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Dodgers-Angels Preview

Jun 20, 2009 - 7:15 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (44-24) at Los Angeles (36-29), 9:05 p.m. EDT

While the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers occupy the same corner of southern California and share an intense interleague rivalry, Saturday's contest will be even more familiar than usual.

That's because Jeff and Jered Weaver will face off for the first time, forming an unexpected and intriguing brotherly pitching matchup.

Coming off his first career shutout, Jered will also be looking to vault the host Angels to an eighth straight victory - and possibly back atop the AL West - in the second game of the weekend set.

At one time, the elder Jeff was the family's brightest prospect after getting picked by Detroit in the first round of the 1998 draft. He was out of the majors in 2008 before coming back this season largely in a relief role.

This outing is a spot start for Jeff Weaver (3-1, 3.72 ERA) in place of the injured Eric Milton, but it will enable the brothers to become the first siblings to start against each other since Andy and Alan Benes in 2002.

"We've talked about it for a long time," Jeff said. "Baseball works in weird ways. To be in a relief/starting role, and for it to line up in this particular fashion, it seems like it's kind of meant to be.

"So we're going to have fun with it, see what happens, and hopefully we'll both come out of there feeling good about what we've done."

It will likely mean even more to both since it will take place near where they grew up in Simi Valley, Calif. Their parents are missing a family wedding to attend the game, and they'll be pulling for a low-scoring affair.

"I think they will root for Jeff, they did love him a lot growing up," Jered said. "So I would say the upper hand is on Jeff's side."

But Jeff may find himself struggling to keep up with his brother, who at 26 is six years younger and just blossoming into a star for the Angels.

A first-round pick in 2004, Jered Weaver (7-2, 2.08) has won his last four starts, allowing four total runs and striking out 29 in 30 innings. He recorded a 6-0 win over San Diego on Sunday.

"Weav is pitching as well as he ever has," manager Mike Scioscia told the Angels' official Web site. "He was terrific."

Jered has been effective in his career against the Dodgers, going 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in five starts. He needed 101 pitches to get through five innings and did not get a victory May 22, but the Angels still won 3-1.

Jeff's recent history against the Angels has been uglier. He faced them four times while with Seattle in 2007, going 0-3 with a 9.72 ERA.

The pitching matchup will likely overshadow the Angels' season-best seven-game winning streak, which will be on the line in another meeting between the reigning AL West and NL West champs.

The Angels' run has pushed them back to the brink of the lead in the division they've won four of the last five years. First-place Texas' edge slipped to one-half game after the Angels (36-29) beat the Dodgers 5-4 on Friday.

Juan Rivera's eighth-inning home run broke a 4-4 tie and improved the Angels to 3-1 in Freeway Series games this year.

But the Dodgers (44-24) still have the best record in the majors and a comfortable division lead.

Joe Torre's club is averaging just over three runs in the last 20 games as it awaits the return of suspended slugger Manny Ramirez early next month. The team's 3.10 ERA over that span has helped salvage an 11-9 record.

The Dodgers have been significantly less successful at Angel Stadium, where they've dropped 17 of their last 21.