After going 3-4 on their road trip, the Los Angeles Dodgers open a six-game homestand, beginning with a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. Los Angeles enters 28-27 overall and 13-12 at home.
Meanwhile, Atlanta owns the worst record in the National League at 16-37, but are 10-14 away from Turner Field, which is far superior to their home mark. The Braves face Kenta Maeda, who is taking the mound on one extra day of rest.
Maeda was struck on his throwing hand by a line drive during the first inning of his May 28 start. He managed to throw five innings, showing no ill-effects of being hit, but suffered from residual swelling.
Maeda believes he could have made his originally scheduled start in the four-game finale at Wrigley Field, and doesn’t expect to be limited by the hand issue against the Braves.
On the season, the 28 year old is 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA, 127 ERA+, 3.53 FIP and 1.05 WHIP in 10 starts. Maeda’s success has largly come on the road as he’s 1-3 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in five home starts.
While Maeda has faced some clubs twice over his young Major League career, he did not start during the three-game set at Turner Field from April 19-21. Julio Teheran did, and the Dodgers get a second look at the right-hander this season.
Teheran allowed two runs on six hits in 5.1 innings pitched, though didn’t earn a decision in the Braves’ loss. Overall this season, Teheran is 1-5 with a 2.77 ERA, 3.70 FIP and 1.07 WHIP in 11 starts.
He battled a blister on his right foot during his last outing, which impacted his performance against the Miami Marlins. Prior to allowing three runs in 5.1 innings during that start, the right-hander hadn’t allowed more than one earned run in six consecutive outings.
Teheran is winless in five career starts against the Dodgers, going 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA. Minutes prior to first pitch the Dodgers placed Yasiel Puig on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left hamstring and activated Scott Van Slyke.
Carl Crawford started in left field and Trayce Thompson in right. The Dodgers’ lineup otherwise resembles what’s largely held true this season. Los Angeles took two of three from Atlanta back in April.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Trayce Thompson
LF: Carl Crawford
P: Kenta Maeda
Braves lineup:
CF: Ender Inciarte
SS: Chase D’Arnaud
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Adonis Garcia
RF: Nick Markakis
C: Tyler Flowers
2B: Kelly Johnson
P: Julio Teheran
LF: Mallex Smith
