SoCal MLB Preview

LA Angels (66-40) at Boston (61-47), 4:05 pm

BOSTON (Ticker) -- A day after acquiring slugger Mark Teixeira, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try to sweep the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday at Fenway Park. Teixeira, who is batting .283 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI, is expected to make his debut with the Angels and bat cleanup behind Vladimir Guerrero. The owners of the best record in the major leagues, the Angels traded first baseman Casey Kotchman and prospect righthander Steve Malek to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday with hopes the two-time Gold Glove winner will propel them to play deep into October. In the first two games against the Red Sox, Anaheim looked like a legitimate championship contender. On Monday, it posted a 7-5 triumph and Tuesday was even more impressive as John Lackey took a no-hitter into the ninth - before surrendering two hits and two runs - en route to a 6-2 win. Boston will turn to ace Josh Beckett (9-7, 3.83 ERA) to erase the possibility of falling three games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (62-44). Beckett faced the Angels on July 19 and was on the losing end of a 4-2 bout. The 28-year-old righthander tossed eight innings on the road, allowing four runs and nine hits while striking out six. Joe Saunders (13-5, 3.10) threw 6 2/3 innings that game, allowing two runs and six hits, but didn't factor in the decision. Saunders, a first-time All-Star, has held opponents to three or less runs in nine of his last 10 starts and is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts against the Red Sox. Anaheim swept Boston in a three-game set in the first series of the second half, enjoying a 20-8 run advantage.

San Francisco (44-62) at LA Dodgers (53-53), 7:10 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have surged into contention in the National League West Division on the strength of their pitching. Righthander Chad Billingsley (10-9, 3.26 ERA) tries to lead the Dodgers to their fifth win in six games on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles enters the series finale one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West thanks to a staff, which ranks first in the NL and third in the majors with a 3.72 ERA and has held opponents scoreless in three of their last four games. Billingsley, who ranks third in the NL with 137 strikeouts, has also been a huge part of the success of the rotation, winning six of his last eight starts while surrendering two runs or fewer five times over that span. The 24-year-old allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, walking three while striking out four en route to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. Jonathan Sanchez (8-6, 4.46) tries to end a dismal stretch . Sanchez has yet to post a victory in July after winning five of his six starts in June. The 25-year-old lefthander is 0-2 with an 8.47 ERA this month as the Giants have dropped each of his last four outings.