Tiger Woods Slowed By Rain; MLB Underdogs Will Have a Big Thursday

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Tiger Woods tries to live up to his billing as the favorite at the U.S. Open (US Open odds), and the ChiSox try to top the Cubs at Wrigley Field. At press time, rain suspended play at Bethpage.

Keep in mind that betting line for the US Open is taken down once play commences, then is updated for the next days action, though some sportsbooks such as BetUs Sportsbook, rated No. 1 overall by our readers, has some live betting options, so check out the golf TV schedule before making online gambling bets.   

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 3.39 ERA) will get the ball for the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon as the team finishes out its rain-shortened interleague series against the rival White Sox and Gavin Floyd (4-5, 4.94 ERA). Righthander Zambrano has surrendered just two earned runs over his past three starts (21 innings), but managed to pick up just one win and a pair of no-decisions for his efforts. Righthander Floyd has been similarly snakebit in the win column, allowing just seven earned runs over his last four outings but only picking up one victory.

Meanwhile, the BoSox send Jon Lester (5-5, 4.76 ERA) to the mound at Fenway Park on Thursday night to face Ricky Nolasco (2-6, 7.62 ERA) and the Marlins. Lefthander Lester has given up just a single earned run in each of his past three outings, surrendering just seven hits over those 22 innings of work. Righthander Nolasco has bounced back from an ugly May to give up just four earned runs over his last two starts. Nolasco was 0-1 with a no-decision in those two games.

Elsewhere on the Thursday interleague slate: Toronto at Philadelphia, Washington at the Yankees, Pittsburgh at Minnesota, Tampa Bay at Colorado, Seattle at San Diego, the Mets at Baltimore, Houston at Texas, Arizona at Kansas City, Detroit at St. Louis, and Oakland at the Dodgers. As well, the Braves and Reds will meet in Cincinnati to close out that three-game NL series.

The greatest sports betting service of them all, gives your man a splitting headache. Though we go 2-2, all picks were underdogs and that includes sweeping Wise Guys on the Reds and Cardinals.

Get four day and two night winners including a day Wise Guy. Let's just say there will be some Dandy Dog winners today. Dandy dogs are moneyline dogs of 140 or more (includes runline getting back 140 or more). Find out who and why now. Click now to purchase.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

The last golfer to win the U.S. Open? Tiger Woods. The last golfer to win the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black? Tiger Woods? The Vegas favorite to win the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black this week? That'd be Tiger Woods, at 5/2. A hobbled Woods dramatically won the major last year at Torrey Pines in a playoff against Rocco Mediate, and he took the trophy at Bethpage Black back in the '02 season.

Finishing second (by three strokes) in 2002 was Phil Mickelson, who has finished as the runner-up at the U.S. Open four times without ever claiming top spot. Lefty is pegged at 7/1 on the Vegas odds list for this week. Mickelson returned to action at the St. Jude Classic last week, finishing 59th with a score of 1-over par.

Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy, and Jim Furyk are then listed at 15/1 odds to win the 2009 U.S. Open, with Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, and Retief Goosen all at 25/1 odds. Ernie Els and Anthony Kim are farther back at 30/1 odds, with each of Camilo Villegas, Henrik Stenson, Kenny Perry, Rory McIlroy, and Sean O'Hair at 35/1 odds. Mediate is well back on the odds list at just 75/1 for the tournament.

Sports headlines…

Melissa "Missy" Giove, a former biking champion, is facing prison time on drug charges…speaking of prison, disgraced former NY Yankee Mel Hall Jr. has been sentenced for having sex with a 12-year-old women. Hopefully David Letterman won't exploit this for his personal vendetta against Sarah Palin…The USA was annihilated by Brazil in the Confederations Cup 3-0. ..The world champions Phillies placed Raul Ibanez on the 15-day DL…In more prison news, fallen NFL QB Ryan Leaf was arrested at the Canadian border on drug and burglary charges.