Boston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2013 ) Boston 0, LA Dodgers 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers spent a lot of money to bring in some players from the Boston Red Sox just under a year ago. That expense is slowly paying off and the host Dodgers will try to use Boston’s former players against it again when the teams square off Saturday. Los Angeles claimed the series opener 2-0 on Friday, with at least one piece of that trade contributing.

Carl Crawford had two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored in his first chance against his old team, though it was a player the Red Sox traded much longer ago - Hanley Ramirez - that made the difference with a two-run homer. The Dodgers pushed their lead in the National League West to 10 1/2 games and have taken four straight. Boston will try to avoid a seventh loss in 10 games Saturday and is tied atop the American League East with the Tampa Bay Rays.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (11-7, 4.09 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-4, 2.95)

Lester is aiming for a fourth straight quality start and dominated the San Francisco Giants last time out, yielding six hits in 8 1/3 scoreless innings. The Washington native is not racking up big strikeout numbers but is keeping the ball in the park with no home runs surrendered in his last three turns. Lester will face Los Angeles for the first time and is 12-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 24 career interleague starts.

Ryu had a streak of nine straight starts without a loss come to an end Monday, when he was reached for three runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings at Miami. The South Korea native is aiming for his sixth consecutive start allowing three or fewer runs. Ryu is 2-1 with a 4.10 ERA in four starts against AL opponents.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 46-10 since June 22.

2. Boston LHP Matt Thornton (oblique) threw a simulated game Friday and could be activated from the 15-day disabled list Sunday.

3. Los Angels rookie RF Yasiel Puig is 2-for-22 in his last six games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Dodgers 3