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posted June 24, 2008 at 16:49 in MLB Articles

BetUS MLB betting odds: Yankees -155, Pittsburgh +135; Total 9.5

The New York Yankees (41-35) bounced back with a win on Sunday, and after a travel day they will look to continue making their move in the AL East when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates ( 36-40) in an interleague sports betting contest set to begin at 7:05 PM ET on the natural turf of Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

Darrell Rasner (4-4, 3.64 ERA) gets the start for the Yankees, while Pittsburgh counters with southpaw Tom Gorzelanny (5-6, 6.59 ERA).

At BetUS online sportsbook, New York is listed as a -155 favorite (Pittsburgh is +135), with a total of 9.5 runs (-110 each way).

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

* NY Has won eight of its last ten games

* NY has played five of its last six games UNDER the total

* NY has won five of its last six road games

* PITT has lost four of its last six games

* PITT has played five of its last six games OVER the total

* PITT has won four of its last five home games

* PITT has played four of its last six home games OVER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* NY has won the last six meetings

* three of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total

I might be wrong here, but I think the last significant game these teams played against each other was the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, which Bill Mazeroski ended with a ninth-inning homer. With the Pirates twelve games back of the lead in the NL Central division, it doesn't really carry any pennant ramifications for them, but because New York has come on lately, these games are crucial for Joe Girardi's club.

The Yankees are back to within striking distance of the Red Sox in the American League East, just 4.5 games behind and only three behind in the loss column. And New York is over the .500 mark (19-18) ion road games. one of their more consistent pitchers -and unexpectedly, I might add - is Darrell Rasner, who has stepped in and given this team innings in the rotation, helping them get over some of the rough spots until people like Phil Hughes, Chien-Mien Wang and even Carl Pavano come back to action.

That's not to say Rasner has been effective all the time. He was knocked out of the box on June 11 at Oakland, lasting only 3-2/3 while giving up six runs to the A's. But he was able to rebound to some extent last Wednesday, pitching three-hit ball over five innings against San Diego, as the Yankees came out with an 8-5 win. Rasner's last two starts have gone over the total, after engaging in five straight unders.

Gorzelanny has been challenged, to say the least, giving up at least six runs on four different occasions already. The 25-year-old, who won 14 games with a 3.88 ERA for the Pirates last season, is having some control problems, having walked fifty batters in 71 innings. The 1.75 WHIP ratio is very weak, and he is throwing only 54% first-pitch strikes. It is no surprise, then, that six of his last seven starts, and 11 of 14 overall, have gone over the total.

That's the direction we're going too. We just can't help it. maybe it'll bring back memories of 1960, when the Yankees scored 38 runs in their three World Series win over the Pirates. Let's go OVER the 9.5 runs as it is posted in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OVER 9.5 (-110)

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)