The Dodgers conclude their shortest homestand of the season on Sunday with the final game of a three-game weekend series against the Angels at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles will send right-hander Emmet Sheehan to the mound in the series finale as he makes his second start of the week. Sheehan has been settling into a strong rhythm recently, working at least six innings in three of his last four outings and giving the Dodgers a chance to extend their run of solid starting pitching.
The Angels will counter with José Soriano, who enters the matchup with a 2.72 ERA and a 4.09 expected ERA. Soriano has been one of the more effective arms in the Angels’ rotation this season, but he has also struggled with control. His 38 walks in 76 innings lead the major leagues, a concerning trend for an Angels pitching staff that has had trouble limiting baserunners. That issue was on display in his previous outing against the Dodgers, when he issued six walks during a one-sided loss on May 16 in Anaheim.
The game also carries some intrigue on the Dodgers’ lineup card because of catcher Will Smith. Smith was scratched from Saturday’s lineup with a stiff neck, and his availability for Sunday is a key question heading into the finale. His status could affect both the Dodgers’ offense and the team’s defensive setup behind the plate, depending on whether he is cleared to return.
The Dodgers and Angels meet as part of a Southern California rivalry that often draws attention even outside the standings context, and this matchup closes a brief weekend set at Chavez Ravine. With the homestand ending, the Dodgers will look to finish on a strong note before heading back on the road, while the Angels will try to salvage the final game and leave with momentum.
Sunday’s game will be televised on SportsNet LA for Dodgers fans and on KCOP channel 13 for the Angels broadcast. Radio coverage will be available in English on AM 570 and in Spanish on KTNQ 1020 AM.
The series finale brings together a Dodgers team relying on a young starter who has shown durability and command in recent weeks, and an Angels pitcher whose stuff has produced results but whose walk rate remains a major storyline. If Sheehan continues to deliver length and Soriano can better manage the strike zone, the game could turn into a tightly contested finish. If not, early traffic on the bases could again become the deciding factor in a matchup that has already featured clear contrasts in pitching efficiency and control.
