SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers vs. NY Mets, 10:05am

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Johan Santana takes the hill as the as the New York Mets look to finish off a strong homestand Sunday in the finale of a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carlos Beltran hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the eighth and Fernando Tatis plated the winning run with single later in the inning as the Mets rallied for a 3-2 victory on Saturday. New York, which is 4-2 on its current seven-game homestand, will look to build off their second comeback win this week. Tatis doubled home the winning run in the 12th of Wednesday's 7-6 victory over Florida. Santana (6-3, 3.41 ERA) will try and close out the homestand on a high note. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings of a 5-3 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday. Santana has allowed three runs or less in seven of his last eight starts. The Dodgers, who have lost nine of 11, will counter with Hiroki Kuroda (2-4, 3.29). The Japenese righthander has allowed just five earned runs in his last 20 1/3 innings, but has just one win to show for it.

Toronto (31-27) at LA Angels (33-24), 12:35 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays will send A.J. Burnett to the mound Sunday as they hope to bounce back from an extra-inning loss when they meet the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the rubber match of a three-game series. Juan Rivera delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Angels to a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday. Casey Kotchman started the one-out rally in the 10th by belting a base hit to center field and advanced to third when Toronto reliever Brian Tallet committed a crucial throwing error on Maicer Izturis' grounder down the third base line. After Tallet issued an intentional pass to Jeff Mathis, Anaheim sent Rivera to the plate to face Jason Frasor. Rivera then slapped a 1-1 offering to right field, easily scoring Kotchman for the game-winning run. Burnett (5-5, 5.47 ERA) allowed three runs - two earned - and seven hits with two walks and a season-high 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday but suffered a 3-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics. The 31-year-old righthander had won his previous two starts. He will be opposed by righthander Jon Garland (5-3, 3.89), who is looking to win his third straight decision. Garland did not receive a decision in his last outing, despite tossing 7 1/3 scoreless frames in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday. He gave up four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.