Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 27, 2013 ) LA Angels 7, LA Dodgers 8

Adrian Gonzalez might be the hottest hitter in the major leagues right now and he’ll try to continue his pace when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Los Angeles Angels in the second of four straight games between the Southern California neighbors. Gonzalez is 9-for-11 in the last three games with seven RBIs and six runs scored. He went 4-for-4 in Monday’s series opener and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of the 8-7 victory, ending the Angels’ eight-game winning streak.

On the other end of the thermometer is Dodgers’ cleanup hitter Matt Kemp, who went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Monday’s victory. He’s hitless in his last 12 at-bats with eight strikeouts and a groundball double play. Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick had three hits Monday to push his average back over .300, and center fielder Mike Trout is 14-for-31 since hitting for the cycle May 21, giving him a .354 average in May.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, KCAL (Dodgers), Fox Sports West (Angels).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joe Blanton (1-7, 6.19 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2, 3.30 ERA).

Blanton needs another good outing if he has any hope of remaining in the rotation. Jered Weaver is coming off the disabled list to start Wednesday’s game and Tommy Hanson appears close returning to his starting role after taking time off following the unexpected death of his stepbrother last month. Blanton won his last start, giving up two earned runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 win Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. Blanton spent the second half of last season with the Dodgers and is 2-0 with a 3.26 ERA in six career starts against the club.

Ryu has gone at least six innings in nine of 10 starts this season and has allowed two earned runs or less in seven appearances. He made his longest outing of the season in his last start Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. Ryu has been especially tough with runners in scoring position this season, limiting the opposition to seven hits in 46 at-bats, including 0-for-3 with the bases loaded. Ryu has also proved to be a tough out at the plate. He has five hits in 21 at-bats with two RBIs.

WALK-OFFS:

1. The Angels haven’t allowed a home run in their last eight games.

2. Blanton’s most recent start against the Dodgers came when he was still with the Philadelphia Phillies last July. He allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings of the 3-2 win, then was shipped to Los Angeles two weeks later.

3. Seven of the eight hits by Dodgers OF Scott Van Slyke have gone for extra bases this season.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Angels 4