The Los Angeles Angels have won seven-of-nine inter-league games including a three-game sweep of the cross-town Dodgers at Angel Stadium last month during which they outscored their rivals, 19-4. The two will meet again at Dodger Stadium this weekend. Oddsmakers at online sportsbook Sportbet.com don’t see a series favorite installing both clubs on the money line with -115 odds to win the series. The Dodgers are slight favorites to win Friday’s game (-120 ml) with right hander Derek Lowe (6-6 3.21 ERA) taking the mound against Angels (+110 ml) right-hander Ervin Santana (5-6, 5.26 ERA). The total is holding at eight runs.
Derek Lowe pitched well Saturday night against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three over eight innings. It was his ninth quality start of the season, but he did not figure in the decision.
Santana has struggled in unfriendly ball parks this season going 0-5 until he claimed his first road win at Saint Louis last week. Santana produced six quality innings against the Cardinals. Mixing biting sliders and changeups with an electric fastball, and working quickly to keep his tempo and rhythm, Santana held the Redbirds to six hits and three earned runs, all coming on a pair of homers after he was staked to a 6-0 lead.
The Dodgers would like to get into the win column against their rivals from nearby Orange County. The Dodgers are 0-5 in their last five games when playing the Angels. The boys in blue are much better against the Angels at home with a 4-1 record over the last five games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are 15-5 SU in their last 20 games at home.
The Angels are 9-3 SU in their last 12 games and 7-2 SU in their last nine games on the road. The total has gone OVER in nine of the Angel’s last 13 games on the road and in five of the Angels last seven games.
