There’s a Catch for Angels, Dodgers : Freeway Series: Parrish tries to show he can still do it. Offerman and Daniels try to leave reputations behind.

The Freeway Series traditionally draws big crowds as the Dodgers and Angels make their final adjustments before opening day. This year, though, the big crowds will see teams that still have some big questions.

The Angels, playing host to the series opener tonight when the Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser starts against Jim Abbott at 7:30 in Anaheim Stadium, must decide about their catching. Lance Parrish, coming off a poor season and a .111 spring batting average at 35, is clinging to the starting position and his spot on the team. The Angels are trying to determine if he can come back with a decent season. Trade prospects have been slim and Parrish’s guaranteed $2.25-million salary makes the thought of releasing him painful.

With John Orton on the disabled list because of an inflamed shoulder, the only other candidates are Ron Tingley, 32, a longtime minor leaguer who was a major league rookie last year, and Mike Fitzgerald, the former Montreal Expo catcher who was signed as a backup catcher and utility player.

“Our goal is to get straightened out with our catching and our infield,” said Manager Buck Rodgers, who brings 28 players to Anaheim and also faces a decision on a utility infielder and a bullpen position.

The series moves to Dodger Stadium on Saturday, where the Dodgers’ new knuckleballer, Tom Candiotti, will face the Angels’ Joe Grahe at 7 p.m. At 1 p.m. Sunday, the Dodgers’ Kevin Gross will start against the Angels’ Chuck Finley, who was slowed this spring after off-season toe surgery but will be making a final test-run and is on schedule to start the fourth game of the season.

The Dodgers have their fingers crossed for continued defensive competence from converted outfielder Kal Daniels. Tonight’s game will mark his first appearance at first base in a major league stadium. Before this spring, he had not played the position since his rookie league days.

“Kal is not as accomplished defensively as Eddie Murray, but from what we’ve seen, he will be fine,” said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president. “We aren’t going to win with the strength of our defense, but the balance of our ballclub is going to make us all right.”

Dodger shortstop Jose Offerman, 23, is concluding his first spring as a starter. Though he has made seven errors in 24 exhibition games, the Dodgers have attributed some of them to the poor condition of spring fields, and are hoping such misplays will not follow him into the season.

Manager Tom Lasorda faces decisions on three players recovering from injuries. Reliever Jay Howell, who has a sore shoulder, hopes to pitch tonight and Sunday. Kip Gross stands to make the team if Howell is not ready.

Infielder Mike Sharperson is recovering from a strained hamstring, and Dave Anderson is in the wings if Sharperson is not ready.

Infielder Eric Karros, the former UCLA standout who led the team with a .388 average this spring, probably will make it only if Todd Benzinger has not recovered from a sore calf that has kept him out of games since March 18.

“We really can’t say anything until we see them play in a game,” Dodger physical therapist Pat Screnar said of Sharperson and Benzinger. “We’ll be watching them closely this weekend.”

The Dodgers won two of three games from the Angels last year, have won eight of the last 12 and lead the series, 33-32-1.

But Rodgers, beginning his first full season as Angel manager, said: “Hopefully, we can start a little momentum that we can build going into the season.”

Darryl Strawberry is preparing for his first season with boyhood buddy Eric Davis joining him in the Dodger outfield.

“It’s good to be going home, because now everything counts,” Strawberry said. “It’s fun in Florida, but I’m ready to get myself focused and get serious.”

Times staff writers Helene Elliott and Bill Plaschke contributed to this story.