posted June 2, 2008 at 13:52 EST in MLB Betting Trends

A pair of clubs headed in opposite directions will square off in Monday night’s late night MLB online betting affair when the (36-21) Chicago Cubs invade Petco Park to take on the struggling (23-35) San Diego Padres. Chicago made MLB bettors very happy throughout its seven-game homestand last week by cashing their backer’s tickets as home sports betting favorites in every contest. They improved their record to a league best 36-21, yet they still hold just a slim 2.5-game lead overt the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot in the NL Central. As good as they’ve been at home (26-8), they’re a losing club on the road (10-13), and that’s something Lou Piniella and his staff will have to face with 17 of their 26 games taking place on the road in June. San Diego’s pitching staff has been hampered with injuries throughout the first two months of the season, and that’s been a problem for Bud Black’s squad that’s never really been known for swinging big sticks. MLB Handicappers have faded this club all season long, and it’s paid off in spades considering SD comes into tonight’s game the fourth worst team in baseball losing its backers a lofty $1524.00. At 12-games under .500, the Padres find themselves in fourth place of the NL West 9.5 games in back of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sports betting fans haven’t done any better backing them at home where they’re 13-15, and down $572.00. The Cubs took three of four from the Padres back in Mid May, but San Diego took five of eight last season, and two of three in the comfy confines of their own stadium.

Carlos Zambrano will toe the rubber for the 13th time this season after tossing a gem his last time out against the LA Dodgers. He didn’t receive the victory for his effort, but he still threw eight innings of one-run ball in the Cubs 2-1 extra innings win. Overall this season, Big “Z” is 7-1 with a 2.33 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He’s been just as good on the road going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA allowing 23 hits and seven earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 20/9 in 28 total innings of work. He’s dominated the Padres throughout his career posting a 5-1 mark with a 2.19 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in eight overall starts.

Cha Seung Baek will make his debut as a starter for the Padres this evening after Shawn Estes broke his left thumb after falling in the SF Giants dugout over the weekend. Baek threw well for the Seattle Mariners last season before an injury put him on the DL for the remainder of the year. He struck out the side in his first relief appearance on Friday, and Bud Black stated he can throw 80+ pitches if it gets to that point in this start. He’s never faced the Cubs in his brief MLB career.

Oddsmakers opened the Cubs lofty –200 road favorites in tonight’s baseball betting affair, but they currently sit at -170 with the ‘total’ set at 7.5 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.

Chicago is 8-3 in Game 1 of a series after winning the day before, while the Padres ring in at 5-8 in the first game of a new series after losing its last time out. Chicago’s also 23-14 against righties this year, while the Padres have struggled against right-handers posting a 19-24 overall mark. That said, the Padres have been playing better ball of late (6-4 L/10), and they’ve dominated the Cubs at Petco Park winning 6 of the L/7 overall meetings. Take a stab with the large home underdogs to steal one from the Cubs who seem to be a much different team on the road.

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