Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 29, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 1, LA Angels 5

THE STORY: Both teams are on slight upturns as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Los Angeles Angels Friday night in the first of six games over the next 10 days. The Angels, who beat the Dodgers five out of six games in 2010, will send Dan Haren to the mound against rookie Rubby De La Rosa. The Angels are 6-3 on their current 12-game road trip, winning each of the last three series. The Dodgers had won three straight before allowing four home runs in a 7-5 loss to Detroit Wednesday. X-rays were negative, but Angels’ right fielder Torii Hunter is doubtful with bruised left ribs after running into the wall to make a catch Wednesday at Florida.

TV: 10:10 p.m. EST, PRIME, KCOP.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Rubby De La Rosa (3-1, 4.58) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (6-5, 2.96).

The 22-year old De La Rosa gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings his last start June 18 against Houston. He won the first two starts of his career, allowing one run in the first and three in the second. De La Rosa has struck out 21 and walked 12 in 19 2/3 innings overall. He has two hits in five career at bats.

Haren gave up six runs in four innings to the Mets his last start and has allowed 20 runs in 30 innings over his last five starts, going 2-3. He has walked just 16 and struck out 89. Haren is 4-5 lifetime against the Dodgers, with a 3.19 ERA in 90 1/3 innings. Andre Ethier is 14-for-41 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs against Haren.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (34-42): Matt Kemp has been one of the league’s best hitters, batting .328 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs, but has only been average against the Angels (.265, one homer). He was 3-for-3 Wednesday after a mini slump (1-for-14, five games). The Dodgers will have to get more from their lineup overall. Andre Ethier has been solid, going 6-for-19 the last five games, but Jamey Carroll has struggled with just one hit in his last 19 at-bats. Third baseman Casey Blake is questionable due to a sore neck. Blake was limited to pinch-hitting duty in the last series.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (37-39): The Angels have won three, one-run games on their long road trip, scoring 33 and allowing 29. But they have to hope Hunter returns quickly. He was 11-for-25 with five RBIs the last six games. Howie Kendrick and Bobby Abreu have also been hitting of late and rookie Mark Trumbo, who had the winning RBI Wednesday, is 8-for-18 the last five games. Vernon Wells had picked it up with a stretch of six games where he went 7-for-24 with three home runs and seven RBIs, but he went 1-for-10 in the Florida series to drop his average to .197.

FINAL PITCH: The Angels are the worst pinch-hitting team in the majors, with just two hits in 35 at bats (.087). The American League average is .254. The Dodgers are 28-for-108 (.259).