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Angels-Dodgers Preview

May 22, 2009 - 6:37 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (21-19) at Los Angeles (29-13), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers haven't done well in interleague play in recent years, but that might change given the way they're playing right now.

The Dodgers look to move 17 games over .500 for the first time in more than seven years Friday when they open a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels.

Beginning with 2005, the Dodgers (29-13) have gone a major-league worst 20-43 in interleague play. Last season, they were 5-10 against the AL, although they split their six games with the Angels (21-19) and won two of three against them at home in late June. Manager Joe Torre credits that series for helping put the Dodgers on the path to reaching the NL championship series.

"Winning two of three from the Angels last year at home, that was a great series for us," Torre told the Dodgers' official Web site. "We realized we could play against a good team. It meant a lot to us and we went off and played well."

The Dodgers don't appear to need any such motivation this time. They've won seven of their last eight and are coming off a three-game sweep of the New York Mets. They won the finale 2-1 on Wednesday after Russell Martin hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth.

Martin had been hitless in his previous 11 at-bats.

"If I was going to pick one time to get a hit, it would be then," Martin said. "I picked the right time and it worked out."

On Friday, the Dodgers will try to move 17 games over .500 for the first time since July 28, 2001, when they were 61-44. They'll likely have to hit better than they did last season against the AL, when they averaged 2.9 runs and batted .214.

While the Dodgers have the worst interleague record over the last four years, the Angels have the fourth-best at 43-29. They were 10-8 last season against the NL, including 6-3 on the road.

After getting swept by Texas to start this 10-game road trip, the Angels bounced back this week by winning three of four at Seattle. They concluded the series with a 3-0 victory Thursday. Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr. and Howie Kendrick all homered after the Angels began the day second-to-last in the AL with 30 home runs.

"We talked about slugging percentage before the game and those guys took it to heart," manager Mike Scioscia joked afterward.

Scioscia's team will get its first look Friday at Clayton Kershaw (2-3, 4.60 ERA), who took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning against Florida on Sunday. Kershaw, who gave up a double to lead off the eighth, allowed one run and one hit over seven-plus innings of a 12-5 victory.

"He's got the (Sandy) Koufax dominance, stuff-wise - the same type of curveball," Torre said.

Kershaw, who has never faced the Angels, was 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three interleague starts in 2008.

He'll be opposed by Jered Weaver (3-2, 2.59). The right-hander pitched eight strong innings Sunday against Texas, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out seven in a 3-0 loss. The Angels have lost three of Weaver's last four starts.

Weaver is 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA against the Dodgers. He split two starts against them last season, allowing three runs over 11 1-3 innings.