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Y E S T E R D A Y…

Angels 2, White Sox 0: Guess Jered Weaver’s slump is over. The Angels righty, who had been blown up like a Underdog at the Macy’s Day Parade over his last few starts, was lights out Tuesday at the Big A. Seven innings of one-hit ball, fueled by a decision to stop trying to outsmart himself and get back to pitching. Smart decision. He didn’t pick up the win, as the Halo bats were silent until the eighth, when a sac fly from Mike Napoli and a single from Robb Quinlan put the Angels on the board, but fair to say that Weaver certainly deserved it.

Brewers 5, Dodgers 3: Give it to the Blue, they know how to take the shine off a hot streak. After pushing their way to five games over .500, a five game losing streak has managed to put them back at even par (19-19) on the year. Once again, the Dodger lineup, sorely missing the injured Rafael Furcal, wasn’t all that productive. Single runs in the first, third, and fourth, then blanks from there on. They even managed to get struggling Milwaukee closer Eric Gagne back on track, leaving two on in the ninth and missing a chance to get back in the game.

T O D A Y…

Lakers vs. Jazz, Game 5 (7:30, TNT): When a series is tied 2-2, Game 5 can’t technically be considered a “must win,” but when a loss would mean the Lakers facing a true win-or-go-home scenario in Salt Lake on Friday, where the Jazz almost never lose… well, you do the math. The big question, of course, is Kobe Bryant’s back. Tuesday, he skipped his second straight day of practice, but reiterated that he’d be on the court tonight. You may now exhale.

Dodgers at Brewers (5:05 pm, FSN PRIME): There was a time when Derek Lowe served as this staff’s stopper, a guy who could be relied on to end a bad streak. These days, Lowe is as much the problem as the solution. 14 earned runs in his last 15.1 innings, which just isn’t going to get it done, especially in the current offensive offensive climate in which the Dodgers exist. Don’t look for Andruw Jones in the lineup. Joe Torre has decided to sit him for a few games. Feel free to consider that good news.

Angels vs. White Sox (7:05, FSN West): Call it Christmas in May, because the Angels are getting a big gift tonight in the return of #1 starter John Lackey to the rotation. The righthander, coming off a 19 win 2007, has been one of baseball’s best pitchers over the last few seasons, and will be a huge boost to a club that is already one of baseball’s strongest. Add the return of Maicer Izturis on Tuesday, and it’s fair to say things are looking up for LAAoA.

N E W S W O R T H Y…

• Trevor Ariza has been cleared to practice with the Lakers, and Phil Jackson used that as a chance to send a shot across the bow of the Good Ship Radmanovic.
• Clayton Kershaw’s Big League debut isn’t likely to come this weekend.
• A little bullpen work could help Justin Speier iron things out for the Angels.
• OJ Mayo might just be the gift that takes away. Top recruit DeMar DeRozan says he might pull his commitment to USC should the Trojans be punished for any Mayo related transgressions.
• J’Mison Morgan does indeed look like he’ll be part of Ben Howland’s machine at UCLA.

C O L U M N I S T S…

• Kevin Modesti of the Daily News takes a look at some of the hidden numbers in the local sports economy.
• It’s time for USC and Mike Garrett to take a bigger role in explaining what seems to have gone wrong there with l’affaires Mayo and Bush. What might seem like protective silence inside the university looks like distance, secrecy, and a lack of accountability from the outside, writes Bill Plaschke of the LA Times.
• SportsHubLA.com Column of the Day: Jim Alexander of the PE believes that tonight, a key for the Lakers won’t just be the presence of Kobe Bryant, but one with awareness of whatever limitations his back might be placing on him. Whatever it was, Kobe’s natural tendency to try and take over a game or his teammates’ willingness to let him, that allowed Kobe to shoot seven times during the overtime of Sunday’s loss to Utah, clearly the results weren’t good, and it was apparent Kobe was limited. It’s a tone the Lakers and Kobe will have to establish early, with Kobe showing the Jazz that he can play, but his teammates also making sure they’re accounted for. Utah is going to pound Bryant early and often, and if the Lakers fall behind early, the temptation for Kobe to try and lead his team back despite the pain could be tough to resist. One potential solution to Sunday’s problems? Win the game in regulation.

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