The Los Angeles Dodgers closed out Cactus League play on Saturday and now visit the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the opener of the 48th edition of the annual Freeway Series. The three-game set kicks off in Anaheim at 6:07 p.m. PT.
Kenta Maeda, who enjoyed his finest start of the spring in his most recent outing, takes the mound in the series opener. He allowed just three hits and one run over five innings with three strikeouts against the Oakland Athletics.
In four starts this spring, Maeda owns a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and .190 opponents’ batting average across 12.1 innings, with 11 strikeouts compared to just two walks. He’s used the spring to work on a changeup and pitching with the same aggression demonstrated as a reliever during the playoffs.
Maeda is expected to make his regular season debut Saturday, March 31, in the third of the Dodgers’ four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
The Angels counter with Parker Bridwell, who struggled a bit in his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 5.2 innings, he yielded nine baserunners — two of them being home runs — and three earned runs with five strikeouts.
For the spring, Bridwell has posted a disappointing 7.91 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 19.1 innings, while accumulating 28 hits, 17 earned runs, 15 strikeouts and seven walks.
The Dodgers broke camp with several Minor Leaguers in tow, though top pitching prospect Walker Buehler is not among them. Los Angeles has all but locked in their Opening Day roster, but the final three Spring Training games will provide a last look at any possible changes.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Cody Bellinger
DH: Matt Kemp
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Logan Forsythe
2B: Kiké Hernandez
Angels lineup:
2B: Ian Kinsler
CF: Mike Trout
LF: Justin Upton
1B: Albert Pujols
RF: Kole Calhoun
3B: Zack Cozart
DH: Luis Valbuena
SS: Andrelton Simmons
C: Martin Maldonado
