Posted on 5/12/2008 5:39:34 PM

MLB Baseball Betting Action - Houston at San Francisco

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Houston -145, San Francisco +125; Total 8 (Under -120, Over - Even)

The Houston Astros (21-17) are winners of three consecutive sports betting games and find themselves closing in on the lead in the National League Central. On Monday night they will go after their fourth straight victory when they visit the Bay Area where they play the San Francisco Giants (16-22) in an NL online betting contest that will begin at 10:15 PM ET at AT&T Park (natural turf) in San Francisco.

Right-hander Roy Oswalt (3-3, 5.33 ERA) gets the start for the Astros, while Barry Zito (0-7, 6.95 ERA) continues to look for his first win of the season for the Giants.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Houston is listed as a -145 favorite (San Francisco is +125), with a total of eight runs (the Under is -120, with the Over at even money).

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

* HOU has won eight of its last nine games

* HOU has won four of its last five road games

* HOU has played eight of its last ten road games UNDER the total

* SF has lost five of its last seven games

* SF has played five of its last seven games OVER the total

* SF has won four of its last six home games

* SF has played four of its last six home games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* SF has won four of the last five meetings

* Four of the last five meetings have gone UNDER the total

* SF has won five of the last six meetings as the home team

Houston has started to make its move, and in the NL Central, where things are wide open, the Astros are positioning themselves nicely. Lance Berkman (12 HR, 36 RBI, .382) is a prime MVP candidate, and Michael Bourn, despite a .198 batting average, has stolen 17 bases without being caught. He keys a Houston running game that has swiped 40 bases, tied for the top spot in the majors. The Astros have held the opposition to 11 steals, which is also best in the big leagues.

Roy Oswalt has been one of the better pitchers in baseball virtually from the time he first toed the rubber. In five of his first six major league seasons, he finished in the top five in the Cy Young balloting. This season he got off to a slow start, giving up 30 hits in his first 16 innings, but has turned thing around since then. Houston has won four of his last five starts, and Oswalt has compiled a 3.55 ERA over that time. if nothing else, he's been consistent, surrendering three runs in each of his last four outings.

San Francisco is the team tied with Houston for the major leagues' stolen base lead, but the Giants have not been that into a lot of runs. In fact, they are averaging just 3.5 per contest. It is only the poor play of Colorado and San Diego that has kept the team out of the NL West cellar.

Barry Zito, the former Cy Young winner, has gone just 66-66 since winning the award in 2002. He lost his first six decisions before being banished to the bullpen. But injuries in the Giants' rotation brought him back, and on May 7 he made his return against Pittsburgh, going five innings and allowing two earned runs. Zito has been a victim of non-support, as the Giants have scored just NINE total runs in his seven starts, but he's also yielded a .329 batting average to the opposition.

The Astros are going in a much better direction right now; they have more offense, and Zito has to do more to convince us he's in any kind of form. The price is right, and so we'll lay the -145 price with Houston in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: HOUSTON (-145)

Go to the BetUS sportsbook today and take a swing at Major League Baseball online betting. We have the most current baseball odds and lines, as well as player, game and series props throughout the MLB baseball season. To help you bet on sports, check out the Free Picks section of the Locker Room for sports betting free picks and predictions. Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!

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