MLB Predictions: The Tampa Bay Rays will be looking for an Inter League series sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a win tonight at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays will send a well rested RHP James Shields (4-5, 3.91 ERA) to the mound while the Cubs, hoping to avoid a sweep will counter with RHP Sean Gallagher (3-3, 4.54 ERA). Oddsmakers at online sportsbook SportsBetting.com currently have the Rays listed as 150-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game's total is sitting at 8½. Cubs backers are getting + 140 ML odds.
Shields is coming off a disappointing outing against the Angels in which he pitched well, but the scoreboard did not reflect as much. The right-hander allowed six earned runs, but they came in two innings. Two home runs hurt him, but he managed to pitch his third complete game of the season while picking up his fifth loss of the season. Shields will be making his first start against the Cubs.
Facing the Blue Jays in his last start, Gallagher took the loss. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked two while striking out five and needed 101 pitches to get through the outing. The start was only Gallagher's seventh of the year for the Cubs. As well, it was the second straight where he had recorded a loss.The Rays held off a late charge to edge the Cubs 5-4 as +110 underdogs on Wednesday. The nine runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8). B.J. Upton and Eric Hinske had one RBI and scored once for the Rays. Andy Sonnanstine allowed three runs off seven hits over five innings for the win. Ryan Theriot drove in two runs for the Cubs, and Geovany Soto homered in the loss. Carlos Zambrano surrendered five runs off seven hits over 6 2-3 innings. Oddsmakers had the Cubs as -120 favorites in that game.
Point-Spreads.com MLB Predictions: Rays -150 ML
