Los Angeles Dodgers (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (7-13)
Saturday, August 15th, 9:40 PM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Walker Buehler (0-0, 4.40 ERA) vs LHP Andrew Heaney (1-1, 4.26 ERA)
Game Preview
The rivalry between the Angels and the Dodgers isn't as intense as the other featuring the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, but it might get more heated than expected considering how many times these two teams will matchup during the shortened 2020 MLB season. The Dodgers are the better team on paper and, so far, the records have backed that up – they are 14-7 while the Angels have only won seven of their first 20 contests, complicating their playoff chances even when there are two-thirds left of the season to be played. The pitching matchup will feature Andrew Heaney for the Angels and Walker Buehler for the Dodgers. Both hurlers have similar ERAs so far, but the Dodgers have a stronger lineup and that support factor might tip the scales in Buehler's favor.
Injuries
Los Angeles Angels
Justin Anderson - 60-Day IL - Elbow
7/23 9:59 AM EST - The Angels placed Anderson (elbow) on the 45-day injured list Thursday. Anderson's move to the IL was merely a formality after he was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow last week that required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The power reliever won't be ready to contribute for the Angels until late in the second half of the 2021 campaign in a best-case scenario.
Los Angeles Dodgers (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (7-13)
Saturday, August 15th, 9:40 PM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Walker Buehler (0-0, 4.40 ERA) vs LHP Andrew Heaney (1-1, 4.26 ERA)
Game Preview
The rivalry between the Angels and the Dodgers isn't as intense as the other featuring the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, but it might get more heated than expected considering how many times these two teams will matchup during the shortened 2020 MLB season. The Dodgers are the better team on paper and, so far, the records have backed that up – they are 14-7 while the Angels have only won seven of their first 20 contests, complicating their playoff chances even when there are two-thirds left of the season to be played. The pitching matchup will feature Andrew Heaney for the Angels and Walker Buehler for the Dodgers. Both hurlers have similar ERAs so far, but the Dodgers have a stronger lineup and that support factor might tip the scales in Buehler's favor.
Injuries
Los Angeles Angels
Justin Anderson - 60-Day IL - Elbow
7/23 9:59 AM EST - The Angels placed Anderson (elbow) on the 45-day injured list Thursday. Anderson's move to the IL was merely a formality after he was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow last week that required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The power reliever won't be ready to contribute for the Angels until late in the second half of the 2021 campaign in a best-case scenario.
Cam Bedrosian - 10-Day IL - Thigh
8/9 8:06 AM EST - Bedrosian (thigh) does not have a clear timetable for his return, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Bedrosian was placed on the injured list with a right adductor strain Aug. 4, but the team is currently unsure when he'll be able to resume pitching. "We really don't have a timetable on him. We're just trying to get him back to where he's feeling comfortable. It's something that didn't seem too serious. So I'm sure, it's fairly imminent when he gets back out there, but at this point, we really don't have a timetable," pitching coach Mickey Callaway stated Saturday. Bedrosian has allowed one earned run in 4.1 innings of work this season.
Taylor Cole - Out - Shoulder
8/13 4:45 PM EST - Cole announced Thursday via his personal Instagram account that he had shoulder surgery Wednesday. Cole has been dealing with a shoulder issue since late July. After attempting to rehab through through the injury, surgery ultimately became the best option for the right-hander. Cole was already a long shot to see substantial major-league work this year, but Wednesday's surgery will almost certainly end Cole's season entirely.
Parker Markel - Out - Undisclosed
7/23 4:16 PM EST - Markel (undisclosed) is not included on the Angels' 30-man roster. Markel missed all of summer camp while dealing with an undisclosed issue, so his exclusion from the Opening Day roster is not surprising. The right-hander was far from a lock to make break camp with the squad in any case after allowing 19 earned runs in 22 innings last season as a member of the Mariners and Pirates.
Dillon Peters - 10-Day IL - Oblique
7/26 6:39 PM EST - Peters (oblique) reported to the Angels' alternate training site Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. After missing all of camp with an oblique issue, Peters reported to the team's alternate training site to rehab as he attempts to get back into game shape. The southpaw is expected to join the major-league bullpen at some point, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to play in regular season games. Peters made 17 appearances (12 starts) for the Angels last season, recording a 5.38 ERA and 55:26 K:BB over 72 innings.
Andrelton Simmons - 10-Day IL - Ankle
8/14 4:43 PM EST - Simmons (ankle) is unlikely to return during the Angels' weekend series against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Although there was hope that Simmons would be able to return over the weekend, manager Joe Maddon revealed Friday that he's still sore. As a result, he'll likely be sidelined for at least three more games. However, the 30-year-old has been taking live batting practice at the Angels' alternate training site and could return relatively soon if his soreness subsides.
Jose Soriano - Out - Elbow
2/13 10:45 AM EST - Soriano underwent Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the entire 2020 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports. This is a tough break for Soriano, who compiled a 2.55 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 77.2 innings with Low-A Burlington in 2019. The 21-year-old righty will now begin a long recovery process that will likely keep him sidelined into the 2021 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Yadier Alvarez - Out - Shoulder
3/2 2:33 PM EST - Alvarez (shoulder) cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to minor-league camp, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Alvarez was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Brewers after being unable to get loose. He's been sent for tests on his shoulder, the results of which aren't yet known. The shoulder scare was evidently enough to dissuade teams from taking a chance on him in waivers.
