MLB Pick: Chicago Cubs @ Tampa Bay Rays u8.0 (-115) - Click Here for MLB Betting Odds
Wed June 18 ‘08 7:10p - Courtesy of Mike Rose
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.

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.