Miami @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2011 ) LA Angels 6, Florida 5

Two of the best young superstars in baseball meet Monday when the Los Angeles Angels host the Miami Marlins, who stand four games back of the second wild card spot in the National League. The three-game series features two legitimate MVP candidates in the Angels’ Mike Trout and the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton, who grew up in the Los Angeles area. Trout is batting .288 with 29 homers and 91 RBIs for the Angels, who hold a one-game lead over Oakland in the American League West.

The Angels salvaged their series finale against Oakland on Sunday behind another strong effort from outfielder Josh Hamilton, who homered in the 9-4 win and has eight RBIs over his last five games. Outfielder Marcell Ozuna is 13-for-29 during a seven-game hitting streak for the Marlins, who went a disappointing 2-3 against Colorado and Texas last week and begin a tougher stretch against the Angels and Atlanta. “This is a resilient group,” manager Mike Redmond told reporters. “I know we’ll come back Monday and try to win a ball game. That’s what we do.”

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jarred Cosart (10-8, 4.14 ERA) vs. Angels LH Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 7.36)

Cosart has turned in three solid outings since being acquired from Houston on July 31, including last Tuesday when he tossed six innings of one-run ball against Texas. “I think we all knew that this guy’s got great stuff,” Redmond told reporters. “It’s been fun watching him over the last couple of starts pitching when the games mean something.” The Texas native is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in two career starts against the Angels.

LeBlanc is making his first start in place of Garrett Richards, who had season-ending surgery on a torn patellar tendon in his left knee last week. The 30-year-old LeBlanc received the nod after going 5-1 with a 2.89 ERA over his last nine games for Triple-A Salt Lake. LeBlanc owns a 20-32 career record and is 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA in three career starts against Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels own the best interleague record in the majors since 2007 at 94-51.

2. Miami has gone 55 straight games without being shut out, which is the longest active streak in the majors.

3. Angels SS Erick Aybar is 15-for-35 during his nine-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Marlins 6, Angels 4