posted June 17, 2008 at 17:44 in MLB Free Picks

BetUS MLB Betting Odds: Los Angeles -120, N.Y. Mets - Even; Total 7.5

The New York Mets (34-35) will go after their third win in a row on Tuesday night when they visit Orange County to play the Los Angeles Angels (42-29) in an interleague game that is set to take place at 10:05 PM ET at Angel Stadium (natural turf) in Anaheim.

Two outstanding pitchers will go at it, as left-hander Johan Santana (7-4, 2.85 ERA) of the Mets faces off against right-hander John Lackey (3-1, 1.83 ERA) of the Angels.

At BetUS online sportsbook, Los Angeles is listed as a -120 favorite (New York is even money), with a total of 7.5 runs (the Under is -125, while the Over is +105).

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

* NY has won four of its last six games

* NY has lost four of its last five road games

* LA has won ten of its last 15 games

* LA has played 17 of its last 25 games UNDER the total

* LA has played 14 of its last 19 home games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD MLB betting trends:

* NY has won three of the last five meetings

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

The Mets, sitting a game under .500, are 6.5 games under .500, and five games behind the Phillies in the loss column. They are 14-21 (40%) on the road, and took the first game of this series when Carlos Beltran hit two homers in a 9-6 win on Monday night.

Johan Santana gets the start tonight, and he is very familiar with the Angels; in fact, he has given up a single run in three of his last five starts against them. He has been brilliant lately, yielding just two runs over 20-2/3 innings in his last three starts. Last time out, which was on Thursday, he struck out ten and gave up only three hits in seven innings against the D-Backs in a 5-4 Mets loss. In his last four starts, Santana has compiled 28 strikeouts with just nine walks.

John Lackey began the season on the disabled list, but has been outstanding in his six starts, giving up two runs or less in five of those outings. Last time, he gave up four hits and a run in 7-1/3 innings against the Rays. In Lackey's last four starts, he has struck out 22 batters and walked four. Each of his six starts has gone under the total.

The Angels are a team that has experienced more success on the road (21-12) than they do at home (21-17). But Los Angeles/Anaheim has been superb in 15 games against left-handed starters, winning 12 of them. Between that and Lackey's pitching of late, they are a nice short favorite. So we go with the Angels at -120 in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: LOS ANGELES (-120)

Go to the BetUS sportsbook today and take a swing at Major League Baseball online betting. We have the most current baseball odds and lines, as well as player, game and series props throughout the MLB baseball season. To help you bet on sports, check out the Free Picks section of the Locker Room for sports betting free picks and predictions. Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!

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