Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland A's Preview and Pick

A couple of teams that have both recently taken over first place in their respective divisions clash this weekend when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Oakland A’s for a 3-game interleague series beginning Friday night.

L.A. just dropped two of three games to the San Diego Padres and is just 6-7 this month. But with the recent demise of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers have lurched into first place in the NL West, a game ahead of the D-Backs.

Oakland has won seven games in a row and 11 of its last 13 to take a half-game lead on the slumping Texas Rangers in the AL West.

Los Angeles is 17-16 on the road this season while the A’s are 18-15 at home.

These two teams haven’t played each other since the 2001 season.

Brett Tomko (5-5, 5.20) takes the mound Friday for the Dodgers, while Barry Zito (7-3, 3.53) heads to the hill for Oakland. Tomko started out the season allright for L.A., winning five of his first six decisions, but he’s allowed 24 runs in his last 16 2/3 innings of work.

L.A. will send Derek Lowe (5-3, 2.83) out on Saturday, and the resurgent Aaron Sele (3-1, 2.32) on Sunday. The A’s will counter with Kirk Saarloos (3-4, 4.82) Saturday and Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04) Sunday.

The Dodgers lead the NL with their .360 team OBP (yes, the Dodgers), and are averaging 5.5 runs per game.

Oakland owns a .331 team OBP, 9th-best in the AL, and averages 4.6 RPG.

The L.A. bullpen has been hit for 14 ER and 22 H+W in its last 17 1/3 IP.

The Oakland pen has allowed just 2 ER and 12 H+W in its last 11 innings of work.

The A’s placed DH Frank Thomas, who had been hot lately, on the DL this week with a quadriceps injury.

The over/under is an amazing 39-24 in Los Angeles games this year, 31-33 in Oakland games, and 13-18 at McAfee Coliseum.

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