Posted on
4/14/2008 2:18:52 PM
MLB Baseball Betting Odds – Orioles Host Blue Jays, Teams Tied For AL East Lead
By Eric Williams
The Toronto Blue Jays, (7-5, 4-6-2 O/U) and Baltimore Orioles, (7-5, 4-8 O/U) are just two of the MLB sports betting surprising American League teams that have gotten off to terrific starts despite the multitude of predictions suggesting mediocrity for each ball club entering the 2008 regular season.
Each team is tied atop the American League East standings in the BetUS Sportsbook and although it is way too early for either club to get overly excited, both teams have shown they are headed in the right direction this season after years of futility, particularly in the case of the Orioles, once one of the proudest franchises in all of Major League Baseball.
The Blue Jays enter tonight’s matchup coming off their second series sweep this season, after beating the Texas Rangers 5-4 in extra innings Sunday and will send right-handed starter Dustin McGowan (0-0, 3.27 ERA) to the mound looking to pick up his first victory of the season despite two solid outings already this season.
McGowan limited the Oakland A’s to just two runs on seven hits in five innings Wednesday, but the Jays fell 6-3 as they have given McGowan only five runs in his two starts so far.
The Orioles dropped two of three against another surprise team this season, the Tampa Bay Rays, including a dismal 6-2 loss on Sunday
The Orioles failed to come though with timely hits as they went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners on base in the process, including the first inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to score a single run.
"It would have been nice to put three on the board in the first," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "I think that would have set the tone for the game."
The Orioles will trot out Matt Albers (1-0, 0.00), the right-hander they acquired from the Houston Astros in the Miguel Tejada trade. Albers has been spectacular in relief this season, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings in three relief appearances this season.
The Blue Jays got a huge boost on Sunday as elite closer B.J. Ryan returned from elbow surgery to record his first save in nearly a year.
"It's good to get the first one under your belt," Ryan said. "Extra innings on the road, it means even more. That's why I worked hard all winter, to get the opportunity to come back. It wasn't the prettiest save but the bottom line is to make a pitch when you have to. We got a good outcome."
Toronto’s three-game winning streak comes right after the team dropped three straight at home to the Oakland A’s
"It's huge," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We got swept by Oakland so we had to regroup. We had to come in here tired after a long trip. Our guys played some good baseball. We've got a good, solid ballclub and we're playing hard."
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Betting Picks:
Key Blue Jays Trends
The Blue Jays are 4-0 in their last four games as a road favorite.
The Blue Jays are 6-1 in their last seven games vs. a right-handed starter.
The Blue Jays are 5-1 in their last six vs. a team with a winning record.
Key Orioles Trends
The Orioles are 5-0 in their last five home games.
The Orioles are 4-0 in their last four home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
The Orioles are 4-0 in their last four home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Key Totals Trends
The Under is 10-1-2 in Blue Jays last 13 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
The Under is 5-1 in Blue Jays last six on grass.
The Under is 5-1 in Blue Jays last six road games.
The Under is 6-0 in Orioles last six games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
The Under is 5-0 in Orioles last five on grass.
The Over is 8-1 in Orioles last nine after allowing five runs or more in their previous game.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
The Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Baltimore.
Analysis: Take the Toronto Blue Jays to win this contest handily tonight while getting another solid outing from McGowan as his teammates finally give him enough run support to pick up a victory.
MLB Free Picks: Toronto 6 Baltimore 3
07:05 PM EST MLB Odds
Toronto Blue Jays
Dustin McGowan - R -1½ +120
Baltimore Orioles
Matt Albers - R +1½ -140
Over 9½ -115
Under 9½ -105
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