Posted on 5/13/2008 6:12:57 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - Detroit at Kansas City

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Kansas City -120, Detroit - Even; Total 8.5 (Over -120, Under - Even)

Very few people, if any, would have forecasted that the Kansas City Royals (16-21) might actually be ahead of the Detroit Tigers (16-22) in the standings at this point in the season, but such is the case, and the Tigers will try to reverse that situation when the American League Central teams meet at 8:10 PM ET on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium (natural turf) in Kansas City.

Left-hander Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64 ERA) is the starter for Detroit, while Kansas City's right-handed standout, Zach Greinke (4-1, 1.80 ERA) will oppose him.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Kansas City is listed as a -120 favorite (Detroit is even money), with a total of 8.5 runs (the Over is -120, the Under is even money).

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

* DET has lost seven of its last nine games

* KC has lost five of its last seven games

* KC has played seven of its last ten games UNDER the total

* KC has lost six of its last eight home games

* KC has played 19 of it last 25 home games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* KC has won four of the last five meetings

* Seven of the last ten meetings have gone UNDER the total

* DET has won 15 of the last 18 meetings as the road team

This season is rapidly turning into a big downer for the Tigers, who have scored three runs or less in six of their last nine games. Things got underway badly for them, as they lost their first seven games, three of those to the Royals, who outscored them by a 13-5 count.

It is certainly not the best news in the world that they have Nate Robertson on the mound on Tuesday night. Robertson has been consistent, for sure, but not in the way Detroit was hoping. he has made seven starts on the season, completing seven innings in only one of them, and in each of those seven starts he has allowed either four or five earned runs. Detroit has compiled a 2-5 record in those outings.

That is in stark contrast to Kansas City's Zach Greinke, who has overcome mental and emotional problems, including bouts with depression, to put himself in position to go to the All-Star game. Greinke's last outing, in which he surrendered three runs on five hits in seven innings against the Angels, was the only time this season when he yielded more than two runs in a start. He has a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and opposing hitters are batting just .213 against him. Greinke also does a great job of staying out of the big inning; in only two of his 50 innings this year has he allowed more than a run.

We see no reason Greinke shouldn't continue pitching well. As such, this looks like a bargain price on the Royals, the -120 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: KANSAS CITY (-120)

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)