Series Preview: Dodgers @ Angels (LA bad guys vs. LA good guys)

Angels 44-44
Dodgers 47-39

If the April 14th version of the Angels were playing the April 14th version of the Dodgers, the boys in red could sweep this series. But alas, that is not our fate. Gone are the days when the Dodgers started the season 4-9 and the Angels were 13-3. These two teams took vastly different paths with the Dodgers improving and clawing their way out of the cellar to almost having taken over 1st place - and the Angels clawing their way INTO the cellar in the AL West, now 4.5 games behind the A’s.

This one could get ugly because one of these teams is playing hot baseball and has won 4 straight game with 37 total runs scored, while the other has scored 43 runs over their past 12 games, 9 of which they lost.

Know your foe:

Dodgers - who’s hot (last 7 days):

Yasmani Grandal .667 OBP, 1 home runs, 5 walks
Matt Kemp .474 AVG, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs
Max Muncy .500 OBP, 3 home runs, 4 walks
Chris Taylor .478 OBP, 1 home run, 7 RBIs
Justin Turner .429 OBP, 1 home run

Weather Forecast

GAME 1

Felix Pena (3.71 ERA) v. Kenta Maeda (3.36 ERA)
Friday, July 6th @ 7:07PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Summary:

Felix Pena has a 2.55 ERA over his 3 starts, including 5.1 innings of shutout ball against the Orioles in his last trip to the mound. He has just handful of innings against the Dodgers from early last year when he was in the Cubs bullpen.

Pitch Arsenal:

The bad news is that Kenta Maeda faced the Angels about one year ago and dominated them over 7 innings with 0 runs and only 4 hits allowed. The good news? Not much really. Maeda is coming off two strong back to back 7 inning outings in which he’s allowed only 2 earn runs and struck out 18.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: The starting game of this series leans Dodgers for sure with how well Maeda is pitching and has pitched against the Angels.

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GAME 2

Deck McGuire (7.56 ERA) v. Ross Stripling (2.27 ERA)
Saturday, July 7th @ 4:15PM

Summary:

Aren’t we lucky to get Deck McGuire against Ross Stripling??? McGuire is on his 3rd team since November and his 7.56 ERA over 16.2 innings is all you need to know for his team hopping “skills”. Last time out he was decent one time through the order but was lit up like a Christmas tree in his second trip through the lineup.

Pitch Arsenal:

Ross Stripling started the season in the pen but has been good as a starter with a 2.28 ERA over 11 games. He has faced the Angels once - back in 2016 when he gave up 5 runs and Mike Trout homers off him.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: Another game that leans Dodgers. Oh boy!

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GAME 3

Andrew Heaney (3.94 ERA) v. Alex Wood (3.84 ERA)
Sunday, July 8th @ 5:05PM

Summary:

Remember when Andrew Heaney was a Dodger for like 5 hours? Good times! Heaney has been have a respectable, if not unpredictable 2018 and is coming off a 3 run, 7 innings, 10K performances against the Mariners.

Pitch Arsenal:

Alex Wood hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs over his last 5 starts. This will be his first ever start in Anaheim and first time facing the Angels.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: The odds favor the Dodgers, but this game is probably the Angels best pitching matchup in terms of trying to pull off a win.

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Overall Verdict: We all know this may not end well for the Angels. It’d be a plus if they could at least pick up one game but don’t bet your first born on that.

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