Up to MLB Betting Trends

posted July 4, 2008 at 15:34 in MLB Betting Trends

BetUS MLB betting odds: Minnesota -130, Cleveland +110; Total 9.5

The Cleveland Indians (37-48) will be trying to break their losing streak on Friday night when they visit the Minnesota Twins (47-38) in an American League encounter that is scheduled to begin at 7:10 PM ET at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Right-handed veterans will do battle, as Paul Byrd of the Indians (3-9, 5.26 ERA) goes up against Livan Hernandez (8-5, 5.22 ERA) of the Twins.

At BetUS online sportsbook, Minnesota is listed as a -130 sports wagering favorite (Cleveland is +110), with a total of 9.5 runs (the Under is -120, while the Over is even money).

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

* CLEV has lost its last five games

* CLEV has played seven of its last ten games UNDER the total

* CLEV has lost four of its last five road games

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

* MINN has won 13 of its last 15 games

* MINN has played four of its last five games UNDER the total

* MINN has won 10 of its last 12 home games

* MINN has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* CLEV has won 10 of the last 13 meetings

* Thirteen of the last 18 meetings have gone UNDER the total

* CLEV has won five of the last seven meetings as the road team

* Nine of the last ten meetings in Minneapolis have gone UNDER the total

Cleveland, last year's division champion, is in a bad way right now. The Indians are losers of five games in a row and eight of their last ten, and they are in last place in the AL Central, a game and a half behind the Kansas City Royals. Who would have ever thought the Indians would find themselves in this kind of position?

Meanwhile, you have to applaud manager Ron Gardenhire and the Minnesota Twins, who are mounting a huge challenge to the White Sox' division lead, which is now a very tenuous two games. Minnesota has won 13 of its last 15 games, with the latest win a 7-0 shutout of the Detroit Tigers.

Paul Byrd, who had several outstanding efforts early in the season, has not provided very much in the way of comfort for the Indians lately. Byrd has compiled a bloated 8.10 ERA in his last four starts, with just nine strikeouts. In 16 starts this season, Cleveland has scored an average of just three runs a game for him.

After going through a period where he was hit pretty hard, Livan Hernandez has started to pitch better in recent outings. Always a guy who ate up innings, Hernandez has gone seven frames in each of his last three starts, with a 2.57 ERA. That is not to say all the news is great. Last time out against the Brewers, Hernandez gave up four runs in seven innings and also walked four men, the most he's given a free pass to this season.

We would love to be able to make a case for Cleveland here. But we can't. These teams are going in decidedly different directions - the Indians with their five-game losing streak and Minnesota with its 13-2 run. Plus, the Twins are 16-7 as a favorite, while Cleveland is 9-19 as an underdog. The numbers don;t play well for Cleveland, especially as this looks like a short price on the Twins, who are 29-18 at home and the -130 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MINNESOTA (-130)

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