Posted on 9/21/2007 4:39:12 PM

MLB Betting Trends - New York Yankees (77-75) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (88-64)

By Robby Maddux

Tonight, the MLB betting community can take in the New York Yankees (-185) attempting to pull closer to the top of the AL East when they open a four-game home stint against the Toronto Blue Jays (+165) in The Bronx.

The Yankees won four straight and 12-of-14 to come within 1.5 games of first-place Boston. New York has won the AL East every year since 1998, and if they do it again they'll have accomplished the feat by coming back from a 14.5 game deficit, which is the number of games they were behind Boston on May 29, 2007.

- Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 during Game 1 of a series.

- Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. American League East.

- Yankees are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.

- Yankees are 5-2 in their last 7 Friday games.

- Yankees are 44-20 in their last 64 overall.

New York leads the season series with Toronto 8-6 and will look to improve on that mark by sending right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (18-7, 3.82 ERA) to the mound. Wang 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in six career starts against Toronto.

Wang was roughed up for a season-high eight runs and nine hits in a season-low 2 2-3 innings of a 15-4 loss to Toronto on Aug. 8 of this year in his most recent appearance against the Blue Jays. In his only other prior start against Toronto this season, he gave up three runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 3-2 loss on July 19.

Wang is 8-1 with a 2.07 ERA in his last 10 home starts, with the only defeat in that span coming against the Blue Jays.

- Yankees are 14-3 in Wang's last 17 starts during Game 1 of a series.

- Yankees are 16-6 in Wang's last 22 starts vs. American League East.

- Yankees are 20-8 in Wang's last 28 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

- Yankees are 24-6 in Wang's last 30 home starts.

- Yankees are 41-15 in Wang's last 56 starts overall.

Toronto will counter with right-hander Roy Halladay (15-7, 3.82 ERA), who will be looking for his first road win since June 25 of this season, going 0-5 with a 3.92 ERA in eight starts during that skid.

Halladay is 10-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 25 games (23 starts) against the Yankees, and 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his last 11 starts against them. He's 2-0 with a 0.42 ERA in his last three starts at Yankee Stadium.

- Blue Jays are 41-19 in Halladay's last 60 starts during Game 1 of a series.

- Blue Jays are 41-18 in Halladay's last 59 starts vs. American League East.

- Blue Jays are 5-1 in Halladay's last 6 Friday starts.

- Blue Jays are 0-8 in Halladay's last 8 road starts.

- Blue Jays are 57-25 in Halladay's last 82 starts.

MLB odds display New York (-185) the favorites to take Game 1 with a total of 9 under -120. The Yankees are also favored to win the series at -260.

- Yankees are 48-19 in their last 67 games as a favorite.

- Yankees are 18-5 in their last 23 games as a favorite of -151 to -200.

- Yankees are 45-19 in their last 64 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.

Note: Boston (-165) opens a three-game series this evening against hosting Tampa Bay (+145). The Red Sox are 11-4 in this season series, including 4-2 at Tropicana Field.

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