Posted on 4/25/2008 3:40:46 PM

MLB Baseball Betting Action - N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: N.Y. Yankees -130, Cleveland +110, Total 9.5 (Under -115, Over -105)

Two teams who faced each other in the American League playoffs last year but are struggling a bit this season will get together in Friday night, when the New York Yankees (12-11) take on the Cleveland Indians (10-12) in a game that will get underway at 7:05 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Ian Kennedy (0-2, 9.64 ERA) is taking his lumps but will head to the mound again for the Yankees, while Paul Byrd (0-2, 4.43 ERA) is the starter for the Indians.

At BetUS Sportsbook, the Yankees are listed as a -130 favorite (Cleveland is +110), with a total of 9.5 runs (the Under is -115, and the Over 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)

* NY has won three of its last four games

* NY has played its last three games OVER the total

* NY has played 15 of its last 23 games UNDER the total

* NY has played 10 of its last 15 road games UNDER the total

* CLEV has won five of its last seven games

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

* CLEV has lost six of its last eight home games

* CLEV has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* CLEV has won three of the last four meetings

* NY has won seven of the last ten meetings

* Nine of the last 13 meetings have gone OVER the total

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

We don't know that there is anything particularly wrong with Ian Kennedy, except that the Yankees' 23-year-old prospect out of Orange County has given up 15 earned runs and walked 13 batters in 14 innings this season, which is making his 1.89 ERA in about the same period of time last year look like a fluke. Kennedy has let 10% of the batters he's faced get to a 3-0 count, which is deadly for a pitcher, and especially one who may right now be struggling with his confidence.

Confidence is something veteran Paul Byrd can't be lacking right now, not after two outing in the last ten days that have seen him allow just one earned run without a walk over 13 innings. That's what he does best - the former All-Star is a control freak, and has thrown 66% of his pitches for strikes, which is about his career average. You won't get an earth-shattering year out of Byrd, but there is always a chance he will eat up some innings, and not let things get out of hand.

After getting off to a positively non-offensive start, the Yankees have put the hitting shoes on lately, scoring 28 runs in their last four games. And the Indians, though not consistent with the bats by any stretch, put 24 runs on the board over two games with the Royals earlier in the week.

A closer look at Kennedy reveals that he has pitched only eight shutout innings, and eight of his 14 inning shave resulted in 20 pitches or more, which takes its toll. there is no way we're backing him here, not until he shows us something this year and not on the road against a team that has won five of its last seven and may just be getting warmed up.

We'll take the Indians, the +110 underdog in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: CLEVELAND (+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)