posted June 23, 2008 at 15:33 in MLB Articles

BetUS MLB Betting Odds: L.A. Angels -180, Washington +160; Total 7.5

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (46-30), who have proven themselves thus far to be the class of the American League's West division, will look to take advantage of a very winnable situation on the road when they pay a visit to the nation's capital and take on the Washington Nationals (30-47) in an interleague contest that is set to get underway at 7:10 PM ET at Nationals Park (natural turf) in Washington, DC.

The sizzling John Lackey (4-1, 1.73 ERA) gets the assignment for the Angels, while the Nationals will counter him with another right-hander, Jason Bergmann (1-5, 4.53 ERA).

At BetUS online sportsbook, Los Angeles is listed as a -180 MLB betting favorite (Washington is +160), with a total of 7.5 runs (the Under is -115, while the Over is -105).

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

* LA has won four of its last five games

* LA has played seven of its last 11 games UNDER the total

* LA has won eight of its last nine road games

* LA has played its last three road games UNDER the total

* WASH has lost five of its last six games

* WASH has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total

* WASH has lost six of its last seven home games

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* Five of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total

The Nationals once again suffered from lack of runs in Sunday's game, as the Texas Rangers, behind Vicente Padilla, dealt them another home loss by a 5-3 score. Washington has now scored 16 runs in its last five games, which is a lower average than its 3.67 per game on the season. Things are pretty hopeless for the Nats, who are 12 games behind the NL East-leading Phillies, and eight games behind fourth-place Atlanta. This team has been a big disappointment to fans who though a couple of additions to the lineup might help this team in what was built as a hitter-friendly park.

The Angels won their third straight game on Sunday, and that completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies. The pitching staff has really been stopping people, as L.A./Anaheim has allowed just five runs in the last three games. Perhaps more significantly, the Angels have now won eight of their last nine road games, and that brings their road record to 24-12, best in the major leagues. And no wonder - the team has allowed just three and a half runs per game when traveling. That sort of means the Nationals play right into their hands.

On Monday John Lackey takes the mound for the Angels, and he could hardly be doing better. Since making his first start of the season off the disabled list on May 14, Lackey has had a quality start in every game, giving up more than two runs only once. Last time out, six days ago, he out-pitched Johan Santana and held the Mets to just a run on six hits over 7-2/3 innings. In the two games the Angeles lost with Lackey on the mound, they have scored only three runs.

Jason Bergmann got off to a slow start, surrendering a total of 12 runs in his first two starts, then went on a run of three straight starts (19-2/3 innings) where he held opponents scoreless. Then it was a couple more rocky starts, and a pretty decent effort last time out, when he allowed just a run in six innings against Minnesota in what turned out to be an 11-2 Twins victory. The Nats have lost eight of Bergmann's nine starts.

Considering the Angels' proficiency on the road, and Lackey's proficiency in general, there is no other way to go but with the road team, the -180 favorite in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: L.A. ANGELS (-180)

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