Freddie Freeman faced his former Atlanta Braves teammates early into the season but makes a first visit back to Truist Park since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers during Spring Training.
The three-game weekend series represents not only another rematch of the 2021 National League Championship Series, but Freeman is receiving his World Series ring. The Braves offered to present it to him during their stop at Dodger Stadium in April, but Freeman preferred to have a ceremony in front of Braves fans.
There may be some boos for the former Braves franchise cornerstone, similar to treatment Kenley Jansen received from Dodgers fans, but that possibility is one Alex Wood doesn’t believe should remotely be a reality.
Freeman has openly said he anticipates being emotional in his return. As for matters on the field, the Southern California native has a home run in three of the past four games and reached in 12 straight.
Freeman and the rest of the Dodgers lineup look to provide run support for Julio Urías, who enters 4-6 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 13 starts this season.
Urías is on an extra day of rest since throwing 87 pitches and holding the Cleveland Guardians to just one unearned run over six innings.
The Braves counter with Ian Anderson, who had success against the Dodgers in the NLCS but is off to an uneven start so far in 2022. Anderson allowed at least four runs in two outings during June, but also held opponents to two or fewer in a pair of other starts this month.
Anderson pitched 6.2 scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs his last time out.
Prior to the game the Dodgers placed Andrew Heaney on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation and recalled Reyes Moronta from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
DH: Justin Turner
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Trayce Thompson
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
SS: Dansby Swanson
3B: Riley Austin
1B: Matt Olson
DH: Marcell Ozuna
C: William Contreras
LF: Adam Duvall
2B: Orlando Arcia
CF: Michael Harris II
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