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Freeway Series Switches to Anaheim

Alex H. MLB News
With the Freeway Series switching to Anaheim, Mike Trout and the Angels will look to defeat the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

With the Freeway Series switching to Anaheim, Mike Trout and the Angels will look to defeat the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Following a switch in ZIP code, the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers resume this season’s Freeway Series Wednesday night in Anaheim.

Opening pitch at Angels Stadium of Anaheim is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET.

The Angels opened the week with a 5-0 shutout of the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, drawing first blood in the home-and-home series.

The Dodgers responded Tuesday with a 5-4 win that came courtesy of an errant throw to home plate by David Freese, a throw that got away from Chris Iannetta, allowing Juan Uribe to score the winning run.

Now the two clubs will look to get a foot up on their rival by taking a victory on Wednesday night.

20140805_AL_WestThe Angels (67-45, 38-19 home) return home looking to gain ground on the MLB-best Oakland Athletics. Mike Scioscia’s club currently sits two games back of the A’s, the only team in baseball with a superior record.

In addition to gaining ground, the Halos are also looking to earn a statement win against a quality side, and a potential World Series opponent.

20140805_NL_WestThe Dodgers (64-50, 34-23 road) come into the game with the best record in the National League, and a three-game lead in the win column over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Like the Angels, the Dodgers are looking for marquee wins and to keep the momentum running as we hit the home stretch. Bragging rights wouldn’t go amiss either.

On Wednesday, former-Angel Dan Haren (8-9, 4.76 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers.

While the focus in SoCal has been on Clayton Kershaw’s magnificent run, Haren has struggled. The 33-year-old right-hander is 0-5 with an exorbitant 10.03 ERA in his last five starts, and is in desperate need of a win at a stadium he once called home.

  • Haren is 3-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 career games (11 starts) vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Haren is 19-18 with a 3.25 ERA in 45 career games (44 starts) at Angels Stadium of Anaheim

The Angels will counter with Matt Shoemaker (9-3, 4.09 ERA), who will meet the Dodgers for the first time in his short career.

Since June 17, the 27-year-old right-hander has gone 6-2 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts. He’s been the beneficiary of an Angels’ offense that has scored 41 runs (5.1 per game) during that stretch, masking that plus-four ERA.

  • Shoemaker is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 2 career interleague games (1 start)
  • Shoemaker is 5-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 12 career games (8 starts) at Angels Stadium of Anaheim

Offensively both clubs are expected to be at full strength.

Facing his former team, Dan Haren will look to put an end to a poor run of form.

Facing his former team, Dan Haren will look to put an end to a poor run of form.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Los Angeles Angels odds for 08/06/2014

The Angels (-141) opened as the favorite over the Dodgers (+131) on the moneyline.

The Angels have won 16 of their last 24 against the Dodgers, including six of the last seven the two clubs have played in Orange County. The Dodgers’ last win in Anaheim came on June 23, 2012.

Some other trends to consider:

  • The Dodgers are 48-34 in night games
  • The Angels are 50-34 in night games
  • The Dodgers are 9-9 in interleague play
  • The Angels are 8-5 in interleague play
  • The Dodgers are 46-40 vs. right-handed pitching
  • The Angels are 46-30 vs. right-handed pitching
  • The Dodgers are 2-3 since August 1
  • The Angels are 3-2 since August 1
  • The Dodgers are 10-7 since the All-Star break
  • The Angels are 10-8 since the All-Star break

The total opened at 8 1/2 but quickly jumped to 9.

The total has gone under in six of the Angels’ last seven games. It’s also gone under in four of the last five head-to-head meetings between the clubs, and in four of the Dodgers’ last six visits to Anaheim.

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The Angels host the Dodgers in the final head-to-heading meeting between the Californian clubs on Thursday (10:05 p.m. ET).

On Friday, the Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, the Angels stay in Anaheim for a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox.

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For a full list of today’s Major League Baseball odds, click here.

For MLB Futures odds, courtesy of Bovada, click here.

For team prop bets, click here.

For player prop bets, click here.

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