The Los Angeles Dodgers are back home Thursday as the hottest team in baseball, winners of 11 straight games overall and 31 of their last 35. They welcome the Atlanta Braves, who were just swept by the Chicago Cubs, to Dodger Stadium for the start of a four-game series.
It kicks off a season-long tying 10-game homestand for the Dodgers. Brandon McCarthy is on the mound for his second start since the All-Star break. He’s not yet fully erased any concern over recent struggles with command.
Whereas last season he suffered from a case of the yips, McCarthy believes his latest troubles are mechanical.
He struggled a bit in his last outing, giving up seven hits and four runs in 4.2 innings against the Miami Marlins. McCarthy has been outstanding at Dodger Stadium this year, going 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in nine home starts.
Overall, he’s 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA, 3.27 FIP and 1.17 WHIP, while striking out 61 and walking 24 in 82.2 inning of work.
McCarthy has faced Atlanta just once in his career, in 2014 when he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the start he went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, and recording nine strikeouts.
The Dodgers draw Mike Foltynewicz, who has been one of the Braves’ best starters this season. He takes the mound 7-5 with a 3.84 ERA, 4.51 FIP and 1.39 WHIP in 18 games (17 starts). Foltynewicz has 87 strikeouts against 34 walks over 98.1 innings.
Matt Kemp returns to Dodger Stadium in a Braves jersey for the first time. He made previous trips to Chavez Ravine while with the San Diego Padres. Kemp is in the midst of another solid season, batting .291/.339/.481 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs. Kemp is a career .285/.341/.497 hitter, with 105 home runs at Dodger Stadium.
Freddie Freeman has picked up right where he left office since spending nearly two months the disabled list due to a hand injury sustained after being hit by a pitch. In 12 games he is hitting .292/.333/.563 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. Oddly, Freeman is now a third baseman.
Corey Seager has hit safely in each of the Dodgers’ five games since the All-Star break, improving his hitting streak to nine games overall. Since the break he’s batting .350/.435/.700 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Chris Taylor has also hit safely in all five games since the break, going 12-for-21 (.571 batting average) in that span with two doubles and one home run.
The Dodgers are offering several new food options throughout the 10-game homestand. Los Angeles is an MLB-best 39-11 at home this season.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Brandon McCarthy
Braves lineup:
CF: Ender Inciarte
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Matt Kemp
1B: Matt Adams
RF: Nick Markakis
C: Kurt Suzuki
SS: Johan Camargo
P: Mike Foltynewicz
