Posted on 5/16/2008 5:45:08 PM

MLB Betting Showdown – Struggling Yanks, Host Struggling Mets

By Eric Williams

The New York Mets, (20-19, 18-21 RL) and New York Yankees, (20-22, 18-23 RL) each entered the 2008 online betting season saying they had plans on winning the 2008 World Series title and that anything short of a championship title would be considered a failure.

Now, one-fourth of the way into the 2008 MLB regular season, neither team has fielded the look of an eventual world champion.

Heck, each club is struggling within its own respective division while still trying to figure out their ballclubs, (particularly the Yankees) in the early going of the 2008 season.

The Mets have dropped two straight and three of their last four games overall in the BetUS Sportsbook, including a 1-0 shutout at the hands of the Washington Nationals on Thursday that followed a 5-3 loss to Washington on Wednesday.

"We're too good of a team to be as inconsistent as we are right now," third baseman David Wright told the Mets' official Web site. "So hopefully we'll go out there and win a series at Yankee Stadium, and that will give us the momentum to springboard us back into divisional play."

The Yankees meanwhile, lost three of four to the surging Tampa Bay Rays, including Thursday’s convincing 5-2 loss to Rays’ staff ace Scott Kazmir.

"We're much better than this. We can't start blaming injuries. It's part of the game," Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said. "We just have to deal with it, and we haven't dealt with it the right way."

The Mets will turn to crafty left-hander, Johan Santana, (4-2, 3.04 ERA) as the Mets’ new staff ace seeks to continue his career mastery against the Yankees.

"You face a lot of good pitchers all year long," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's one of the best in baseball. That doesn't mean that you can't score runs. You've got to take advantage of your opportunities."

Santana is a perfect 3-0 in eight appearance, including five starts, against the Yankees with a 2.66 ERA and 2-0 at Yankees Stadium with a microscopic 1.17 ERA in four outings.

Santana is also a stellar 16-4 in interleague matchups in 24 interleague 24 starts with an excellent 2.27 ERA that is the lowest for a pitcher who has thrown at least 100 innings in interleague play.

Santana is coming off a mediocre starts for him in which he allowed three runs and a career high-equaling 10 hits in six innings though the Mets won 12-6 over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. After tossing 116 pitches in that start, the Mets decided to give Santana an extra day of rest.

"It's always good to get an extra day," Santana said. "I have a philosophy. I got to do my job no matter who I'm facing or who the team is."

The Yankees will hand the ball to right-hander Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00), who comes into this contest looking to record his third consecutive win since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 4.

Rasner limited the struggling Detroit Tigers to two runs n four hits in six innings.

"He's been a shot in the arm for us," Girardi said. "No one says you have to be fancy or overpowering. He's figured out how to use his stuff and he's done it effectively."

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my analysis and MLB Betting Picks.

The Mets are 5-0 in Santana’s last 5 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.

The Mets are 5-0 in Santana’s last 5 starts.

The Yankees are 4-1 in Rasner’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Yankees are 5-2 in Rasner’s last 7 starts.

The Over is 5-0 in Santana’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.

The Over is 4-1 in Rasner’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in New York.

The Over is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.

The Mets are 7-18 in the last 25 meetings in New York.

Analysis: While the Yankees have been getting some absolutely wonderful pitching performances from Darrell Rasner, he is certainly not in the same class as Mets starter Johan Santana who will undoubtedly ‘dial it up a notch’ for tonight’s matchup. Take the Mets to win this matchup behind Santana.

MLB Free Picks: Mets 4 Yankees 2

07:05 PM EST MLB Odds

New York Mets

Johan Santana - L -1½ +125

New York Yankees

Darrell Rasner - R +1½ -

Over 8 -115

Under 8 -105

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