ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim seek their third straight victory Friday when they begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Anaheim took two of of three from American League West rival Oakland earlier this week and has opened a five-game lead on the second-place Athletics.

Weaver (7-8, 4.30) takes the mound after suffering a 1-0 loss o the Los Angeles Dodgers last Saturday. What made the loss so strange was that Weaver and the Anaheim bullpen did not allow a hit in their eight total innings pitched. The game wasn't an official no-hitter because the Dodgers didn't bat in the ninth.

The Blue Jays counter with A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.74), who has won his last two starts.

The righthander was superb last Sunday, yielding only four hits while striking out a season-high 11 in seven innings of a 1-0 victory over Atlanta. Burnett is 1-0 in two outings against the Angels this season after allowing five runs and nine hits with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Toronto, which has lost nine of its last 11 road games, is 2-4 against Anaheim this season.

July 4, 2008