MLB Game Preview - LA Angels at LA Dodgers

Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:10 PM EDT

Both of Major League Baseball's MVP awards could go to teams with Los Angeles in their names, and Mike Trout is making sure to let everybody know who is the actual top dog in Southern California.

In all three matchups this season, Trout's Los Angeles Angels have gotten the best of Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Trout making an impact Tuesday in a 5-4 victory at Dodger Stadium.

The two-time American League MVP continued to make a case for No. 3. He turned in a defensive gem when he threw out Max Muncy at home plate and added an offensive exclamation point when he hit a home run into the second level of seats down the left field line.

Trout has 11 home runs in his last 13 games, putting one of baseball's best players in one of the hotter runs of his career. He will try to give the Angels a clean sweep of the all-L.A. interleague series when the teams meet Wednesday for the final time in the regular season.

Handling the pitching side for the Angels, who are 8-3 in the second half, is Jaime Barria (3-3, 7.36 ERA). The right-hander is coming off a brutal pitching performance Friday in Seattle, where he gave up 10 runs on nine hits with four walks over 3 2/3 innings during a 10-0 loss to the Mariners.

Those troubles, though, came as a reliever following an opener. Out of the bullpen, Barria is 2-2 with a 10.00 ERA in five appearances. In his three starts, he is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. He will face the Dodgers for the first time in his career.

"It's pretty hard," Barria said, via MLB.com. "Sometimes I pitch here, get sent down, sit at home for two days, and then rejoin (Triple-A) Salt Lake. It's hard because I've been doing the work to stay here. But I always try to give my best."

While Trout has two home runs in the three games against the Dodgers this season, Bellinger does not have a home run against the Angels and has not driven in a run. He had two hits Tuesday but was thrown out at the plate by Kole Calhoun for the last out of the game.

Since a four-hit game July 15 in Philadelphia, Bellinger is just 4-for-20 (.200) over his next six games. He does have a home run in that span, July 16 against the Phillies, but has driven in just two runs.

With 34 home runs in 2019, he is just one off Christian Yelich's National League lead. The two left-handed hitters have put on a show this season.

"It's pretty cool, for sure," Bellinger said of the home run chase, via MLB.com. "Lot of season left, though, with a lot of dudes that are close. So I'm just going to enjoy it for now."

Taking the mound for the Dodgers on Wednesday will be right-hander Ross Stripling (4-3, 3.64 ERA). He returned to the rotation on June 25, and in five starts since then is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA.

Stripling last pitched Thursday at Philadelphia, where he gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings while ending his stint with a no-decision. Stripling is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Angels in his career.

--Field Level Media