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It's always nice to see a full card on a day/night of baseball match-ups, but it is even better when there are some quality pitchers on show too. The match I want to alert your attention to what probably would be considered to be, on paper, the closest match up of them all.

TAMPA BAY RAYS (Kazmir 6-1, 1.40) @ LA ANGELS (Lackey 2-1, 1.70)

These two teams are both going in the right direction.

The Rays will be hoping to provide a challenge to the Boston Red Sox in AL East, which is both unlucky and a thankless task but they have risen to this challenge and look to be giving it a great shot, partly due to supreme pitching from the guy pitching tonight, Scott Kazmir.

The Angels by complete contrast are inthesomewhat less pressured division of AL West, which they have completely dominated from very early on this season. It would be extremely surprising if they didn't take the division crown because they are one of the most disciplined teams in the majors. They get every inch out of their talents whether it be base running, stealing bases, driving in extra runs, pitching to a high quality or even going deep.

John Lackey could probably be considered as one of the best pitchers in MLB today. He has had his minor hiccups over the years but in the main he has been a rock for this Angels unit ever since becoming the first rookie in World Series history to start and win game 7 of the biggest series of them all. Despite having not long recovered from a stint on the disabled list, Lackey has returned with excellent figures which do not even reflect that fact that he has not been at his best.

MY MEN TO WATCH OUR FOR:

BJ Upton (.300 5 HR 38 RBI) Tampa Bay Rays

Casey Kotchman (.306 6HR 30 RBI) LA Angels

Tampa Bay Rays 38-27 (14-17 Road)

LA Angels 40-26 (19-14 Home)

RECOMMENDATION : 3 POINTS STAKE - LA Angels @ 100/114 Sportingbet.com

In close battles you have to look at bare statistics and form to pick out a winner. In this case, the Angels are in incredible form having won eight out of their lastten outings The Rays by contrast have won just five from their last ten. The Angels have home field advantage and they give no quarter to the opposition.

This is a great chance to make some money on the back of a team at the peak of its game.