It wasn’t that long ago that the Los Angeles Dodgers were dangerously close to losing their grip of the No. 1 spot in the National League West. But thanks to a scorching 12-2 record over their last 14 games, the Dodgers were able to build an 8.5-game lead between them and the San Francisco Giants.
The Los Angeles Angels, on the other hand, have to start winning in bunches if they intend to join the postseason. As of this writing, the Halos are 5.5 games out of the first place in the AL West and 2.5 games behind of the Texas Rangers for the last AL wild card ticket.
Read on for a detailed preview of this game. You can also click here for an overview of the AL and NL wild card races.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim
When: Tuesday, September 8, 2015, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Dodgers (-200) vs. Los Angeles Angels (+170); total: 6.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw (12-6, 2.18 ERA) is pitching so good, it’s ridiculous. Kershaw churned out yet another mesmerizing performance in his most recent start, as the lefty allowed just one run on six hits and tied a career-high by striking out 15 batters in nine innings to lead the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over San Francisco on September 2. The lefty gets the ball again later tonight, when he faces the Angels’ lineup for the second time this season.
[sc:MLB240banner ]In his last outing against the Halos, Kershaw tossed eight scoreless innings and recorded seven punch-outs in a 3-1 Dodgers win on August 1. That game was, in fact, part of Kershaw’s absurd 10-start stretch, wherein he went 7-0 with a 0.90 ERA. But while Kershaw has been pitching incredibly well of late, the same can’t be said about the Dodgers’ bullpen. Backend pitching has been a problem for the Dodgers since August, in which the unit posted a 4.24 ERA. Moreover, the Dodgers’ relievers have a collective 5.40 ERA thus far this September.
Over at the plate, the Dodgers are getting some cool returns from a resurgent Chase Utley. The 36-year-old second baseman has hit 8-for-22 (.364) with two homers and three RBIs over his last five games. Also watch out for another former Philly in Jimmy Rollins against Angels’ lefty Andrew Heaney. Rollins is batting .310/.349/.440 with two homers and 44 total bases (leads the Dodgers) against southpaw hurlers thus far this year.
The Dodgers are 4-0 in their last four games against a lefty starter.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Angels
Andrew Heaney gets another crack at outdueling Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, when the 24-year-old lefty takes the hill of Angel Stadium of Anaheim to face the Dodgers.
Heaney, who carries a 6-2 record and a 3.18 ERA with him later tonight, was the losing pitcher when Kershaw beat the Angels on August 1. In that game, Heaney gave up two earned runs on four hits and issued a couple of free passes in five plus innings of work. Heaney, however, was much sharper in his last outing, a 9-4 win in Oakland. Against the A’s, Heaney yielded three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks dealt in seven innings of duty.
It’s worth noting that Heaney was able to get a four-run cushion before he even took the mound against Oakland. Heaney has been backed up by an Angels offense that has provided the lefty with 5.90 RS/9 thus far this season, the most among all qualified Halos starters. The Angels are 5-1 in Heaney’s last six home starts.
Speaking of the offense, solving a puzzle like Kershaw is tall order, but don’t tell that to Albert Pujols. Pujols is batting just .212 in his past 27 games, but has a career slashes of .435/.552/.609 with four doubles against Kershaw.
Writer’s Prediction
The LA Dodgers (-200) win, 3-1.
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