The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken the first two games from the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park and go for a series sweep with Tony Gonsolin on the mound against Bryce Elder.
The Dodgers faced plenty of uncertainty heading into the matchup with the Braves, perhaps even dread. But rookies Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller held their own, bullpen usage has been more manageable, and the offense has broken out.
Gonsolin quietly is having a terrific season since returning from a sprained left ankle. He is 2-1 with an impressive 1.13 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in five starts thus far, and the Dodgers have won in four of his outings.
In his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gonsolin pitched five shutout innings of one-hit ball. Gonsolin hasn’t allowed an earned run in 16 innings over his past three starts.
Gonsolin has consistently outperformed his advanced metrics throughout his career, with his ERA being far lower than his expected outcome based on batted ball data.
Meanwhile, Elder enters the series finale 3-0 to go along with a National League-leading 2.06 ERA. His 214 ERA+ is also tops in the NL.
In 52 innings pitched this season, Elder has only given 12 earned runs. He throws a slider and sinker just about equally, mixing in an occasional four-seam fastball and changeup.
Offensively, the Dodgers have now scored five or more runs in six straight games. Freddie Freeman is scorching hot, slashing 414/.471/.828 over his last seven games. J.D. Martinez has four home runs in his last seven games to go along with 11 RBI also in that span.
Freeman is on a season-best 13-game hitting streak and Martinez has hit safely in eight straight.
The Dodgers have managed to keep Ronald Acuña Jr. relatively silent through the first two games of the series, as he is just 1-for-7 with two walks. With a talented Braves lineup behind Acuña, keeping their leadoff hitter in check has been key for the Dodgers in their back-to-back wins.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
CF: Jason Heyward
2B: Miguel Vargas
LF: David Peralta
SS: Chris Taylor
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B: Matt Olson
3B: Austin Riley
C: Travis d’Arnaud
LF: Eddie Rosario
2B: Ozzie Albies
DH: Marcell Ozuna
SS: Orlando Arcia
CF: Michael Harris II
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