The Los Angeles Dodgers can extend a modest winning streak to three games and guarantee a series victory against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. The matchup at Truist Park is a regional broadcast on Fox, with Adam Amin and AJ Pierzynski calling the game.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound as he looks to bounce back from a rough outing against the San Francisco Giants. “It wasn’t great,” Kershaw said after the 5-4 loss.
“When you start the game like that in the first inning and give up three runs, it’s tough to come back. Especially against a pitcher who’s throwing as well as (Kevin) Gausman is. I kind of put the team in a tough spot and we weren’t able to make up for it.”
Kershaw enters 7-4 with a 3.33 ERA and 0.97 WHIP through 12 starts this year. He’s fared marginally better on the road than at Dodger Stadium, going 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA.
Kershaw made just one start against the Braves during the 2020 National League Championship Series due to back spasms. He allowed four runs on seven hits and pitched just five innings in the Dodgers’ Game 4 loss.
Atlanta counters with Charlie Morton, who L.A. last faced during the World Series. Morton had allowed just one earned run in the postseason leading up to that point but gave up five on seven hits in 4.1 innings and was tabbed with the loss in Game 3.
Morton now is in his first season with the Braves and is 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA thus far. However, the Braves have won each of Morton’s past three starts, with the right-hander posting a 2.50 ERA during that span.
The Dodgers are without Max Muncy, who was removed from the series opener due to right ankle pain. The injury has since been described by manager Dave Roberts as a mild sprain, and he added it was likely Muncy would also miss the series finale on Sunday.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chris Taylor
1B: Matt Beaty
SS: Gavin Lux
LF: Zach McKinstry
C: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Ozzie Albies
3B: Austin Riley
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Ehire Adrianza
CF: Guillermo Heredia
C: Kevan Smith
P: Charlie Morton
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