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Preview: Angels at Dodgers
Gracenote
Jul 15, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers may want to consider pitching around Kole Calhoun when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game Freeway Series. Calhoun has hit three of his nine homers on the season in the first two contests of the set, including a two-out shot in the 10th inning on Saturday that gave the Dodgers a 5-4 victory.
Calhoun, who went deep twice for the Angels in their series-opening 3-2 loss, also doubled on Saturday while Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the second time in his last three games. Chris Taylor homered and drove in two runs for the Dodgers while Yasmani Grandal delivered an RBI double in the ninth to send the contest to extra innings. Matt Kemp enters the series finale with a four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 5-for-14 witih two RBIs. The Dodgers are 2-3 against the Angels this season, with four of the contests - including all three of their losses - being one-run affairs and the other a two-run decision.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Angels), SportsNet LA (Dodgers)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Deck McGuire (0-1, 6.10 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (3-4, 2.61)
McGuire will make his third start of the month - and season - after working a scoreless inning of relief against Seattle on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Virginian served up two homers in his first two turns in the rotation after surrendering five in six appearances out of the bullpen. McGuire, who has totaled 6 1/3 frames in his starts, allowed one hit and issued two walks while registering six strikeouts over three innings of a start on July 7 as he faced the Dodgers for the first time in his career.
Kershaw has to some extent been returning to form, as he has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his four starts since coming back from his lastest stint on the disabled list but hasn't worked more than six innings. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner has won back-to-back outings, including a triumph at San Diego on Monday in which he gave up two hits over six scoreless frames. Kershaw is 6-2 with one complete game and a 2.42 ERA in 10 career starts against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (adductor) is day-to-day and available to pinch-hit but is unlikely to see action until after the All-Star break, according to MGR Dave Roberts.
2. Angels RHP Nick Tropeano (shoulder) allowed two runs and seven hits over four innings on Saturday in a rehab start for Single-A Inland Empire.
3. The Dodgers optioned RHP Walker Buehler to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday to make room on the roster for LHP Zac Rosscup, who was claimed off waivers from Colorado during the week.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Angels 3
Gracenote
Jul 15, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers may want to consider pitching around Kole Calhoun when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game Freeway Series. Calhoun has hit three of his nine homers on the season in the first two contests of the set, including a two-out shot in the 10th inning on Saturday that gave the Dodgers a 5-4 victory.
Calhoun, who went deep twice for the Angels in their series-opening 3-2 loss, also doubled on Saturday while Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the second time in his last three games. Chris Taylor homered and drove in two runs for the Dodgers while Yasmani Grandal delivered an RBI double in the ninth to send the contest to extra innings. Matt Kemp enters the series finale with a four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 5-for-14 witih two RBIs. The Dodgers are 2-3 against the Angels this season, with four of the contests - including all three of their losses - being one-run affairs and the other a two-run decision.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Angels), SportsNet LA (Dodgers)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Deck McGuire (0-1, 6.10 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (3-4, 2.61)
McGuire will make his third start of the month - and season - after working a scoreless inning of relief against Seattle on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Virginian served up two homers in his first two turns in the rotation after surrendering five in six appearances out of the bullpen. McGuire, who has totaled 6 1/3 frames in his starts, allowed one hit and issued two walks while registering six strikeouts over three innings of a start on July 7 as he faced the Dodgers for the first time in his career.
Kershaw has to some extent been returning to form, as he has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his four starts since coming back from his lastest stint on the disabled list but hasn't worked more than six innings. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner has won back-to-back outings, including a triumph at San Diego on Monday in which he gave up two hits over six scoreless frames. Kershaw is 6-2 with one complete game and a 2.42 ERA in 10 career starts against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (adductor) is day-to-day and available to pinch-hit but is unlikely to see action until after the All-Star break, according to MGR Dave Roberts.
2. Angels RHP Nick Tropeano (shoulder) allowed two runs and seven hits over four innings on Saturday in a rehab start for Single-A Inland Empire.
3. The Dodgers optioned RHP Walker Buehler to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday to make room on the roster for LHP Zac Rosscup, who was claimed off waivers from Colorado during the week.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Angels 3
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