CLEVELAND INDIANS @ LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Baseball : United States : MLB
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010, 7:05PM US
(12:05AM GMT)

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CLEVELAND INDIANS (57-82) Streak: W2

Cleveland are clearly not a great side, but they're matched up pretty well with the Angels, who are starting a pitcher that has form so crap I can smell it all the way here in London.

Josh Tomlin is the young Indian on the hill tonight and he will be in confident form. Tomlin won his 2nd straight start on Thursday, when he led his team past Seattle, in Seattle. He allowed just 3 runs, giving up 7 hits in 6 innings. He struck out 5 while issuing no walks at all.

Angel Stadium is a pitcher friendly park, and with Tomlin in good form, and the Angels bats notoriously inept, I think the young one can keep the home side quiet, leaving it for his offence to do the rest. The Angels have never faced Tomlin before, which is an advantage for the young hurler.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS (66-73) Streak: L2

Los Angeles has lost all of their last 5 home games. They have lost 8 of their last 9 at home, actually, if you want a bigger sample to judge their recent home form. The AL West title will not be coming back here again this year.

Scott Kazmir is pitching tonight, and because of reputation, the Angels are listed as favourite. I'm not buying it. Looking at the numbers, and recent form, this guy is not to be touched with a bargepole. Kazmir is 1-8 with a 7.74ERA in his last 10 starts. He has lost his last 7 home starts, with a 6.81ERA in those matches.

On Friday, Kazmir pitched against Oakland. In just over 5 innings of work, he walked 6 batters and hit another 2 batters with his pitches. The score? 8-0 to Oakland.

BETTING VERDICT

One more thing. The Cleveland Indians have faced Kazmir before on 3 occasions. Kazmir has a record of 0-1 in those matches, with an ERA of 11.20. Cleveland is a live dog, as they say, and I'm going to take them to pull out the win over the Angels.

The Pick :

Cleveland to score an upset

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Cleveland @ 2.40 (Pinnacle)

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Cleveland +1.5 @ 1.67 (Pinnacle)