posted June 27, 2008 at 13:27 in MLB Articles

The New York Mets and Yankees partake in the heavily publicized “Subway Series” this weekend, but in the Windy City and MLB bettors’ eyes will be locked in on US Cellular Field when Lou Piniella’s Chicago Cubs invade the Southside to take on Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox in an online sports betting extravaganza throughout the entire weekend. Like last week, bragging rights will be up in the air as both clubs enter this series atop their respective divisions. The Cubs currently hold a 4.5-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot in the NL Central Division, while the White Sox hold a half-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. The Cubs have been the best wager in all of baseball at home this season winning 33 of 43 overall, and in the process haul in an absurd $1779.00 for the betting public. That said, they’ve struggled on the road to the tune of a 16-20 mark costing its betting backers close to $500.00 on the year. The Southsiders track record at home is the main reason they’ve held on to the top spot in their division thus far. They’ve won 24 of their 35 overall home games making astute baseball prognosticators close to a cool grand on the year. Their most recent homestand saw them pummel the Pittsburgh Pirates into a bloody pulp outscoring them 37-15 in the three-game sweep. In their L/22 games at “The Cell”, the Palehose have secured victories in 17 of them. Cub fans will feel confident heading into this series knowing their club has won eight of the L/9 meetings overall, which includes a three-game sweep at US Cellular last season. Already down 3-0 this season, the White Sox better bring their “A” game with them to avoid losing the season series for the second year in a row.

Ryan Dempster’s hard work this past off-season continues to pay off for the Cubbies as they’ve now won 12 of his 16 starts on the year. His last time out saw him throw eight innings of one-run ball to allow the Cubs to complete the sweep of the White Sox in last Sunday night’s ESPN telecast. He’s been dominant at home posting a perfect 9-0 mark and miniscule 2.71 ERA, but he’s been a tough luck loser on the road where he’s yet to earn a victory on the year (0-2). His offense and defense played large roles in both of those losses. His only career start against the Palehose came last week where he gave up 10 hits, but only allowed one earned run while striking out four and walking one.

Looking to churn out a quality start for a change will be the Palehose Jose Contreras who comes into his 16th start of the season with a 6-6 record. He sports an overall ERA of 3.96 and 1.23 WHIP allowing 94 hits and 45 runs (43 earned) with a K/BB ratio of 56/26 in 97+ total innings of work. After getting off to a fantastic start, Contreras has faded of late losing in all of his last three starts. The Cubs simply torched him in the fourth inning of his last start where he allowed three home runs and four singles to allow a 4-1 White Sox lead turn into a 9-4 deficit in the blink of an eye. His ERA has jumped a full point since the beginning of June. He’s lost four straight starts against the Chicago Cubs and is 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA lifetime against the Northsiders, but owns an 8-6 overall mark in 19 career Interleague starts.

Oddsmakers opened the White Sox short –110 home favorites in today’s baseball betting affair, with the ‘total’ set at 8.5 over -120. 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 this afternoon’s first pitch.

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