Posted on 4/29/2008 3:53:20 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - Atlanta at Washington

By Charles Jay

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Atlanta -120, Washington - Even, Total 9 (-110 each way)

A couple of teams who have had disappointing seasons will kick off a two-game series in the nation's capital on Tuesday night, as the Atlanta Braves (12-13) pay visit to the Washington Nationals (9-17) in a National League game that is set to begin at 7:10 PM ET at Nationals Park. Have we said the word "national" enough?

Southpaw Tom Glavine (0-1, 2.38 ERA) gets the start for the Braves, while Washington sends its best starting pitcher to the hill in right-hander Tim Redding (3-2, 3.67 ERA).

At BetUS Sportsbook, Atlanta is listed as a -120 favorite (Washington is even money), with a total of nine runs (you will lay -110 each way).

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)

* ATL has lost four of its last six games

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

* ATL has lost five of its last seven road games

* ATL has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total

* WASH has won three of its last five games

* WASH has lost 17 of its last 23 games

* WASH has played nine of its last 14 games UNDER the total

* WASH has won four of its last six home games

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

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD MLB betting trends:

* Five of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total

* ATL has won four of the last seven meetings as the road team

* Four of the last five meetings in Washington have gone UNDER the total

Washington is still pretty inconsistent when it comes to scoring runs. The Nats got ten runs at home against the Mets on Thursday, but in back-to-back games against the cubs on the weekend, plated only two men. The good news for Washington is that in the last week, they matched their win total for the previous three weeks of the season.

Tim Redding has managed to keep Washington in games for the most part, although he hasn't come close to matching the effort he had in his first start of the year, when he threw one-hit ball at the Phillies over seven innings. He has been the Nationals' most consistent starter, allowing opposition hitters to bat just .208 against him. Let's put it this way - the Nats are 3-2 when Redding starts a game; they are 6-15 when anybody else starts.

Tom Glavine has a 2.38 ERA, but that might be deceiving, depending on how you look at it. His WHIP ratio is 1.68, which is much worse than it was the last two years, when his ERA was 4.36 and 4.26, respectively. And he's coming back from injury, not having made a start since April 13. His team, which looked like it was making a move, is back to inconsistency, losing four of its last six games. I'll give Redding a chance here, at even money in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WASHINGTON (Even)

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)