Andrew Heaney (6-2, 3.18 ERA) and the Los Angeles Angels (69-68) square off against Clayton Kershaw (12-6, 2.18 ERA) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (79-58) in a game that has the potential to be low scoring. This is the second of a three-game series at Angel Stadium. The Dodgers won the last game 7-5 and Los Angeles leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 10:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sep. 8 and can be seen on FSW and SNLA.
Heaney pitched 7.0 innings in his last outing, surrendering three runs and striking out six in a 9-4 win over the Athletics. Albert Pujols (.250, 73 Rs, 35 HRs, 82 RBIs, 4 SBs) continued his strong play yesterday, going 3 for 5 with one RBI. Kershaw went 9.0 innings, surrendering one run, striking out 15 and walking one in a 2-1 win over the Giants in his most recent start. Justin Turner (.290, 47 Rs, 15 HRs, 52 RBIs, 3 SBs) has been successful at the plate, going 2 for 6 yesterday with one run.
Los Angeles is favored (-186) over Los Angeles and the Over/Under (O/U) is sitting at six runs. The Angels have recorded an overall money line of -557 and have shown a weak performance as an underdog this season with a record of 18-38. Los Angeles has recorded a disappointing 1-4 record as the underdog over its last 10 games. The Angels have seen a decline in scoring against teams in the NL, averaging 3.4 runs per game. They average 4.0 runs per game on the season. The Angels are one of the best in the MLB in terms of extra base hits with 357. Los Angeles’s pitchers put it all together when National League teams are on the field. Its average runs allowed per game drops to 3.4 against NL teams, compared to its 4.1 season average. The Angels are the fourth-best team in the AL at limiting hits during home games, allowing only 8.0 hits per game to their opponents this season.
In games where it is the favorite, Los Angeles has a 69-51 record and an overall money line of -602. They played solid baseball as the favorite over their last 10 games with a 5-1 record, and an 8-2 record SU. Offensively, the Dodgers have really sputtered in interleague games. They have decreased their season average of 4.1 runs per game by averaging 3.3 in those contests. Los Angeles is excellent at drawing walks with an NL-best 3.9 per road game. Los Angeles’s pitching staff is one of the top in the NL, with a 3.40 ERA. When it comes to preventing batters from getting on base, the Dodgers are one of the best in the league with a WHIP of 1.19 for the season.
The Dodgers have the edge in the season series, 4-0. The Angels have a 20-17 record against left-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Kershaw takes the mound. Heaney (LHP) will be on the hill against the Dodgers, who have a 14-14 record against left-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAD, O/U – Over
Notes
The Angels managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Dodgers who are coming in with a 30-11 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Angels are 15-50. The Dodgers have a 14-42 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 12th, the Angels are in the top half of the league when it comes to home runs, hitting 143 this season. The Dodgers rank in the top 10 at sixth with 162.
The Angels and the Dodgers both rank in the top half of the league in hits. The Angels sit at 15th with 8.15 hits per game and the Dodgers rank 13th with 8.32.
Ranking 25th, the Angels are near the bottom of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage (.697). The Dodgers rank in the top five at fifth with an OPS of .749.
When the Dodgers allow at least one home run, they are 32-41. When the Angels allow one or more homers, they have a 34-54 record.
