Posted on
5/16/2008 3:15:16 PM
MLB Interleague Baseball Betting Action –Orioles Host Nationals
By Eric Williams
The Baltimore Orioles, (21-19, 23-17 RL) are one of the biggest online sports betting surprises in the American League this season, entering tonight’s interleague online betting matchup with a winning record despite the multitude of predictions that they would struggle just to reach mediocrity this season, much like the majority of teams the Orioles have fielded during the last decade or so.
The Orioles enter tonight’s sports gambling matchup against regional rival, the Washington Nationals, (18-24, 24-18 RL), having won two straight games in the BetUS Sportsbook over the Boston Red Sox, including a solid 6-3 win on Thursday and have won five of their last six games overall.
"When you're able to beat good teams, it does a little for your confidence," said Orioles left fielder Jay Payton, who powered the victory with his fourth career grand slam. "We feel like we can compete with anybody."
Manager Dave Trembley said his team fears no one – not even perennial AL powers, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
"They're not intimidated. They really don't think they should take a back seat," Trembley said. "They think they can play with anybody."
The Nationals haven’t been half-bad themselves in the early going of 2008, though they are six games under .500. Washington has also won two straight games coming into this contest, including a convincing 1-0 shutout of the New York Mets on Thursday that followed the team’s 5-3 one night earlier.
Trembley also said that he believes interleague play is good for the game.
"You play your neighbor. You play your rival," he told the Orioles' official Web sites. "The Mets play the Yankees, we play the Nationals (and) the Angels play the Dodgers. Anything that promotes the game, I think is positive."
The Orioles will give the ball to left-hander Garrett Olson (2-0, 2.95 ERA), who replaced starter Adam Loewen on April 25 after Loewen was placed on the disabled list with left elbow soreness.
Olson is coming off an impressive performance on Saturday, limiting the Kansas City Royals to three runs on eight hits in a 6-5 win.
The Nationals will counter by handing the ball to right-hander, Shawn Hill (0-0, 3.56) who is also coming off a strong performance in his last outing as he limited the Florida Marlins to two runs on five hits in seven innings on Sunday, though the Nationals went on to lose 5-4.
Hill is 1-2 with a 6.65 ERA in four interleague starts while Olson has never faced a National League team.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Betting Picks.
The Nationals are 3-7 in Hills last 10 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150.
The Nationals are 2-5 in Hills last 7 starts.
The Orioles are 2-5 in Olson’s last 7 starts on grass.
The Orioles are 2-6 in Olson’s last 8 starts.
The Over is 5-0-1 in Hills last 6 starts with 4 days of rest.
The Over is 6-0-1 in Orioles last 7 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
The Nationals are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Baltimore.
The Nationals are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
The Under is 11-4-1 in the last 16 meetings.
The Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Baltimore.
Analysis: The Orioles have been the better team all season and have the more consistent starter going tonight, so I say take the O’s to win for the sixth time in their last seven games.
MLB Free Picks: Orioles 5 Nationals 3
07:05 PM EST MLB Odds
Washington Nationals
Shawn Hill - R +1½ -170
Baltimore Orioles
Garret Olson - L -1½ +150
Over 8½ -110
Under 8½ -110
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