SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (42-44) at San Francisco (38-49), 6:05pm

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- In the mediocre National League West, any team that gets on a roll can make a run up the standings very quickly. Over the last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers have done exactly that. The Dodgers eye their fifth straight win on Saturday when they continue their three-game set with the San Francisco Giants. Arizona (43-44) leads Los Angeles by a half-game in the NL West, which is the only division in the majors that does not feature a team with a winning record. With their recent run, the Dodgers are trying to change that with victories in six of their last eight games. Since falling to a season-low seven games (31-38) under .500 on June 15, Los Angeles is 11-6 and has trimmed five games off Arizona's divisional lead. Two of those wins were credited two Chan Ho Park (4-2, 2.45 ERA), who will make his fourth start of the season Saturday. The righthander, who threw 1 1/3 scoreless frames to get the decision in a relief outing in Tuesday's 7-6 win over Houston, is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts this season, holding opponents to a .185 batting average. Park has yet to allow more than one earned run in any of his starts. The Giants will counter with Barry Zito (3-12, 5.99), who will hope to avoid his major league-high 13th loss, which would also match his career high. The lefthander took the loss in Monday's 9-2 setback to the Chicago Cubs when he surrendered five runs - four earned - and six hits with five walks over five innings.

Toronto (41-46) at LA Angels (52-34), 6:05pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Nobody is finishing what they start better than Roy Halladay this season. However, no one has been better lately than John Lackey. The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim turn to their respective aces Saturday as the teams continue their three-game set. Halladay (9-6, 2.90 ERA) posted his 10th career shutout on Monday, allowing four singles in a 2-0 win over Seattle. The righthander, who threw his major league-best sixth complete game of the season, has twice as many such games than the three pitchers tied for second - Tampa Bay's James Shields, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and Milwaukee's Ben Sheets. None of that may make much of a difference the way Lackey (6-1, 1.44) has been pitching lately. The righthander was named American League Pitcher of the Month after going 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five June starts. Lackey, who has allowed one earned run or less in seven of his nine outings this season, was at his best on Saturday when he struck out a season-high nine - yielding just three hits and two walks - over 8 2/3 innings in a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.