The Dodgers and Angels renew their rivalry Friday night at Dodger Stadium, with the first of two consecutive weekend series between the two teams. Dan Haren gets the start for the Angels, with rookie Rubby De La Rosa making his fourth major league start for the Dodgers. The Angels have only lost one season series to the Dodgers since 2000.
Haren is 6-5 with a 2.96 ERA this season, though after his terrific start to the season he has been merely human of late. Haren in his last five starts has allowed 20 runs in 30 innings -- an even 6.00 ERA -- though his 23 strikeouts against just four walks suggest he has pitched a bit better than that. He is 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Dodgers.
De La Rosa has shown flashes of brilliance in the early stages of his MLB career, but has also labored at times. In his first start, in Philadelphia, he walked five batters in the first two innings, but rebounded to allow just one run in five innings. Then, in Colorado he gave up a three-run home run in the first inning but nothing for the next four. In his first home start, last Sunday, De La Rosa started well, but unraveled after a potential inning-ending ground ball was misplayed (though there was no error charged on the play). De La Rosa is 3-1 with a 4.58 ERA so far this season in 19 2/3 innings, which also includes three outings in relief.
The Angels are 46-34 against the Dodgers all-time in interleague play, and are 16-8 against the Dodgers since the begginning of 2007 season. The two teams have split 40 games at Dodger Stadium.
Tonight's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by both Prime Ticket (Dodgers) and KCOP (Angels). For more news and information on the Freeway Series, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs True Blue LA and Halos Heaven.