posted May 5, 2008 at 18:04 in MLB Free Picks

BetUS MLB baseball betting odds: Oakland -140, Baltimore +120; Total 8.5 (Over -120, Under - Even)

The Baltimore Orioles (16-15) continue their west coast road trip on Monday night, as they travel to the Bay Area to take on the Oakland Athletics (19-14) in an American League game that is set to begin at 10:05 PM ET at McAfee Coliseum (natural turf) in Oakland.

Southpaw Garrett Olson (1-0, 2.70 ERA) gets another start for the O's, while the A's will counter with righty Dana Eveland (3-2, 3.67 ERA).

At BetUS Sportsbook, Oakland is listed as a -140 favorite (Baltimore is +120), with a total of 8.5 runs (the Over is -120, while the Under is at even money).

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

(NOTE: These trends may also revert back to the 2007 season)

* BALT has lost six of its last eight games

* BALT has played 11 of its last 14 games UNDER the total

* BALT has lost four of its last five road games

* BALT has played eight of its last 11 road games UNDER the total

* OAK has lost four of its last six games

* OAK has won six of its last nine home games

* OAK has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* BALT has won four of the last five meetings

* OAK has won 12 of the last 18 meetings

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

* BALT has won five of the last eight meetings as the road team

* The last three meetings in Oakland have gone UNDER the total

* Thirteen of the last 19 meetings in Oakland have gone UNDER the total

The Orioles have lost a little ground in the American League East, losing six of eight, but they are by no means out of it, sitting right off the lead and bunched with the Rays and Yankees. Oakland, the team that keeps on retooling, despite little money to work with, is once again in the thick of things in the AL West, neck-and-neck with the Los Angeles Angels.

Garrett Olson, who had a 1.85 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 24-1/3 innings at Norfolk before getting called up to the majors by the Orioles, made his first start six days ago, and acquitted himself quite well, giving up just four hits and two runs in 6-2/3 innings against Tampa Bay. Last's year's 2.16 WHIP ratio in limited action with Baltimorestil looms, though, so he'll need more runs over the track to convince skeptics.

Dana Eveland, who's already with his third major league team in just his fourth season, and came over from Arizona in the deal where the Athletics sent Dan Haren to the D-Backs. He has turned out much better than expected, although his start five days ago against the Angels was a downer, as he allowed six runs in less than six innings. What's important, though, is that in his five previous outings he's demonstrated that he's probably recovered from the injury to his left middle finger that he suffered last season.

Surprisingly, Oakland is only 8-9 at home this season, and the A's have been very inconsistent in their run production, scoring 14 and 15 runs against the Angels in different games in a recent series, but more than three runs in only one of their last five. Also, The Big Hurt has not had a big impact; Frank Thomas, signed after he was cut from Toronto, is batting .235 without a homer in ten games for Oakland.

We think there's enough to take a shot with the dog here, and so we go with the Baltimore Orioles, the +120 underdog in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: BALTIMORE (+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)