After ending their homestand in historic fashion, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a six-game road trip, with their first stop at Truist Park for a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.
The meeting is the teams’ first since the 2020 National League Championship Series in which the Dodgers overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Braves and advance to the World Series.
Both teams are poised to return to the postseason this year as L.A. enters with a 33-23 record and just two games out of first place in the NL West. Atlanta, despite being under .500 at 26-28, are only 3.5 games out of first in the NL East.
Julio Urias starts in Friday’s opener and looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the season against the San Francisco Giants. He allowed seven runs (six earned) and 11 hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work.
It was the left-hander’s second consecutive start against the Giants, having limited them to two runs in six innings at Oracle Park one week prior.
“I did the same thing. I was aggressive, I went after the guys,” he said. “I just don’t think the pitches were as effective as they’ve been in the past. The fastball wasn’t there and didn’t really have the other stuff working for me.
“But I stayed aggressive and tried to keep attacking and keep working as best as I could. … I think they came with a plan and I came with a plan. I made some adjustments in-game, and obviously all the balls that were hit were not hit as hard as I think they were, but that’s part of the game. It’s just a bad day.”
Even after the rough start, Urias enters with a solid 7-2 record, 3.61 ERA, 2.98 FIP and 0.95 WHIP in 67.1 innings on the year (11 games).
Friday marks his first career start in the regular season against the Braves. In two previous appearances as a reliever, he combined to toss four scoreless innings.
Atlanta counters with Ian Anderson, who similarly is looking to turn the page from one of his worst starts of the season. Lasting just four innings against the New York Mets on May 29, he gave up four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
Anderson nonetheless brings with him into Friday’s start a respectable 4-2 record, 3.27 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.26 WHIP in 55 innings pitched (10 games).
He’s never faced the Dodgers in the regular season, but made two starts against them in the 2020 National League Championship Series, pitching to a 2.57 ERA and 1.86 WHIP over seven innings.
Despite being off Thursday, the Dodgers made some roster moves, reinstating Jimmy Nelson and AJ Pollock off the 10-day injured list. Pollock is starting in left field and batting eighth in his return.
Back in left field for the Braves is Ehire Adrianza, who has gotten more playing time at the position since Marcell Ozuna landed on the 10-day injured list just over a week ago.
Atlanta, however, is planning to be without the two-time All-Star for the foreseeable future after he was arrested last Saturday on domestic violence charges.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
2B: Chris Taylor
SS: Gavin Lux
LF: AJ Pollock
P: Julio Urias
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