After dropping the first three games of the series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to avoid being swept by the Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers had a record-setting August that saw the club go 24-5, but they have now started the final month of the season by going 0-2 while looking overmatched against the Braves.
They are looking to turn the page after their rough three games that saw them go 3-for-24 with runners in scoring position. “I think that’s what you have to do,” manager Dave Roberts said after the loss on Saturday.
“We still got a really good offense. That first game, we got to the ‘pen. Last night and tonight, we just really didn’t do a whole lot. So I think it’s one of those things you can’t try to overthink it. Like we always say, hitting is difficult. It’s tough to do.
“And you got to just turn the page and hopefully try to salvage the series tomorrow. We’ve got Bobby going tomorrow, expect him to go out there and pitch well. And we’re going to have our hands full with Charlie Morton. So I think we match up really well.
“It’s about the team that plays the cleanest game, the best game and we haven’t done that so far in this series.”
Bobby Miller is looking to rebound from two consecutive average starts where he gave up four runs both times out. If there’s a silver lining with those outings, Miller pitched at least six innings in each start.
Miller made his MLB debut against the Braves at Truist Park on May 23, going five innings while giving up just one run on four hits. It will be a challenge to face a lineup that tough for the second time, but Miller has the stuff to be effective once again.
Overall this season, he is 8-3 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 87.2 innings with 79 strikeouts to 25 walks.
The Braves counter with Charlie Morton, a veteran right-hander who the Dodgers have seen often throughout his career. Morton last faced L.A. on May 22 but was ineffective, throwing five innings and giving up six runs.
The 39-year-old had the best month of his season in August, pitching to a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 innings, but overall on the season he’s posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 147.2 innings with 165 strikeouts.
The Dodgers are going with a left-handed heavy lineup against the right-hander. Although Austin Barnes usually starts behind the plate on Sunday games, he was in the lineup on Saturday night during his bobblehead day.
Will Smith was is still batting third amid his continued slump.
“He’s in the middle of the order, so we still expect him to take walks and drive in runs,” Roberts said on Saturday. “I just think it’s still a spell, a rut, he’s been in for a while. He’s still finding way to get hits.
“Every time he’s in there I feel like he’s going to take a good at-bat. But to your question, if you’re hitting third in any lineup, production is important.”
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: David Peralta
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
2B: Ozzie Albies
3B: Austin Riley
1B: Matt Olson
DH: Marcell Ozuna
LF: Eddie Rosario
C: Travis D’Arnaud
SS: Orlando Arcia
CF: Michael Harris II
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