Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2013 ) LA Angels 3, NY Yankees 11

The New York Yankees were desperate for a right-handed power hitter when they swung a deal with the Chicago Cubs late last month to acquire Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees didn't get much bang for their buck in the first 10 games after the trade, but Soriano has taken off in the last seven contests. He has been a one-man wrecking crew the past two games, clubbing four homers and driving in 13 runs to put New York in position to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon.

The Angels have dropped four straight and eight of 10 to fall a season-worst 13 games under .500. Jered Weaver was the latest pitcher to be brutalized by Soriano, who had a grand slam and a career-high seven RBIs on Wednesday in New York's fourth straight win. "He's had a good month these last two games," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Soriano, who became the first player in franchise history with back-to-back games of at least six RBIs.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (12-6, 3.49 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (4-11, 4.99)

Wilson is riding a four-game winning streak but hasn't been particularly sharp in his last three outings, surrendering 12 runs and 26 hits over 16 2/3 innings. He earned the victory at Cleveland last time out, allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 frames. Wilson beat the Yankees at home on June 14, giving up two runs in seven innings to improve to 2-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 24 appearances (seven starts) against them.

Hughes has lost back-to-back starts and saw his winless streak reach six games when he was tagged for four runs in 4 1/3 innings by Detroit in his last turn. Hughes served up a pair of homers to the Tigers and has been taken deep eight times during the six-start drought and 22 times overall. He owns a winning record (3-2) versus the Angels but has pitched to an ugly 8.38 ERA in eight appearances (five starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Soriano has three two-homer performances against the Angels this season, including one while with the Cubs on July 9.

2. Wilson has dominated Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, who is 1-for-19 lifetime against the lefty.

3. Hughes has been awful at home with a 1-8 record and 6.18 ERA in 12 starts.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Angels 5