Dodgers vs. Angels: Freeway Series Preview

The Dodgers and Angels match up in the always anti-climacitc Battle of Los Angeles (and Orange County) over the weekend, a matchup traditionally unkind for the Dodgers. Here’s our pitching probables for the series, along with my highly quantitative predictions:

Friday: Kuroda vs. Joe Saunders

Advantage: Saunders. Kuroda was sharp in his last outing but Saunders has been exceptional all season.

Prediction: Angels win 7-2. Kuroda’s control works against him and the Angels KO him in the 5^th.

^{UPDATE: Kuroda lasted 6 1/3 and probably deserved a better fate as a few Dodger fielding miscues did him in. Angles win 4-2.}

Saturday: Chang-Who vs. Ervin Santana

Advantage: Santana. Really don’t need to go any further than that.

Outcome: Angels in a laugher and the Clay Kershaw watch begins in earnest.

UPDATE: Santana was wild and LA held on to win behind another brilliant performance by Kuo in relief.

Sunday: B. Penny vs. J. Weaver

Advantage: Push. Either could throw a no-hitter, either could get blown out in the 3rd

Outcome: Penny breaks the string of bad starts and rights the ship, Dodgers win 5-2.

UPDATE: Lowe goes instead of Penny and pitches like my dead grandfather, only slightly worse.

Put it in the books, no need to even watch the games now.