The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to host the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium for a three-game Freeway Series this weekend. The matchup arrives after the Dodgers swept the Angels at Angel Stadium just a few weeks ago, outscoring them 31-3 across that series.
Los Angeles enters the weekend at 40-23 and has won 16 of its last 21 games. The Angels come in at 24-39, looking to slow a Dodgers club that has already controlled this season’s head-to-head meeting.
Dodgers line up their rotation for the rivalry series
The Dodgers will open the series on Friday with right-hander Roki Sasaki facing left-hander Reid Detmers. Sasaki delivered the best start of his major league career against the Angels in that earlier series, when he worked seven innings and allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts.
That outing marked the start of a turnaround for Sasaki, who has allowed four runs, three earned, over his two starts since then. He owns a 4.59 ERA over 51 innings this season, while Detmers has posted a 4.63 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 22 walks across 68 innings in 12 starts.
Saturday’s middle game features Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Jack Kochanowicz. Yamamoto has been in strong form, giving up just two runs over his last three starts and holding a 2.86 ERA across 69.1 innings.
Kochanowicz has gone 2-4 with a 5.23 ERA this season and has struck out 46 while walking 34 over 63.2 innings. He also saw the Dodgers a few weeks ago and allowed six runs over six innings in that meeting.
Sunday finale brings another key pitching test
The series will close Sunday with Emmet Sheehan on the mound for the Dodgers against José Soriano. Sheehan owns a 4.50 ERA in 58 innings and has struck out 62 while walking 14, while also allowing two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts.
Soriano has remained one of the Angels’ most effective arms despite some recent regression. He carries a 2.72 ERA with 85 strikeouts over 76 innings, but the Dodgers got to him in mid-May when he gave up a season-high six runs over 5.1 innings.
How to watch the Freeway Series
Friday’s opener is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT/10:10 p.m. ET, with Saturday also set for 7:10 p.m. PT/10:10 p.m. ET. Sunday’s finale begins at 1:10 p.m. PT/4:10 p.m. ET, and all three games will air on SportsNet LA, Angels Broadcast Television, and in the MLB app.
The Dodgers now have a chance to build on their earlier dominance in the rivalry, while the Angels look for a different result after being held to only three runs in the previous three-game set.
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