The Angels and the Dodgers will face off in Game 1 of an all LA series at Chavez Ravine Monday, and these two teams appear to be trending in opposite directions. The Dodgers are just a game out first place in the NL West, while the Angels are struggling, sitting five games back of first place Texas in the AL West. My money is on the Dodgers as the home favorite.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Kenta Maeda will get the call for the Dodgers, and he's been sharp in his rookie season. Maeda (3-2, 2.30 ERA) gave up four runs on six hits over five innings in a home loss to the Mets in his last outing. All of the damage came off the bat of Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, and Maeda was likely caught a little off guard by a pitcher with a bit of "pop" in his swing.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - The Dodgers haven't seen a lot of Matt Shoemaker, but they did hand home a loss in his only career start against them. Carl Crawford was 2-for-3 in that game. Shoemaker has been brutal this season, going 1-5 with a 9.12 ERA in six starts.

3, X-Factor - Adrian Gonzalez was swinging a hot bat in the Dodgers home series versus the Cardinals this weekend. He was 3-for-10 with a double and a home run.

Selection: This is a play on the LA Dodgers (8*)