posted July 4, 2008 at 15:45 in MLB Free Picks

If MLB Baseball wagering fans, sports betting enthusiasts and online gambling experts didn’t believe it before, the Tampa Bay Rays, (52-32, 45-39 RL) have emphatically put the BetUS MLB online sports wagering community and the rest of the American League on full notice that they are very real and definitely serious contenders to win the American League Pennant after sweeping the defending champion Boston Red Sox for the second time this season, concluding with Wednesday’s 7-6 victory.

Now, the young Rays, look to continue their amazing season by beating up on another young ballclub that has taken one positive steps forward this season before taking two bad ones backwards in the Kansas City Royals, (38-47, 41-44 RL).

The first place Rays, winners of four straight games and eight of their last nine overall, will hand the ball to right-hander Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.33 ERA) who gave up three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings in the Rays’ 4-3, 13-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

"It's a really good feeling," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, whose club is the second in history to have the best record in the majors this deep into a season after finishing with the worst mark the previous year. "We've worked to get to this point, to earn that right to have that feeling, so now we have to maintain it."

"Our guys are playing with a very high level of ability and emotion," Maddon said. "When you get to that level, when you really start trusting and believing ... then you can do things like we did (Wednesday)."

The Royals, who pounded the Baltimore Orioles 10-7 on Thursday, will counter with impressive young right-hander Brian Bannister, (7-7, 4.88), son of former major league hurler Floyd Bannister, as he looks to get back in the win column for online bettors after getting smacked around to the tune of seven runs and nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings of the Royals’ 9-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

"Belief is within everybody," said Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek. “So you go out there and try to do something and get a good pitch. We did that."

Here is a look at tonight’s key online sports wagering trends followed by my analysis and MLB online betting Free Picks.

The Royals are 4-1 in Bannister’s last five starts as a road underdog of +110 to +150.

The Royals are 5-2 in Bannister’s last seven starts as an underdog of +110 to +150.

The Rays are 4-1 in Jackson’s last five starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Rays are 5-2 in Jackson’s last seven starts on field turf.

The Over is 5-1 in Bannister’s last six road starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Under is 4-0 in Jackson’s last four starts vs. American League Central.

The Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Tampa Bay.

The Royals are 5-12 in the last 17 meetings.

Analysis: I really like Brian Bannister and the direction the young Royals are headed in, but they are nowhere near ready to take on the impressive Rays, who once again, have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, that they are very, very for real. Take the Rays to win this contest narrowly.

MLB Free Picks: Rays 5 Royals 3

05:10 PM EST MLB Odds

Kansas City Royals

Brian Bannister - R +1½ -155

Tampa Bay Rays

Edwin Jackson - R -1½ +135

Over 9 +105

Under 9 -125

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