Up to MLB Betting Trends

posted June 25, 2008 at 13:27 in MLB Betting Trends

BetUS MLB betting odds: Tampa Bay -135, Florida +115; Total 8.5

Few people would have expected the Tampa Bay Rays (45-31) to be fourteen games over the .500 mark at this point in the season, yet here they are, and hopeful of taking the second of their three-game series against the Florida Marlins (40-36) on Wednesday night at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Game time for this interleague tilt is 7:10 PM ET.

James Shields (4-5, 3.94 ERA) is the starter for the Rays, while Ryan Tucker (2-1, 4.50 ERA) will enter the box for the Marlins. Both are right-handers.

At BetUS online sportsbook, Tampa Bay is listed as a -135 favorite (Florida is +115), with a total of 8.5 runs (the Over is -120, while the Under is even money).

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

* TB has won five of its last seven games

* TB has played 16 of its last 24 games UNDER the total

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

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

* FLA has won 14 of its last 21 home games

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports gambling trends:

* TB has won five of the last six meetings

* Six of the last seven meetings have gone OVER the total

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

Tampa Bay continues to get the better of its in-state rivals. On Monday night the Rays rode the bats of Akinori Iwamura and Evan Longoria to beat the Marlins by a 6-4 count. The Rays have now won five of their last six games against Florida. Tampa Bay will not go away in the AL East; the Rays are a single game behind Boston, and have allowed opponents a .244 batting average, which is second best in the major leagues. They also lead the big leagues with 85 stolen bases.

Florida is second in the National League East, one game in back of the Phillies. The pitching staff is failing a bit, with only one regular member of the starting rotation under the 4.00 ERA mark (Scott Olsen). The offense has kept the team in the race; with 112 homers, the Marlins lead all of the majors.

James Shields had a couple of strong outings against Florida last season, giving up one run and five hits in seven innings on May 20, and holding the Marlins to a pair of runs in seven frames on June 9. He's had some rocky times lately, though; he lasted just an inning against Boston on June 5, giving up five runs, and then struggled against the Angels, surrendering six runs in eight innings of a 6-1 loss two weeks ago. Last time out, he went 6-1/3 against the Cubs, allowing seven hits and three runs. Shields still has great control; he has chalked up more than a 4-to-1 ratio of strikeouts to walks.

Ryan Tucker has made three major league starts. His debut was very successful, as he allowed just two hits and a run in five innings against the Reds on June 8, but he was reached for five runs in five innings by these same Rays on June 13. Last time out he was pretty impressive against Seattle, holding the Mariners to two runs in six innings. All three of his starts have gone over the total. Tucker may be one of the missing ingredients the Marlins need to develop a rotation that can help them contend for the division crown.

The question becomes whether there is some value with the home team here, seeing as the Marlins have a 22-16 record at Dolphin Stadium. We have faith in Shields, who has good recent history against this opponent and has struck out 18 batters in his last two starts. It's the Rays, the -135 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: TAMPA BAY (-135)

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)