yesterday’s 3-2 home loss to the Mets and currently resting 4.0-games back in the NL West behind the first-place Dodgers, the Diamondbacks will approach this game with a sense of urgency. This is Arizona’s final series against Los Angeles this season and, if the D’Backs want to gain serious ground in the division standings, manager Torey Lovullo and his boys need to take care of business here.
Toeing the rubber for the home team will be right-hander Zac Gallen. So far this season, No. 23 has made 22 starts and been touched for only 47 earned runs and 110 hits in 116.0 innings of work. Zach whiffed 111 and walked 41 on his way to a 10-6 tally with an outstanding 3.65 ERA. Facing the Red Sox, Devil Rays, and Phillies in his last three outings, Gallen was nipped for only five earned runs and 16 hits in 15.1 frames. That’s good enough for a 1-1 record with a 2.94 ERA.
Aging southpaw Clayton Kershaw will pick up the pill for the visitors. With six starts completed this year, No. 22 has allowed 12 earned runs and 33 hits in 29.0 innings. Clayton struck out 24 and walked eight on his way to a 2-2 mark with a 3.72 ERA. Under the lights, Kershaw has been at his statistical worst this season giving up 10 earned runs and 23 hits in 19.0 frames. That’s bad enough for a 1-2 tally with a 4.74 ERA.
A trio of quality team trends support this Best Bet. Arizona has come out on top in 170 of its last 313 overall, 141 of its last 259 when competing without rest, and 54 of its last 91 when matched up against a division foe.
If the Diamondbacks truly want to win the division, then they’ll need to dominate the Dodgers at home in this critical series. Take Arizona with Gallen. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 18-2 ATS NCAA NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK
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