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Angels-Dodgers Preview

May 23, 2009 - 7:08 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

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

John Lackey's first start of the season didn't turn out as planned. His last three outings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, couldn't have played out much better.

The Angels ace, trying to settle down after a strange first appearance, looks to win his fourth straight start against the Dodgers in the middle game of an interleague series Saturday night.

Lackey (1-0, 9.00 ERA) was out with a strained forearm before making his season debut last Saturday, only to get ejected for throwing behind and hitting Texas' Ian Kinsler on his only two pitches. He threw 80 more pitches Monday night, surrendering five runs - four earned - and seven hits in five innings as the Angels beat Seattle 10-6.

The veteran right-hander will only help what has been a strong Angels rotation, but he may need some time get into a groove after being out for so long.

"John's a guy who likes to set the tone," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He takes a lot of pride in doing that. ... It's nice to have a lead dog."

Though the Dodgers (29-14) have the best record in the majors, facing them could give Lackey's confidence a boost. He has not allowed a run in his last three starts versus the Dodgers, striking out 28 in 22 1-3 innings while earning a win in each game, and is 5-1 with a 1.15 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance all-time against them.

The Angels (22-19) got a strong start from Jered Weaver as they beat the Dodgers 3-1 on Friday night in the series opener.

The Dodgers, who wasted a solid outing from Clayton Kershaw, will now send Randy Wolf (2-1, 2.72) to the mound. The veteran left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his last five starts.

In his last outing, Wolf gave up two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 2-3 innings during the Dodgers' 3-2, 11-inning win over the New York Mets on Monday night.

Wolf lost his only start against the Angels, allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings as the Dodgers were defeated 10-4 on June 17, 2007.

He'll be facing an Angels team that did just enough at the plate Friday to win its second straight game. Chone Figgins hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, finishing with three hits.

Figgins, who also saved two runs with a sparkling play at third base, is batting .457 (16 for 35) with six stolen bases in his last eight games.

Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson, batting .343 with 27 RBIs, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with one hit in four at-bats. That was one of the few bright spots for a Dodgers team that leads the National League with 233 runs, but has managed a total of three in its last two games.

The Dodgers stranded a runner at third base in five of the first seven innings and were 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

"There were missed opportunities on both sides. Unfortunately, they broke through and we didn't," manager Joe Torre said. "We're been scuffling offensively. And the longer it goes, the worse it gets because everybody puts pressure on themselves, and each guy is probably trying to do more than they're capable of doing."

Torre's club is a major league-worst 20-44 in interleague play since the start of the 2005 season.