When the Tampa Bay Rays entered the regular MLB season back in April, they were given odds of +6500. That translates into a whopping $6500 for every $100 bet early on and $65,000 for every $1000 bet early on.
Today, those odds have obviously dwindled as the Tampa Bay Rays make an improbable first entrance into the World Series. betED.com has the Tampa Bay Rays favored to win the 2008 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies as the two teams prepare for Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Wednesday night.
The Rays are a -150 favorite at betED.com to win the best-of-seven series, while the Phillies are +130 underdogs. The payout for the Rays is nearly even.
betED.com MLB Betting Odds have Game 1 as a pick'em at -110 money line odds for both clubs. The Phillies are runline favorites (-1.5, +150) and the total is 7.5 for the opener (Wednesday, 8 pm ET, FOX).
NL East champion Philadelphia beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 in their NLDS, and wrapped up the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 4-1 margin last week to win the NL Pennant.
Tampa Bay, the AL East champion, beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 in their ALDS, then defeated the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox 4-3 in the ALCS with a 3-1 win Sunday night.
Tampa Bay will be attempting to prolong one of the most impressive turnarounds in MLB history after finishing dead-last in the majors last season, when the Rays had a league-worst 96 losses. Tampa Bay went 97-65 this season to capture the franchise's first playoff berth.
Righthander Matt Garza, who was named ALCS MVP, allowed just two hits and one run Sunday. He went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA this season and had a 1.38 ERA in two starts in the ALCS.
Tampa Bay is expected to start lefty Scott Kazmir in Game 1 of the World Series, followed by righthander James Shields, followed by Garza and Andy Sonnanstine in Games 3 and 4, respectively.
Philadelphia will be making its first World Series appearance since 1993 and will be trying to claim just its second MLB title in 125 years.
The Phillies captured their second consecutive NL East crown this season with a 92-70 mark.
Philadelphia lefthander Cole Hamels, who started the NLCS-winning Game 5, has won all three playoff starts with a 1.23 ERA.
....Did you know?
*That Tampa Bay is 7-2 against Philadelphia dating back to the 2000 season.
*The Phillies are 12-3 in their last 15 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
*The Phillies are 8-23 in their last 31 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
*Philadelphia is 1-4 in Hamels' last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
*The Rays are 12-3 in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
*The Rays are 5-1 in Kazmirs last 6 interleague starts.
*Tampa Bay is 21-8 in Kazmirs last 29 starts.
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