posted April 14, 2008 at 16:42 EST in MLB Betting Trends

BetUS MLB betting odds: N.Y. Yankees -125, Tampa Bay +105, Total 9.5 (Over -115, Under -105)

The New York Yankees (6-7) are coming off a disappointing series at Fenway Park, where they lost two out of three to the Red Sox. Sportsbook bettors have to be less then impressed by the first couple of weeks of play by the powerhouses in the AL East. Now they hop on a plane and travel to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays (6-6) in American League action that is slated to get underway at 7:10 PM ET at Tropicana Field (artificial turf).

Prospect Ian Kennedy (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will seek better luck for the Yankees in this one, while Andy Sonnanstine of the Rays (1-1, 6.00 ERA) opposes him in this battle of right-handers.

At BetUS Sportsbook, New York is listed as a -125 favorite, with a total of 9.5 runs (Over is -115, Under is -105)

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

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

* NY has lost four of its last six games

* NY has played eight of its last nine games UNDER the total

* TB has lost five of its last eight games

* TB has played seven of its last nine games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD baseball betting trends:

* NY has won four of the last six meetings

* Four of the last six meetings have been played UNDER the total

* The home team has won four of the last six meetings

* NY has won four of the last five meetings as the road team

* Five of the last seven meetings in St. Pete have gone OVER the total

Ian Kennedy was a huge bust against the Rays first time out, throwing just 32 of his 70 pitches for strikes. He lasted just 2-1/3 innings and gave up six runs before being yanked. Then Kennedy was scratched from a start because of damp weather, and came into the game in a relief role against Kansas City. He gets a chance for redemption in this game. The Yankees are on a bit of a downer right now, having dropped to out of three to Boston.

Sonnanstine has a nice history against the Yankees, albeit an abbreviated one, going 2-1 lifetime with a 3.98 ERA. He's giving his team some innings, and the Rays are buoyed by newcomers Jeff Nieman, who put forth a great effort on the mound against Baltimore on Sunday, and third baseman Evan Longoria, a monster prospect who has just been brought up from Triple-A.

New York is still having problems offensively; with just 3.17 runs a game, the Yanks are 14th in the league. Jason Giambi, who was hitting under .100, woke up to hit a home run, but no offensive explosions have come New York's way.

We'll take a shot here getting a price at home with Tampa Bay, the +105 underdog in the BetUS Major League Baseball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: TAMPA BAY (+105)

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