Posted on 4/23/2008 4:07:20 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - N.Y. Mets at Washington

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB betting odds: NY Mets -240, Washington +200, Total 7.5 (Over -120, Under - Even)

The New York Mets (10-9) come into the nation's capital off three straight defeats, but have their highest-priced hurler taking the mound on Wednesday when they visit the Washington Nationals (6-15), coming off a rare win, as this National League East contest gets underway at 7:10 PM ET at Nationals Park.

Left-hander Johan Santana (2-2, 3.25 ERA) is the Mets' starter, while righty Tim Redding (3-1, 3.27 ERA) gets the assignment for Washington.

At BetUS Sportsbook, New York is listed as a -240 favorite (Washington is +200), with a total of 7.5 runs (the Over is -120, with the Under at even money).

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

(NOTE: These trends may also revert back to the 2007 season)

* NY has won eight of its last 14 games

* NY has played seven of its last eight games UNDER the total

* NY has lost six of its last eight road games

* WASH has lost 15 of its last 18 games

* WASH has lost five of its last six home games

* WASH has played six of its last nine games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* NY has won the last three meetings

* NY has won eight of the last 13 meetings

* The last three meetings have gone UNDER the total

* Eight of the last 11 meetings have gone OVER the total

* NY has won six of the last eight meetings as the road team

Washington has batted .228 against left-handed starters, which is actually pretty consistent with its .227 overall average. But the Nationals have been most disappointing when playing at home. After an emotional opening night win, they've plummeted, and have batted only .205 in their new home stadium, even though it was supposed to be built to support offense.

Johan Santana is only 2-2 on the season, but he's been very hard to hit. Santana has given up the long ball (five homers) but only four other extra base hits, and his WHIP ratio is sitting at 0.87. His control has been outstanding, with four walks in 27-2/3 innings. Actually, Santana is off to an opponent's batting average of .196 and on-base percentage of .226, which projects to a lower figure in both categories than he's yielded in the last four years.

Opponents are hitting only .207 against Tim Redding, who has a 1.2 WHIP ratio, although he's slowed down recently, with that figure inflating to 1.47 in his last three starts. Redding was, until last night, the only Washington starter who had won a game.

Right now Washington, which is 29th in the majors with a .647 OPS (on-base plus slugging) percentage, tallies just 3.5 runs a game. But the Mets are not hitting well, with ten runs in their last four. We feel more comfortable moving with a totals play here, and since both teams are skewing in that direction, and with good reason, we're going UNDER the 7.5 runs as it is posted in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 7.5 (Even)

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)