If anyone does the actual work rather than throwing darts, they'll know that Hunter Gaddis is more than a stop-gap pitcher. He's had a couple of AAA starts and struck out more batters than innings pitched and didn't allow a HR. That's not all we have. He's been like that at every level. He's struck our 294 batters in 21 innings. He can give up the occasional long ball, but who can't, an he is capable with that strikeout option to get out of trouble. Cleveland's bullpen has been very, very good, lately. That loss last night was SOMEWHAT predictable in that it was a first game back from an 11 game road trip and honestly if I'd have caught that yesterday (sorry I am human) I'd have faded them, but that makes this bet all the more likely to cash. Cleveland is also 19-12 (61%) against LHP's as well. I know that Valdez is solid, but he isn't invincible. He HAS given up two or more runs in 9 of his last ten starts, and in two since the AS break he's given up three. I know both teams have motivation, which is a bigger deal right now, but Cleveland is in the thick of a three-horse race in the AL Central, and when not many gave them a chance in April, they're on borrowed or "no stress" time. Houston has the AL West all but clinched with a 12 game lead over Seattle, so they can afford to relax just a bit, and we are not asking Cleveland to win - just hang in there, and take the free run, basically. 

08/05/2022 7:36 AM