Dodgers Way
FanSided

Dodgers Angels Game 1 Preview

By Alex Campos

facebooktwitterreddit

After a successful weekend/week playing NL West opponents, the Dodgers wrap up their interleague schedule with a three-game series in Anaheim.

More from Dodgers Way

The Dodgers are currently 8-9 in interleague play, but three of those wins came at Dodger Stadium against these Angels.The Dodgers have won six straight against the Angels and the last time the Dodgers lost in Anaheim, Ted Lilly was the losing pitcher. The Angels were in first in the AL West at the all-star break, but are 21-27 since and now find themselves in third place in the West, 2.5 games out of the second wild card spot.

Zack Greinke gets the ball tonight, which is a shame because he won’t get to hit. He’s still pretty good at pitching though, as his ERA is down to 1.59 after a one-run performance against the Giants last week. The Cy Young favorite has given up one or fewer runs in 19 of his 27 starts this season, but gave up TWO whole runs against the Angels earlier this season.

Sep 5, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) prepares for his at bat against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Both of those runs were given up to Mike Trout, who is simply way too good at baseball. I remember watching that series and doubting how hard baseball can really be. Trout just makes it look so easy. He tripled in the fourth and singled in the sixth for those two runs off Greinke, and later hit a moonshot off closer Kenley Jansen.

Since that game, Trout’s batting average has fallen from .317 to .298, as he slashed .218/.352/.337 in August. He’s currently riding a five-game hitting streak and is still an extremely dangerous hitter. Trout has five hits in 10 at bats against Greinke, including two triples, but not including an all-star game home run.

Greinke hasn’t had much success against former Angels in his career. Albert Pujols, Erick Aybar and Matt Joyce are all hitting >.300 against Greinke with >20 plate appearances in the past. Greinke, who pitched half a season in Anaheim, is 4-3 with a 2.78 ERA in nine career starts at the Big A and has only allowed five homers while striking out 68 batters.

Nick Tropeano gets the ball for the Angels, and he’s had a strange season. In 16.1 innings this year (three starts), Tropeano has a 5.51 ERA, but a 2.22 FIP and a .364 BABIP. His FIP is largely boosted by the fact that he’s yet to give up a home run this season (xFIP, which adds a league average 10.8 HR/FB rate, is 4.01), and the homer-happy Dodgers should be looking to tee off and normalize his numbers.

After six shutout innings in his Angels debut in April, Tropeano has struggled in his other two starts. He gave up four in six innings against Texas and six in four 1/3 innings against the White Sox his last time out, which was on August 20. He was called back up in the first wave of September callups and has replaced the injured Matt Shoemaker in the Angels’ rotation for now.

With the DH available, Adrian Gonzalez gets the start there for a little rest while Scott Van Slyke gets his fourth start of the season at first (16th of his career). Jimmy Rollins gets the night off and Carl Crawford will lead off, with Corey Seager back at shortstop.

Yasmani Grandal is behind the plate again, and is 0-for his last 33. This is like the fourth straight preview I’ve said this, but it might be time for him to get a couple nights off and let the hot A.J. Ellis get some starts, or even Austin Barnes, who’s always been good at getting on base (.389 OBP in AAA this year, 36 K, 35 BB)

First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA, MLB Network and Fox Sports West (Angels broadcast team).

Home/LA Dodgers News