Hey, look who’s back in the majors! It’s John Smoltz, who has missed over a year after undergoing shoulder surgery. He’s not doing the Tomahawk Chop in Atlanta anymore though but rather, he’s taking the mound for the Boston Red Sox.

Smoltz’s first start for the BoSox comes tonight when his new team heads to the nation’s capital to play the Nationals—Sportsbook.com has Boston listed as a -135 road favorite and the Total is set at 9.

In the last 11 games between Washington and Boston, the Red Sox have the big edge, going 10-1 SU. Of note for sports bettors is that the last 10 times Smoltz has pitched in Washington the result has been 8 overs and 2 unders, with a current mark of 6 overs and only 1 under in the last seven. Smoltz is a righty and in Washington’s last 20 games against right-handers, they are 7-13 SU, with 5 overs and 15 unders.

Smoltz will also be rooting for his old team as the Atlanta Braves are hosting the rivals of his new team, the New York Yankees.

The Yanks and Braves will be playing the rubber match of their current series with today’s meeting.  Most Online Sportsbooks have Atlanta listed as a -112 favorite.

The Braves have struggled at home against the Yanks going 2-5 SU in their last seven. New York will send Andy Pettitte to the mound and he has had much success against Atlanta with his teams going 8-1 SU in his last nine starts, while the Over/Under has gone 6-2-1 during the same stretch.

In Pettitte’s last five games in Atlanta his teams are 4-1 SU. The Braves will counter with Derek Lowe and in his last 17 starts against the Yanks, he’s 9-8 SU. In his last eight home starts against the Bronx Bombers, Derek Lowe’s teams have gone 5-3 SU.

The Cleveland Indians will also be finishing off a series tonight as they play the final game of their current set against the Pittsburgh Pirates—the Tribe is favored at -150 while the Pirates are listed at +130.

Cleveland is a very unprofitable 3-8 SU in its last 11 road games against Pittsburgh and will rely on Cliff Lee on the mound tonight. In his last 20 road starts, Cliff Lee’s teams have been a slightly profitable 11-9 SU. It will be Ross Ohlendorf’s turn in the Pittsburgh rotation and in his last six home starts, the Pirates are 5-1 SU and in his last nine home starts, the Over/Under has gone 3-6.

The MLB baseball season is picking up steam heading towards the half way mark of the 2009 MLB wagering season. Today, Thursday, June 18th wagering on the MLB Interleague is in full swing, with the exception of the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds game. The MLB Interleague wagering odds are available at Sportsbook.com. 

One of the things interleague baseball allows for is cross-town rivalries and that is exactly what’s happening in the Windy City as the north side Chicago Cubs host the south side Chicago White Sox with the Cubbies listed as -165 favorites and the ChiSox at +145.

In the last 20 meetings overall between the two, the Cubs hold a slight edge going 11-9 straight up. The numbers are similar at Wrigley Field as the Cubs are 11-9 SU. The Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano will take the mound in front of the Wrigley faithful and in his last 20 home starts, the Cubbies are 13-7 SU against the guys from the south side. Zambrano is a right-hander, and in the ChiSox’s last 20 games against righties they have produced a mark of 5 overs, 14 unders and 1 push.

It is Gavin Floyd’s turn in the White Sox’s rotation and he has struggled in his last eight road games going 2-6 SU. Like Zambrano, Floyd throws with his right hand and in the Cubs’ last 20 games against RHPs, they are 9-11 SU. The bettors at Sportsbook.com are leaning to the Cubbies in this one, with 65% of the early action coming in on Zambrano and crew.

Oakland vs. LA Wagering

Meanwhile, the state of California will see one of its NL teams host one of its AL teams. The Oakland Athletics are in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers with the home team favored at -145 and the road team an underdog at +125.

In the last 14 meetings between the two, the A’s have an overwhelming edge going 11-3 straight up and in the last five road games; Oakland is 3-2 SU. Oakland will send youngster Vin Mazzaro to the mound and he has looked promising through three games in the big leagues, as he has gone 2-1 and all three of his starts have produced Unders. The Dodgers will start a veteran with much more seasoning in Randy Wolf and in his last 20 starts, the Dodgers are 14-6 SU and 7 overs, 12 unders and 1 push. Sportsbook.com is seeing 70% of the action coming in on the Oakland side.

Red Sox vs. Marlins Wagering

The Boston Red Sox will play a team that doesn’t visit Fenway Park that often, the Florida Marlins. Going into tonight’s game, the BoSox are listed as -230 faves while the Marlins are +185 underdogs.

The Red Sox have owned the Marlins at home, going 8-3 SU and the Total has gone 4-1-1 in the last six tilts between the two in Beantown. Ricky Nolasco will go for Florida and his last 20 road starts have produced a 13-7 record both SU and on the Over/Under, including six Overs in a row. Jon Lester has been extremely profitable at Fenway Park, as Boston is 17-3 SU in his last 20 starts.

Visit Sportsbook.com for their US Open Wagering contest, plus great sign-up bonuses!