The Los Angeles Dodgers are just 4-6 in their last 10 games and need a win Sunday to avoid dropping their third game in a row to the Atlanta Braves, which also would amount to a series loss at Truist Park.
The matchup is an exclusive national broadcast on ESPN as part of their weekly “Sunday Night Baseball” programming. The Dodgers and Braves also had a national audience on Friday as the series opener only was available through Apple TV+.
Mookie Betts is going to be mic’d up for a portion of ESPN’s broadcast to answer questions from the crew and fans.
Because of their recent struggles, the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West is down to 3.5 games over the San Diego Padres. L.A. also is just one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the NL postseason bracket.
They look to get back on track behind Walker Buehler, who has an important two weeks ahead on a personal level. Tyler Glasnow being ruled out for the season and uncertainty surrounding Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone have thrust Buehler into consideration for a spot in the Dodgers’ playoff rotation.
The right-hander started to show some signs of improvement but struggled in his last start against the Chicago Cubs. Buehler is 1-5 with a 5.95 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 13 starts this season.
Buehler had allowed three earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts before giving up five to the Cubs last week.
The Braves counter with Charlie Morton, who is 8-8 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.32 WHIP this year. The 40-year-old is coming off a strong performance in which he held the Cincinnati Reds to just one run over 6.2 innings.
Morton allowed two runs and pitched six innings in a no-decision at Dodger Stadium on May 3.
Morton faces a Dodgers lineup that again has Freddie Freeman batting third and Teoscar Hernández in the cleanup spot. The two were flipped on Saturday night in what was Freeman’s first time batting fourth in his Dodgers career.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
SS: Tommy Edman
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
CF: Kevin Kiermaier
Braves lineup
CF: Michael Harris II
RF: Jorge Soler
DH: Marcell Ozuna
1B: Matt Olson
C: Travis d’Arnaud
SS: Orlando Arcia
LF: Jarred Kelenic
3B: Gio Urshela
2B: Whit Merrifield
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