Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2011 ) LA Angels 3, NY Yankees 9

THE STORY: Tyler Chatwood was only seven years old when Bartolo Colon earned his first major-league victory. The two will go head-to-head for the first time Thursday when the Los Angeles Angels visit the New York Yankees in the matinee rubber match of their three-game series. New York prevailed 9-3 on Wednesday and leads the season series 3-2.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Tyler Chatwood (6-8, 4.10 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Bartolo Colon (8-6, 3.33).

Chatwood has been in a tailspin of late, going 1-4 in his last six outings. He was roughed up for five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings last time out, dropping a 5-1 decision to the light-hitting Seattle Mariners. The 21-year-old has thrived away from California, going 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA in nine road starts. This is his first encounter with the Yankees. Colon, by comparison, is no stranger to the Angels. The 38-year-old is 8-5 lifetime against Los Angeles with a 3.98 ERA in 16 career encounters. That includes a victory in their last meeting when Colon allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings on the way to a 5-3 triumph. Colon has allowed only two earned runs in each of his last three starts.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (64-53): If Los Angeles manages to overtake the Texas Rangers for the top spot in the American League West, it will likely be in spite of - and not because of - the play of outfielder Vernon Wells. Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the off-season, the one-time All-Star is enduring one of the worst offensive seasons of his 13-year major-league career. Wells is batting only .210 for the season, with an on-base percentage of a paltry .243. That easily ranks him last among major league outfielders, with only former Toronto teammate Alex Rios (.258) in contention.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (70-45): New York became the third team in the majors to reach the 70-win plateau Wednesday, behind the Philadelphia Phillies and rival Boston Red Sox. It came in the Yankees' fourth attempt as Curtis Granderson blasted a pair of home runs to reach 31 for the season. He has already established career bests in homers and RBIs (91), while his 22 stolen bases are four shy of his personal best set in 2007. Wednesday's win was the first in seven games for New York when facing a pitcher making his major-league debut - in this case, Garret Richards, who fell behind 3-0 before he recorded an out.

FINAL PITCH: The Yankees go into Thursday with a decided edge at the plate, hitting .277 in day games this season compared to the Angels' .247 mark.