One week after coming a mere inches away from sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Angels are home in Anaheim looking for another series win against their southern California interleague rivals. The Angels have won three straight games, six of their last seven contests, and have won five straight series. Coming off a home sweep of the Nationals, the Angels are 11-4 against National League teams this season.
The first two games of this series feature pitching rematches of last weekend, including tonight's opener. Tyler Chatwood pitched seven strong innings on Saturday in a 6-1 win at Dodger Stadium, outdeuling Hiroki Kuroda, who was pulled after five innings because the Dodgers needed offense down 2-1 at the time. Chatwood has lasted at least seven innings in four of his last five and five of his last seven starts.
The Angels are 26-14 all-time against the Dodgers in Anaheim, including 13-5 in the last six seasons. The Angels beat the Dodgers in two of three games last June. The Angels are 11-4 in their last 15 games and have moved within a game of the Rangers in the American League West.
Former Dodger pitcher and current broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela, who pitched two games for the Angels in 1991 after getting released by the Dodgers in spring training, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Angels manager Mike Scioscia. The longtime former Dodgers catcher caught 245 of Valenzuela's 453 career games.
Tonight's 7:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised on both Fox Sports West (Angels) and Prime Ticket (Dodgers). For more news and information on tonight's game, or on the two teams, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs Halos Heaven and True Blue LA.