Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 27, 2018 ) LA Angels 3, LA Dodgers 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to remain undefeated this month when they begin a seven-game road trip on Friday with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels. After ending June with three straight losses, the Dodgers have begun July with four consecutive wins - including a 6-4 triumph over Pittsburgh on Wednesday that concluded a 6-4 homestand.

Yasmani Grandal and Chris Taylor each went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Dodgers, who outscored the Pirates 31-8 during the three-game sweep. Both players enter the series against the Angels on fire, as Grandal went 6-for-9 with a homer, five RBIs, five walks and five runs scored against Pittsburgh while Taylor went 8-for-12 with one blast, seven RBIs and three runs scored. The Angels' sputtering offense cost them another game Thursday as they dropped to .500 (44-44) with a 4-1 loss at Seattle. Martin Maldonado recorded two of the team's six hits and Kole Calhoun drove in the lone run with a sacrifice fly for the Angels, who concluded a 3-7 road trip during which they scored fewer than three runs in six of the seven defeats.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Dodgers), FS West (Angels)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (5-5, 3.36 ERA) vs. Angels RH Felix Pena (1-0, 3.71)

Maeda worked seven innings and registered nine strikeouts for the second straight start on Saturday but suffered a loss against Colorado despite giving up three runs - two earned - and five hits. The 30-year-old native of Japan served up a home run in the setback, the first he has allowed in four turns and second in seven outings. Maeda split his first two career starts versus the Angels, yielding four runs and nine hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts over 11 innings.

Pena is coming off the longest of his three career starts and recorded his first victory as a member of the rotation after scattering five hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings at Baltimore. The 28-year-old Dominican has posted a 2.51 ERA as a starter, allowing only four runs in 14 1/3 frames while registering 17 strikeouts and issuing five walks. Pena made two relief appearances against the Dodgers during his time with the Chicago Cubs and gave up one hit with three walks and five strikeouts in three scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 42-12 when scoring first and 5-27 when allowing the initial run.

2. The Angels activated 1B Jefry Marte (wrist), who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday and optioned OF Jabari Blash to Triple-A Salt Lake.

3. The Dodgers acquired Dylan Floro and Zach Neal from Cincinnati on Wednesday and assigned the latter to Triple-A Oklahoma City while designating fellow RHP Daniel Corcino for assignment.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Angels 3