(Sports Network) - The American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will open a three-game series this evening against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium.

The Angels, who are five games ahead of Oakland in the division, have won two straight and three of their last four games. In Wednesday's 7-4 home victory over the Athletics in the finale of a three-game series, Juan Rivera homered in the sixth inning to snap a tie and finished with three runs batted in. Erick Aybar added a solo homer and scored a pair of runs in a winning effort.

Angels starter Joe Saunders struck out five batters in 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks. Closer Francisco Rodriguez registered his 34th save to match a pre-All-Star break record. He tied the mark set in 2003 by Atlanta's John Smoltz.

Jered Weaver will lead the Halos on the mound tonight, and he is 7-8 with a 4.30 earned run average in 17 starts this season. The long-haired right-hander suffered a tough loss his last time out, as he hurled six hitless innings and allowed one unearned run in a 1-0 loss at the Dodgers on Saturday.

Weaver is 3-2 in his previous five outings and owns a 2-1 record with a 5.17 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.

Toronto has lost two in a row after a three-game winning streak, including Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a three-game series at Safeco Field. Adam Lind clubbed a two-run and Lyle Overbay went 2- for-4 and scored a run in defeat.

Dustin McGowan started for the Jays and allowed four runs on six hits over six innings.

Toeing the rubber for Toronto on July 4th will be A.J. Burnett, who is 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season. Burnett has won back-to- back starts and topped Atlanta his last time out in a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

Burnett hurled seven shutout frames of four-hit ball against Atlanta, striking out 11 Braves and issuing four walks.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA in three career starts against the Angels.

Anaheim has won four of its previous six 2008 meetings with Toronto and took two of three matchups with the Jays at Angel Stadium from May 30-June 1.