ANAHEIM (CNS) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to complete a four-game sweep of the 2022 Freeway Series Saturday evening at Angel Stadium.
Julio Urias (7-6) is set to start for the Dodgers while fellow left- hander Jose Suarez (1-3) is scheduled to start for the Los Angeles Angels.
In his most recent start, Urias allowed five runs on three hits in two innings Sunday, getting a no decision in a game the Dodgers rallied from 5- 0 and 8-3 deficits to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 11-9. The no decision ended Urias’ streak of winning four consecutive starts.
Urias is 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA in three games (two starts) against the Angels, but has not faced them since last Aug. 7, when he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings in a game the Dodgers trailed 3-2 when he was relieved, but rallied to win 5-3.
In his most recent start, Suarez allowed four runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings and was charged with the loss in a 9-5 loss at Baltimore Sunday. He has never faced the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are 9-8 in Urias’ 17 starts. The Angels are 3-5 in Suarez’s eight starts.
Angels all-star outfielder Mike Trout has not played since being removed from Tuesday’s game because of back spasms.
There have been three sweeps of the Freeway Series since interleague play began in 1997, including two in the past three years. The Dodgers won all four games in 1997, the Angels won all four in 2019 and the Dodgers all six in 2020.
The Angels lead the all-time series 73-66, including a 42-27 advantage at Angel Stadium.
The game is set to start at 7:07 p.m. and will be televised by Bally Sports West and SportsNet LA.
The Dodgers (59-30) have won 10 of their last 11 games and 14 of their last 16, have Major League Baseball’s second-best record and the National League’s best record and a 9 1/2-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West.
The Angels (39-52) have lost 11 of their last 13 games, are in fourth in the five-team AL West and trail the Houston Astros by 20 1/2 games. They were one game behind the Astros on May 24 before beginning a franchise-record 14-game losing streak that prompted the firing of manager Joe Maddon 12 games into the streak.
The Dodgers were 9-1 winners over the Angels Friday, with Clayton Kershaw retiring the first 21 batters he faced before allowing a leadoff double by Luis Rengifo in the eighth.
The Dodgers and Angels will have their lone Sunday off day of the season Sunday because of a scheduling quirk related to interleague play.
