Preview: Dodgers, Zack Greinke Look To Stay Hot In Anaheim

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 11 of their last 13 games after suffering their first five game losing streak of the season in August. They now arrive in Anaheim for a three-game series against the rival Angels in what’s the Dodgers’ final Interleague series of the season.

Los Angeles is 8-9 in Interleague play on the season, and will look to finish above .500 in games against the American League for the third consecutive season. The Dodgers have struggled on the road this season against the AL however, as they are 0-7.

That could easily change Monday as Major League Baseball’s ERA leader Zack Greinke takes the mound. On the season Greinke is 15-3 with a 1.59 ERA. He also leads the Majors with a 0.85 WHIP and .189 opponent’s batting average.

The 31 year old has won 10 of his last 11 decisions over 14 starts since June 28. In 11 career games (10 starts) against the Angels Greinke is 2-5 with a 3.86 ERA.

Rookie Nick Tropeano gets the start Monday night in place of Matt Shoemaker, who will miss his scheduled start with a right forearm strain. Tropeano is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts.

This is the 30th time the Dodgers are facing a rookie pitcher on the season. They are 19-10 in the other 29 games. Corey Seager makes his fourth career start, again filling in at shortstop for Jimmy Rollins, who had an X-ray on a finger on his right hand.

Seager is 5-for-15 with two doubles and three RBIs since making his MLB debut on Sept. 3.
Adrian Gonzalez is the Dodgers designated hitter Monday, and Scott Van Slyke starts at first base. Justin Turner returns to his normal spot at third base after starting at second base on Sunday for just the third time this season.

With Turner returning to third, Chase Utley is back at second base and batting second. In his last five games he is 8-for-23 (.348) with two home runs and two doubles. Like Rollins, struggling catcher Yasmani Grandal, hitless in his last 33 at-bats, was also scratched from the lineup due to shoulder soreness.

Many Angels hitters have hit Greinke well in the past, including Mike Trout (5-for-10), Kole Calhoun (4-for-8), Erick Aybar (9-for-25), Albert Pujols (8-for-26) and David Freese (5-for-17).

Dodgers Lineup:

LF: Carl Crawford

2B: Chase Utley

DH: Adrian Gonzalez

3B: Justin Turner

RF: Andre Ethier

SS: Corey Seager

C: A.J. Ellis

1B: Scott Van Slyke

CF: Joc Pederson

P: Zack Greinke

Angels Lineup:

RF: Kole Calhoun

CF: Mike Trout

DH: Albert Pujols

LF: David Murphy

1B: C.J. Cron

SS: Eric Aybar

3B: David Freese

C: Carlos Perez

2B: Taylor Featherston

P: Nick Tropeano