Hyun-jin Ryu starts Freeway Series finale for Dodgers in Anaheim

ANAHEIM -- The Dodgers try to capture their Freeway Series against the Angels on Thursday night, and will do so in a battle of southpaws, with Hyun-jin Ryu facing off against C.J. Wilson.

The Dodgers have only won consecutive games in Anaheim four times, and only three times in the same season. The last time the Dodgers won back-to-back games in Anaheim in the same season was June 20-21, 2009.

The last time the Dodgers won a season series against the Angels was 2006, when the Dodgers won four of six games. But even then, the Dodgers only won once in Anaheim.

Ryu pitched a two-hit shutout against the Angels the only time he faced them last year, on May 28, 2013 at Dodger Stadium, with seven strikeouts and no walks. In Ryu's only game pitched in Anaheim, he retired all 12 batters he faced with four strikeouts in an exhibition game on March 28, 2013.

This season Ryu is tied with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke with 16 quality starts, including each of his last four starts and eight of his last nine. The Dodgers have won Ryu's last four starts, with the left-hander striking out 28 with only three walks in 26 innings during that span.

Wilson hasn't had a good start in seven weeks. The southpaw had a stretch of four starts allowing 22 runs and 40 runners to reach base in only 16⅔ innings, lasting five innings just once during that span. Then he missed 18 games on the disabled list with a right ankle sprain, and came back on Saturday by allowing six runs while recording just four outs.

Through June 19 Wilson was 7-6 with a 3.34 ERA, averaging 6⅔ innings per start with only nine home runs allowed in 99 innings. But in his last five starts Wilson is 1-1 with a 12.50 ERA, averaging under 3⅔ innings per start, with six home runs allowed in 18 innings.

Game info

Time: 7:05 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, Fox Sports West