Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 1, LA Angels 2

The Los Angeles Angels have taken advantage of a soft stretch in their schedule to win eight straight contests and build momentum heading into their two-game series beginning Monday against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. The Angels are within four games of .500 for the first time in a month and are staring at a manageable 4 1/2-game deficit in the American League wild-card standings. The Dodgers have struggled to build any momentum since a 4-2 start, failing to win more than two in a row since.

A key component in the recent success of the Angels has been their pitching. They’ve allowed two runs or less in six of the last seven games and will face a Dodgers’ offense that has scored the second-fewest runs in the major leagues. Josh Hamilton homered for the Angels in each of the last two games and is close to lifting his batting average over .230 for the first time this season. J.B. Shuck is hitting .315 in the No. 9 spot for the Angels, which has allowed management to be patient waiting for speedy center fielder Peter Bourjos to return from a hamstring injury.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Angels), Prime Ticket (Dodgers).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (4-3, 3.39 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (2-1, 3.48)

Wilson is having a solid month despite a 2-3 record. He pitched well in back-to-back starts against the Chicago White Sox, but Chris Sale pitched better and the Angels lost both games 3-0. Wilson came back Wednesday and gave up one run and six hits in eight innings of a 7-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners. Wilson was in the middle of his best stretch of last season when he made his only career start against the Dodgers, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings of a 2-1 victory June 13 at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford is 3-for-18 in his career against Wilson and second baseman Mark Ellis is 2-for-17.

Greinke played for the Angels during the second half of last season and then opted to sign a lucrative free-agent deal with the Dodgers. Greinke has made two starts since coming off the disabled list with a broken left collarbone and the Dodgers have been conservative with his pitch totals. He threw 90 pitches in four innings Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers and took the loss after allowing five runs and nine hits. Greinke has beaten the Angels only once in seven career starts. His biggest nemesis has been shortstop Erick Aybar (7-for-16 with four doubles) but he has dominated Hamilton (1-for-19 with nine strikeouts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels RHP Jered Weaver will make his first start Wednesday since suffering a fracture to his non-throwing elbow April 7.

2. Angels LHP Sean Burnett, who was activated from the 15-day DL on Tuesday, left with similar forearm tightness after pitching to two batters in relief Sunday. He has a 0.93 ERA in 12 appearances this season.

3. The Dodgers are 0-19 when trailing after six innings this season.

PREDICTION: Angels 4, Dodgers 2