posted June 20, 2008 at 14:04 EST in MLB Articles

BetUS MLB Betting Odds: N.Y. Yankees -145, Cincinnati +125; Total 9

The hot-hot-hot New York Yankees (40-33) will get a major test in keeping their winning streak going on Friday when they take on the Cincinnati Reds (33-41) in an interleague sports betting clash that is set to begin at 7:05 PM ET at Yankee Stadium (natural turf) in the Bronx.

The Reds send their ace, Edinson Volquez (9-1, 1.67 ERA) to the mound against right-hander Mike Mussina (10-4, 3.87 ERA) of the Yankees.

At BetUS online sportsbook, New York is listed as a -145 MLB wagering favorite (Cincinnati is +125), with a total of nine runs (the Under is -120, while the Over is even money).

Here are some of the MLB Baseball betting trends as they relate to this sports betting matchup:

* CIN has lost its last five games

* CIN has lost five of its last eight road games

* CIN has lost 17 of its last 23 road games

* CIN has played four of its last five road games OVER the total

* NY has won its last seven games

* NY has played six of its last ten games OVER the total

* NY has won five of its last six home games

The Yankees got a very solid pitching performance from Joba Chamberlain, who gave up one run and struck out nine in 5-2/3 innings last night to propel New York to a 2-1 win over the Padres. It was the seventh straight win for the Bronx Bombers, who are five games in back of the Red Sox in the AL East. At Yankee Stadium, they now have a record of 21-15.

Cincinnati is in a tough stretch right now. The Reds have scored just six runs in their last four games, and after dropping two of three against the Red Sox, they were swept by the Dodgers, losing a 7-4 decision on Thursday as Aaron Harang gave up five runs in five innings, and let the Dodgers off to lead that was too great to make up. Cincy is the last-place team in the National League Central, a half game behind fourth-place Houston and 12.5 games in back of the division-leading Chicago Cubs. Cincinnati is playing .333 ball on the road (12-24).

Mike Mussina is the pitcher as the Yanks go after their eighth straight. Mussina is in an outstanding 11-game stretch, where he has given up as many as three runs on just three occasions and four runs only once. In his last start, which took place last Saturday, he gave up three runs in six innings in an 8-4 win over Houston. In his last six starts he has struck out 21 batters and walked only three. And he is in a three-way tie with Joe Saunders and Cliff Lee for the American League lead, with ten wins.

If you thought that was good, you need to check out Edinson Volquez, who might be the front-runner for the National League's Cy Young award. Volquez gave up one run or less in each of his first eight starts, and the only games the Reds lost in that period, they were shut out. Through 14 starts, Volquez has only been in one game in which he has allowed more than two runs, and that was two starts ago, when he went six innings in a 9-4 win over Florida in which he walked five batters. Last time out he went seven innings against the Red Sox, and struck out nine hitters while giving up just two runs. Volquez currently leads the NL in ERA and has struck out more hitters than anybody. The Reds have had an 11-3 record with him on the mound.

The Reds might be a live underdog here, but the Yankees and Mussina are too hot right now to look at that as a priority. I much prefer the "under" in this one; with a total of nine runs, and these pitchers in very good form, that could be a bargain at -120 in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 9 (-120)

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com touches all the bases as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)