Posted on 5/6/2008 2:30:45 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - San Diego at Atlanta

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Atlanta -140, San Diego +120; Total 9 (Over -115, Under -105)

The San Diego Padres (12-20) are struggling in the National League West. And on Tuesday night they will try to start turning in the right direction against the Atlanta Braves (15-15), winners of three games in a row, in an NL game that is scheduled to begin at 7:10 PM ET at Turner Field (natural turf) in Atlanta.

Big right-hander Chris Young (2-2, 3.63 ERA) makes the start for the Padres, while the Braves counter with another right-hander, Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 3.05 ERA).

At BetUS Sportsbook, Atlanta is listed as a -140 favorite (San Diego is +120), with a total of nine runs (the Over is -115, while the Under is -105).

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)

* SD has lost 14 of its last 18 games

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

* SD has lost six of its last eight road games

* SD has played eight of its last ten road games OVER the total

* ATL has played 11 of its last 16 games UNDER the total

* ATL has won 10 of its last 12 home games

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* ATL has won five of the last six meetings

* ATL has won six of the last eight meetings as the home team

* The last three meetings have gone OVER the total

* The last five meetings in Atlanta have gone UNDER the total

When you talk about offensive struggles, you're thinking of the San Diego Padres. San Diego is batting .230 as a team, which is 26th in the majors. Jim Edmonds (.181) and Brian Giles (.263, 3 HR's), two veterans who were counted on to provide some pop, have been harmless. In the regular starting lineup, only first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has managed to put himself over the .300 mark.

This lack of production spolis the San Diego pitching, in which four starters have ERA's under 4.10. One of those starters is Chris Young, who is once again limiting teams to very few hits (27 in 34-2/3 innings) but only has a 2-2 record to show for it. He been betrayed not only by his hitters - who have scored just 12 runs in his six starts in the way of support - but by his own control as well. Young has surrendered 21 walks thus far.

Jurrjens is on a nice run where he has given up just five runs in 20 innings over his last three starts. With a 3.05 ERA and yielding less than 10 base runners per nine innings, Jurrjens is doing a nice job of rounding out the rotation for Atlanta, and does not have to worry too much about offensive support, as the Braves lead the majors with a .287 team average. Even so, Jurrjens' last five starts have gone under the total.

This is not a bad price when you consider that San Diego is anemic offensively and has a pitcher on the mound who could allow some cheap base runners. We'll lay the -140 price with the Braves in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: ATLANTA (-140)

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