SoCal MLB Preview

Los Angeles (62-39) at Baltimore (48-52), 4:05 p.m.

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim own the largest division lead in the majors and their advantage seems to growing by the game. The Angels look to continue their strong play on the road when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Anaheim, which owns a 10-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West, has won consecutive games and seven of eight. While this contest opens a 10-game road trip, the Angels aren't worried about losing their lead as the team is a major league-best 31-18 away from home. Anaheim is poised to continue that trend when it sends Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.05 ERA) to the mound. Saunders, who has allowed two runs or less in 13 of his 19 starts, is 3-0 lifetime against the Orioles and allowed four runs and 12 hits in five innings during a 6-5 victory over Baltimore on May 4. Brian Burres (7-6, 5.02) tries to help the Orioles end their three-game losing streak. Burres, who went 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his only two career starts against Anaheim last year, is looking to bounce back from a tough outing. The 27-year-old lefthander had a three-game win streak snapped when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking four while striking out five during Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Washington (38-64) at LA Dodgers (49-52), 7:40 pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After seeing their pitching staff roughed up by the Colorado Rockies, there may be no better time than the present for the Los Angeles Dodgers to play host to one of the worst offenses in the majors. The Dodgers hope to rebound from a disappointing end to their first post-All-Star break road trip on Friday when they face the Washington Nationals. Despite going 3-3 against National League West-leading Arizona (50-51) and third-place Colorado (45-58), Los Angeles left Coors Field with questions about a pitching staff that surrendered 25 runs as the Rockies took two of three. Despite the recent struggles, Los Angeles still sports a 3.81 team ERA, the best mark in the NL. If any pitcher is up to the challenge, it figures to be Chad Billingsley (9-9, 3.32 ERA), who leads the team in wins. However, the righthander took the loss in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Arizona after allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. For Billingsley, who has been afforded 59 runs of support in his 20 starts, it marked the ninth time LA has provided with one run of support or less in an outing. However, he may catch a break against the Nationals, who are the second-lowest scoring team at 386 runs. He'll be opposed by John Lannan (6-9, 3.29), who has received less help. The lefthander has been provided with a league-low 37 runs in 19 starts. He did receive three runs over his six innings of work in Saturday's 8-2 win over Atlanta. Lannan allowed one run and seven hits.