Posted on 5/13/2008 3:26:05 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - Florida at Cincinnati

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Cincinnati -160, Florida +140; Total 8.5 (Over -120, Under - Even)

The Florida Marlins (23-15), who had their winning streak snapped in Monday night sports betting action, will try to start a new string of victories on Tuesday night when they take on the Cincinnati Reds (16-23) in an NL online betting game that is set to get underway at 7:10 PM ET at the Great American Ball Park (natural turf) in Cincinnati.

Left-hander Mark Hendrickson (5-1, 3.56 ERA) takes the hill for Florida. While Cincinnati counters with right-hander Edinson Volquez (5-1, 1.06 ERA).

At BetUS Sportsbook, Cincinnati is listed as a -160 favorite (Florida is +140), with a total of 8.5 runs (the Over is -120, while the Under is Even).

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

* FLA has won seven of its last eight games

* FLA has won four of its last five road games

* CIN has lost eight of its last 12 games

* CIN has lost seven of its last 12 home games

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* CIN has won four of the last five meetings

* Seven of the last eight meetings have gone OVER the total

* CIN has won six of the last seven meetings as the home team

* Five of the last six meetings in Cincinnati have gone OVER the total

Cincinnati broke Florida's seven-game winning streak last night, though it was not quite the way we envisioned. It didn't come from a sterling pitching performance from Aaron Harang, but instead through offense, as the Reds simply outscored Florida, 8-7. Jeremy Hermida, Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez did manage to launch dingers for the Marlins, but Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips hit round-trippers for the Reds.

Florida has averaged seven runs a game over their last eight contests, while Cincinnati has scored 33 runs in their last five.

Mark Hendrickson has been a very reliable #1 starter for the Marlins this season. His initial outing against the Mets was rocky, but Hendrickson has come back in his last seven starts to register a 2.72 ERA. His stuff is not overpowering, but he has shown pretty good control, walking only five batters in his last 25-1/3 innings.

Edinson Volquez has created something of a sensation, to say the least. Volquez, who came to the Reds as part of the deal that sent slugger Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers, has made seven starts on the year and has not given up more than one earned run in any of them. he is the first pitcher for Cincinnati to do that in the last 96 years. Volquez has gone five innings or more in each of his starts, and has been going longer lately. last time out he shut down the Cubs on seven scoreless innings. Volquez has allowed just 28 hits in 42 innings but has occasionally had control problems; in the last start against Chicago he walked six hitters.

Since the Reds are not struggling so badly on offense they should be able to give the red-hot Volquez enough support. We'll ride the hot pitcher here and go with Cincinnati, the -160 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: CINCINNATI (-160)

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