Boston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2012 ) Boston 3, LA Angels 10

Every once in a while the Los Angeles Angels put everything together and look like one of the best teams in the league. That seems to happen a lot when they play the Boston Red Sox. The Angels have won each of their five meetings with the Red Sox this season and will go for the clean sweep behind Zack Greinke on Thursday. Los Angeles is 3 1/2 games out in the American League wild-card race.

The Angels have scored 42 runs in five games against Boston and got multiple hits from five different players in Wednesday’s 10-3 drubbing. The Red Sox’s plan of giving all the young players a chance extended to Zach Stewart, who was the big prize coming back in the Kevin Youkilis trade in June. Los Angeles welcomed Stewart back to the majors by pounding him for nine runs in three innings. Boston (62-69) has lost 18 of 27 in August in has seven more games left on its west coast road trip. The Angels are trending in the opposite direction, having won six of eight.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSW (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (8-10, 4.98 ERA) vs. Angels RH Zack Greinke (11-5, 3.87)

Lester is ending his season on a high note with three straight wins. The left-hander had gone seven straight starts without a win but has posted a 2.25 ERA with 22 strikeouts in his last three turns. Lester missed the series with Los Angeles last week but has had some success against the Angels in his career, posting a 4-1 record with a 4.20 ERA in seven starts. He has been at his best on the road in 2012, going 5-2 with a 2.99 ERA outside of Fenway Park.

Greinke is coming off his best start since joining the Angels, a win at Detroit in which he surrendered one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.22 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Milwaukee last month. Greinke is just 1-4 in six games - five starts - against the Red Sox in his career despite a 2.88 ERA. Boston outfielder Scott Podsednik is 17-for-34 against Greinke.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox are expected to recall RHP Daniel Bard on Thursday. The former star reliever went 3-2 with a 7.03 ERA in 31 games with Triple-A Pawtucket.

2. Angels 2B Howie Hendrick has hit in 15 straight games and is 8-for-21 (.381) against Boston this season.

3. Los Angeles rookie sensation Mike Trout is 5-for-23 (.217) with eight strikeouts in his last five games.