posted June 18, 2008 at 16:36 in MLB Betting Trends

Tampa Bay continued its impressive season by disposing the team with the best record in all of baseball by a 3-2 final count in last night’s Interleague online gambling affair. The Cubs put forth a valiant effort in trying to comeback in the ninth inning, but just came up short. Reed Johnson’s suicide attempt was blown up by a fantastic effort from Rays 3B Evan Longoria who pulled off the barehanded scoop and toss to just get him for the final out of the game. The victory improved the Rays to 41-29 on the year, which is just one shy of the most wins Tampa Bay has ever earned before the All-Star break. MLB betting faithful have cashed in big time by backing the Rays at home who now stand a moneymaking 27-11 (+$1450.00) in the comfy confines of Tropicana Field. As for the Cubs, the loss prohibited them from evening up their mark on the road, and they now stand 16-18 overall costing MLB online gamblers a couple hundred bucks. Former Rays skipper Lou Piniella took the loss in stride, and actually seemed a bit torn after the defeat. "I'm happy where I'm at right now. It's worked out well for everybody," Piniella said, adding that it's great to see his old team doing well and contending in the AL East. "We had a nucleus of good young kids here. There were areas, obviously, that the organization needed to get better at. And, they have, to their credit," he said. With the Cardinals shocking loss at home to the Kansas City Royals last night, the Cubs still remain 3.5 games atop the NL Central Division.

Now the Cubs will send their ace to the hill after they came up a bit short in getting the best of Scott Kazmir last night. Carlos Zambrano has churned out a solid campaign thus far. He’s 8-2 on the year with a 2.98 ERA and 1.30 WHIP allowing 98 hits and 34 runs (33 earned) with a K/BB ratio of 66/32 in a shade under 100 total innings of work. Chicago’s won 10 of his 15 overall starts. Away from Wrigley, “Big Z” is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in close to 40 total innings of work. Chicago’s won four of his last five road starts, and this will be his first ever start against the Tampa Bay franchise.

Opposing the emotional righty will be right-hander Andy Sonnanstine who comes into this start a solid 7-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He picked up his seventh win of the season Friday night against Florida after allowing three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. The right-hander is a master of deception, employing an array of pitches that he can throw from different arm angles. He’s only figured into the decision at home in five of his eight overall starts (3-2), but the Rays sport a winning mark at 5-3 whenever he’s toed the bump at Tropicana Field this year. Tampa’s also a moneymaking 8-2 in his L/10 overall starts as well.

Oddsmakers opened the Cubs short –120 road favorites in tonight’s baseball betting affair, with the ‘total’ set at 8 under -115. BetUS.com offers all MLB betting odds be it side, total, or run-line, so be sure to login to your account and get your wagers down before tonight’s first pitch.

Game 2 of this series is set up to be another game dominated by each clubs pitching staffs’. The Cubs have played to the under in 12 of its 17 games against +.500 teams this season, and its cashed 6 of the 7 times the Rays were installed home underdogs in the +100 to +125 range. Look for the arms to dominate once again in the second battle between potential playoff representatives.

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