Preview: Dodgers Seek 9th Consecutive Win In Freeway Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers, winners in 13 of their last 15 games, look to remain hot by completing a season sweep of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Along with aiming to win a ninth consecutive game over the Angels, which is a streak that dates back to last season, the Dodgers are also in position to pad their 8.5-game division lead over the San Francisco Giants. To do so, Los Angeles sends Joe Wieland to the mound in place of Mat Latos, who was scratched from the scheduled start due to neck stiffness.

Latos only lasted four innings and 54 pitches in his last start before getting removed. After that game he expressed frustration with having a short leash, but did have a conversation with Dodgers manager Don Mattingly after the fact.

Wieland is making his first career start against the Angels. The Dodgers called Wieland up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 1. He last pitched in game on Aug. 26, when he was still with OKC. In 10 career Major League games, which includes eight starts, Wieland is 1-5 with a 5.98 ERA, 5.84 FIP and 1.51 WHIP.

Some of the Angels’ hope to avoid dropping a sixth game to the Dodgers this season hinges on Garrett Richards. On the year Richards is 13-10 with a 3.77 ERA, 3.80 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP. Wednesday marks the sixth time in Richards’ career he’s facing the Dodgers. He’s 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA over 22.2 innings pitched.

Austin Barnes gets the start behind the plate, and brings with him some sense of familiarity as he caught 15 of Wieland’s starts with the OKC Dodgers. Scott Schebler starts in left field and bats leadoff as Carl Crawford is dealing with a sore back.

Corey Seager remains the starter at shortstop with Jimmy Rollins still dealing with a sore knuckle in his right hand. Over six games (five starts) in the Majors, Seager has continued to impress and is batting .381/.458/.571 with four doubles, four RBIs and one stolen base.

Dodgers Lineup:

LF: Scott Schebler

2B: Chase Utley

DH: Adrian Gonzalez

3B: Justin Turner

RF: Andre Ethier

SS: Corey Seager

1B: Scott Van Slyke

CF: Joc Pederson

C: Austin Barnes

(P: Joe Wieland)

Angels Lineup:

RF: Kole Calhoun

CF: Mike Trout

DH: Albert Pujols

LF: David Murphy

1B: C.J. Cron

SS: Erick Aybar

3B: David Freese

C: Carlos Perez

2B: Taylor Featherston

(P: Garrett Richards)