Up to MLB Betting Trends

posted July 4, 2008 at 18:25 in MLB Betting Trends

BetUS MLB betting matchup:

The Tampa Bay Rays (52-32 through Thursday's games) look to continue their magical season on Saturday when they play host to the Kansas City Royals (39-47 through Thursday) in an American League matchup that is set to get underway at 6:10 PM ET at Tropicana Field (artificial turf) in St. Petersburg.

Zach Greinke (7-4, 3.65 ERA) goes to the mound for the Royals, while Tampa Bay counters with fellow right-hander Andy Sonnanstine (9-3, 4.60 ERA).

Here are some of the MLB Baseball betting trends as they relate to this matchup (numbers are good through Thursday's games - adjust for Friday results):

* KC has won 13 of its last 18 games

* KC has lost four of its last six games

* KC has won seven of its last nine road games

* TB has won eight of its last nine games

* TB has won four of its last five home games

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

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* TB has won 12 of the last 17 meetings

* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total

* TB has won 11 of the last 13 meetings as the home team

* Six of the last eight meetings in St. Petersburg have gone UNDER the total

The Kansas City Royals certainly have to be commended for the way they have performed lately. Kansas City has climbed out of the American League Central cellar, above the Cleveland Indians no less, and they are actually within striking distance of the Detroit Tigers for third place. Well, kind of - they would have to get hot again and Detroit would have to cool off, but you get the idea; they;re not as awful as some people had made them out to be.

What can one say about the Tampa Bay Rays except that, if you went by the won-lost record, they would have to be considered the best team in baseball. Tampa Bay steals more bases than anybody, has the third best home record in the majors, and if they can withstand the loss of Troy Percival, who has just gone on the disabled list, they are going to be there until the end. In this one, they have Kansas City;s best starting pitcher to contend with.

Zach Greinke has given up 16 homers, more than he did all of last year, but has held teams to a .252 batting average. His last effort was somewhat disappointing, as he allowed five runs in five innings against the Orioles, but Kansas City put together enough offense to win the game. After a beautiful start where he compiled a 1.93 ERA in his first six outings, Greinke has slowed up quite a bit, through it is worth noting that coming into that game with the O's, he had surrendered just four runs in his previous three starts.

Andy Sonnanstine has a very good record, but he is not necessarily a "stopper." Sonnanstine has allowed opposing batters to hit .298 against him, but he has been pretty consistent lately, going seven straight starts without giving up more than three runs. The end result is that he has kept his team in games, and indeed, Tampa Bay has won the last six times he has stepped to the mound. In all, the Rays have a 13-4 record in Sonannstine's starts.

Sure, the Rays are 33-13 at the "Trop." And Sonnanstine is among the league leaders in wins. But Kansas City is demonstrating that they are not a pushover, and have a capable hurler taking the hill, someone who has been stingier than Sonnanstine. As such, they rate a good look as the underdog here in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: KANSAS CITY

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