Baseball Betting - Tuesday MLB picks

As the MLB odds rage on, a few teams predicted to be top contenders find themselves on the wrong side of .500. Can the Yankees, Rays or Twins get back on track at the sportsbook tonight?

Yankees vs Tigers odds—Phil Hughes (NR) vs Edwin Jackson (1-1. 2.77): Tonight, 7:05 p.m. ET
MLB lines: Yankees -105, Tigers -115

The only easy pick in tonight's Yankees vs Tigers line is the OVER; both starting pitchers are primed to get rocked in this one. Phil Hughes hasn't pitched in the majors yet this season; he still has the potential to become a top-of-the-rotation starter, but he hasn't yet proven he's ready to be a reliable major league pitcher. Consider him guilty until proven innocent in this one. Jackson's offshore sportsbook odds don't look much better; he's been great so far in 2009 baseball betting but Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher both have sparkling track records against him.

Both starters should struggle tonight but MLB betting fans may as well go with the more experienced starter here. Pick the Tigers.

Betting online pick: Tigers -115

Rays vs Twins odds—James Shields (2-2 3.67) vs Francisco Liriano (0-4, 7.06): Tonight: 8:10 p.m. ET
MLB lines: Rays -124, Twins +104

You look at Francisco Liriano's numbers, blink, rub your eyes, and look again, but the ugly stats don't disappear. No one saw his horrible start in baseball betting coming and, as is understandable with any pitcher who had Tommy John surgery, fans of sports betting online are starting to wonder if he's still healthy. My advice: think of tonight as Liriano's last chance to prove that he'll be OK. Every career stat relating to the Rays vs Twins odds sets up Liriano for success; he's 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA against the Rays and he's 10-5 with a 2.33 ERA at the Metrodome. If he can't win under these ideal circumstances, it's time to shelf him in baseball betting for a while. James Shields hasn't been too good against the Twins over his career - especially against power-swinging righty killer Jason Kubel. Kubel is swinging a heavy bat these days and is six for 10 against Shields all time, so baseball betting fans shouldn't be surprised if he takes Shields for a ride again tonight.

Betting online pick: Twins +104