The second installment of the Freeway series this season is set for a rubber game Sunday night at Angel Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to 6-8 during interleague action after losing a 7-1 decision to the Angels on the road. The Dodgers entered the contest leading the Major Leagues with a .282 batting average on the road. In fact, the club’s .043 differential (.239 at home) between away and home batting averages is the highest in all of baseball. Despite those lofty numbers at the plate, the team possesses a losing 18-23 road mark. It has also struggled mightily in facing right-handed starters, coming into tonight with a 26-36 record, which is surprising due to a 156-139 mark the last three years.
Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley is 7-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 17 starts this season and is riding a two-game winning streak into tonight. The right-hander has allowed just a single run and 10 hits in 11 1/3 innings of work, picking up wins over a pair of American League Central teams (Twins/Tigers). Billingsley has a winning 4-3 mark on the road this season, but carries a 5.69 ERA, giving up 62 hits and issuing 23 walks in 49 frames. In seven career games (five starts) versus the Angels, he is 1-3 with a 4.28 ERA, including an 0-1 mark and 3.46 ERA at Angel Stadium.
The Los Angeles Angels continue to light up the halo against National League competition, recording an 11-6 record this season during interleague play. Much of that success can be attributed to a pitching staff that has logged a 2.96 ERA over the last 16 games. With last night’s win, the Angels avoided three consecutive losses to the Dodgers for the first time since 2006. The club will be looking to capture its sixth straight series with a victory tonight and would likely prove victorious if scoring four or more runs. Los Angeles has won 16 consecutive games when plating four or more runners, the longest such streak by an team this season.
Angels starting pitcher Ervin Santana has compiled a 3-8 record and 4.08 ERA in 17 starts this season, receiving just 11 runs of support in his last five games. Los Angeles has dropped four of those five contests, but won his last outing at home against the Nationals. In that particular start, Santana gave up two runs and five hits in eight strong innings. The right-handers has tallied a losing 2-5 mark and 3.60 ERA in nine home outings, but has allowed just 58 hits in 65 frames. The 28-year-old will be facing the Dodgers for the seventh time, looking to move above .500, as he currently sits at 3-3 with a 3.93 ERA.
Bettors will likely back the Angels due to their 5-1 mark as a favorite, while the Dodgers are 12-42 as an interleague underdog
