The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to earn a season series win against the Atlanta Braves after defeating them 4-1 on Friday night. L.A. previously took two of three from Atlanta in April.
Andrew Heaney was originally scheduled to start but he was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday after he started dealing with left shoulder discomfort while throwing a bullpen session. The Dodgers remain hopeful the veteran southpaw will not spend another two months on the IL despite again having a shoulder strain.
In his place, the Dodgers recalled Mitch White from Triple-A Oklahoma City and put Daniel Hudson on the 15-day IL due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Hudson is likely undergoing season-ending surgery.
White has appeared in nine games so far while making four starts. Overall, the right-hander owns a 3.86 ERA and 3.72 FIP in 25.2 innings while striking out nearly 26% of hitters and walking 7.6%, but as a starter only, he holds a 3.31 ERA and 3.87 FIP in 16.1 innings.
In his last appearance on June 7 against the Chicago White Sox, White pitched five shutout innings and gave up just two hits.
The Braves counter with Max Fried, a native of Santa Monica, Calif. who is having another strong season as Atlanta’s ace.
The left-hander has pitched to a 2.77 ERA and 2.71 FIP in 87.2 innings while striking out 23.7% of hitters and walking just 4.3%. Overall in his career, Fried has pitched 534.2 innings with a 3.25 ERA and 3.41 FIP.
Fried pitched seven innings and gave up just one run in his last outing, which came against the San Francisco Giants, and he has been a consistent workhorse for the Braves.
He last faced the Dodgers on April 19 when he pitched seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits and striking out eight.
The Dodgers have been one of the top offenses this season, batting .253/.332/.430 with a .333 wOBA and 116 wRC+ while scoring 352 runs, good for third overall in MLB. The Braves, however, have also had a top offense, hitting .248/.314/.443 with a .329 wOBA, 108 wRC+ and 340 runs scored.
The Dodgers activated Hanser Alberto off the paternity list and designated Stefen Romero for assignment. Alberto starts at second base in his first game back.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: Will Smith
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Trayce Thompson
2B: Hanser Alberto
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Austin Barnes
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
SS: Dansby Swanson
1B: Matt Olson
3B: Austin Riley
C: Travis d’Arnaud
DH: Marcell Ozuna
2B: Orlando Arcia
LF: Adam Duvall
CF: Michael Harris II
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