SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (12-13) at Florida (15-10), 4:10 pm
MIAMI (Ticker) - James Loney and the Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to register their season-best fourth consecutive victory Tuesday when they visit the Florida Marlins for the opener of a three-game series. Loney helped the Dodgers complete a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, delivering a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the 10th inning of a 3-2 victory. Los Angeles, which is kicking off a six-game road trip, will send righthander Derek Lowe (2-1, 2.45 ERA) to the mound in hopes of continuing its winning ways. Lowe tossed five frames in his last outing, allowing a run and three hits in Wednesday's 8-3 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Marlins are also coming off an extra-inning victory as Wes Helms' home run in the 10th inning lifted his club to a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. The 31-year-old Helms, who drove in the winning run against Milwaukee on Friday with a 10th-inning groundout, blasted his first homer of the season. Andrew Miller (1-2, 7.94) will take the hill for Florida, which ranks second in the National League with 35 home runs this season. The 22-year-old Miller is coming off his best start of the young season, surrendering two runs - one earned - on nine hits and two walks over five innings during a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.


Oakland (17-10) at LA Angels (16-11), 7:05 pm
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics will look to continue their great start Tuesday when they square off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the second of a four-game series. The Athletics recorded their fifth win in six games and took over sole possession of first place in the American League West Division on Monday, unleashing a 14-2 beating on the Angels. Daric Barton, Jack Hannahan and Emil Brown all homered and Frank Thomas went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI for Oakland, which belted out 16 hits. The Athletics will send rookie Greg Smith (2-0, 2.88 ERA) to the mound. The 24-year-old lefthander pitched seven stellar frames in his last outing, allowing two runs and seven hits with three strikeouts in Thursday's 11-2 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Oakland has won in each of Smith's four starts this season, averaging 6.3 runs when he takes the hill. Smith will be opposed by lefthander Joe Saunders (4-0, 2.55), whose team has also not lost with him on the mound. Saunders gave up three runs over six innings during Thursday's 7-5 triumph over the Boston Red Sox. Despite Monday's loss, Los Angeles has won four of its previous six contests.