Joe Kelly - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
8/12 3:28 PM EST - Kelly (shoulder) won his appeal and had his suspension reduced from eight games to five games, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Kelly remains on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. While the suspension will take place once he's back on the active roster, he'll be able to return to the mound slightly sooner than expected. It's unclear when the right-hander will be healthy enough to return from the injured list. Kelly was effective as a middle reliever to begin the season, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings while posting a 5:5 K:BB over seven appearances.
Jimmy Nelson - 60-Day IL - Back
7/21 10:31 AM EST - Nelson (back) landed on the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports. The righty is set to undergo lumbar surgery, a procedure which will wipe out his 2020 season entirely. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers to add Jake McGee, who signed a major-league deal.
David Price - Out - Opt Out
7/4 1:48 PM EST - Price has elected not to play this season, he announced on his personal Twitter page Saturday. Price cited his health and his family's health as his reasons for sitting out the season during the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the highest-profile player thus far to opt out. He now won't be suiting up for his new team until the start of the 2021 season. His absence creates a hole in the Dodgers' rotation, with Dustin May looking like the most likely beneficiary.
Zach Reks - Out - Undisclosed
8/12 9:10 AM EST - Reks (undisclosed) has not yet joined the team at its alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Reks has been away from the team since July 8, though the Dodgers have yet to give a reason for the outfielder's absence. The 26-year-old was included on the 60-man roster after a strong spring in which he hit .368/.556/.684 and drew eight walks.
Will Smith - Day-To-Day - Neck
8/14 4:58 PM EST - Smith (neck) is still considered day-to-day, but a trip to the 10-day injured list hasn't been ruled out, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. Smith is sitting for the second consecutive game Friday as he's still dealing with neck stiffness, but manager Dave Roberts said that the injured list "isn't out of the realm of possibility." Austin Barnes continues to serve as the backup catcher in Smith's absence.
Cody Thomas - Out - Undisclosed
8/12 9:15 AM EST - Thomas (undisclosed) still isn't with the Dodgers at their alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Thomas was included in the team's 60-man player pool after smashing five home runs during spring training, However, the outfielder missed most of summer camp, and the team has thus far withheld the reason for his absence.
Andrew Toles - Out - Personal
6/26 11:43 PM EST - Toles was arrested in Florida on Monday on a misdemeanor trespassing charge after he was found sleeping behind Key West International Airport and refused to leave, Gwen Filosa of the Miami Herald reports. In terms of baseball news, this incident furthers the belief that Toles is unlikely to return to the sport during the 2020 season. However, Toles' need for help clearly extends beyond baseball, and any hope of seeing him in a Dodgers uniform again should be superseded by the hope that he simply gets well. The 28-year-old has a documented history of dealing with anxiety and depression, and he essentially disappeared from baseball after leaving spring training last May to deal with a personal matter.
Edwin Uceta - Out - Undisclosed
8/12 9:02 AM EST - Uceta (undisclosed) is still not at the Dodgers' alternate training site, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. Uceta departed summer camp in early July for undisclosed reasons, and little has been said about the 22-year-old's absence since. The right-hander was included in the Dodgers' 60-man player pool after logging a 3.21 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 76:33 K:BB in 73 innings with Double-A Tulsa last season.
Alex Wood - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
8/13 3:24 PM EST - Wood (shoulder) threw two innings of live batting practice Thursday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Wood fired 30 pitches in Thursday's simulated outing and is tentatively scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday. If everything goes well over the weekend, Wood could ramp up to three simulated innings early next week. According to Eric Stephen of SBNation.com, the southpaw will apparently need to make another simulated start of around four innings thereafter, suggesting his return is likely a couple of weeks away.
Angels Expected Lineup
SP - Andrew Heaney
2. Mike Trout
7. Jo Adell
9. Jason Castro
Dodgers Expected Lineup
SP - Walker Buehler
1. Mookie Betts
2. Max Muncy
5. A.J. Pollock
6. Corey Seager
7. Chris Taylor
9. Will Smith
Top Picks From Each Team
Mookie Betts, Dodgers: Betts went 0-for-4 against the Angels on Friday, but that shouldn't take anything from what the star outfielder has done of late. He still has a .303 average with a 1.027 OPS and, as if that wasn't enough, he has gone yard seven times already while adding 15 RBI.
Mike Trout, Angels: Trout also went 0-for-4 Friday, but the star slugger and reigning AL MVP is still hitting for .308 with a 1.048 OPS. Since returning from a four-game absence due to the birth of his child, Trout has smacked seven homers with 12 RBI in 10 games (41 at-bats) while hitting well over the .300 mark.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Walker Buehler
C – Jason Castro
IF – Justin Turner
IF – Anthony Rendon
IF – Corey Seager
IF – Edwin Rios
OF – Chris Taylor
OF – Mike Trout (VC)
OF – Mookie Betts (C)
