The Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers continue their interleague freeway series Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Angels won for the sixth time in seven games against the Dodgers with an 8-3 victory Friday night.  With victories in seven of 10 interleague games, the Angels have climbed within a game of the .500 mark.  “It was a crazy game early,” said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.  “Any time you play that team, they’re going to be aggressive and try to take advantage of everything.”  The club has now won 13 consecutive games when scoring four or more runs in a contest, moving its seasonal record to 32-7 when doing so.  Dodger Stadium has also served as a home away from home for the club, winning nine of the last 12 meetings at the venue.  Los Angeles is 78-46 in day games the last three years.

Angels starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood is an even 4-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 14 starts this season.  He picked up his first win since May 22 last time out, picking up a 7-3 road victory over the Mets, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing four hits.  The rookie right-hander has tallied a 2-1 mark and 3.74 ERA in six road outings, surrendering just a single home run in 33 2/3 innings.  Chatwood is a perfect 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his first two career interleague starts.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now 3-4 during interleague play this year and seeking its first winning record against the American League since going 10-8 in 2004.  “We had our chances early, but we’re unable to scratch out runs, and those guys kept coming,” Mattingly commented.  “We didn’t capitalize on the chances we had.”  The Dodgers have posted a .273 batting average in 21 June games, ranking second in the National League behind Colorado (.276).  Offensively, the team continues to receive production from outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp in this series, as they are a combined 14 for 34 in the last four meetings.  Los Angeles is 18-23 at home this season and 11-13 under the sun.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will be making his first appearance in the Freeway Series since his 2008 rookie season, coming in with a 5-8 record and 3.07 ERA.  The right-hander received a no-decision in his last effort on Sunday, tossing seven scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ eventual 1-0 victory.  “I’m a human being, I have feelings, and when you don’t get a win, of course I’m disappointed,” he commented after the game.  “But the team won and that’s all that matters.”  Kuroda has registered a 2-4 mark and 3.31 ERA in eight home starts, issuing 10 walks and fanning 40 in 51 2/3 frames.

Bettors will likely back the Angels due to their 20-6 record in interleague road games, while the Dodgers are 1-8 versus the American League West