Up to MLB Betting Trends

posted May 16, 2008 at 16:10 in MLB Betting Trends

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Florida -145, Kansas City +125; Total 9

The Kansas City Royals (19-21), fresh from a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, make the trek to south Florida on Friday night for a healthy dose of sports betting action, as they tackle the National League East leading Florida Marlins (23-17) in an interleague online betting contest that is set to get underway at 7:10 PM ET at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Right-hander Brett Tomko (1-4, 5.74 ERA) takes the mound for Kansas City, while Florida will go with southpaw Andrew Miller (3-2, 6.52 ERA).

At BetUS Sportsbook, Florida is listed as a -145 favorite (Kansas City is +125), with a total of nine runs (the Under is -125, while the Over is +105).

Here are some of the MLB Baseball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* KC has won its last four games

* KC has played nine of its last 13 games UNDER the total

* KC has lost six of its last nine road games

* KC has played four of its last six road games UNDER the total

* FLA has lost its last three games

* FLA has won seven of its last ten games

* FLA has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* FLA has won five of its last six home games

The Marlins find themselves a game and a half ahead of the Phillies in the NL East, and lead the Mets by two games. They have been a favorite only six times this season, and have won on five of those occasions. But they were beaten three straight in Cincinnati, and while panic hasn't set in, there is great concern about the pitching staff, which allowed 20 Cincinnati runs in those three games.

They could find a remedy from a rather unexpected source. Andrew Miller had problems getting anyone out for most of his first six starts this season, but he has come on strong in his last two, limiting the Padres to two runs in six innings on May 4, and pitching brilliant two-hit ball over seven innings against the Washington Nationals last Sunday. Florida scored 21 runs for him in those games, although such an explosion was hardly needed. No one has ever doubted Miller's stuff; that's why he was someone the Marlins wanted in the deal that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit. The big question was when he was going to harness that stuff. Maybe he is starting to turn the corner. Miller was scheduled to start in Cincinnati last night, but the game was postponed due to rain.

The Royals have won four straight games, holding the opposition to six runs over that period. But all good things come to end, and Brett Tomko has not been showing particularly good form. In his last five starts, Tomko had one sizzling outing, allowing just two hits to the Angels, but in the others he surrendered either five or six runs and as knocked out of the box early in two of them.

We're going to be looking for Florida to bounce back here in the favorite's role. Take the Marlins, the -145 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: FLORIDA (-145)

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com touches all the bases as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)