The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their season-long 11-game winning streak come to an end and they’ve cooled since going a franchise-best 31-4. Conversely, the Atlanta Braves ended a three-game losing streak by taking the series opener, and are now in position to hand the Dodgers a series loss.
Rich Hill takes the mound looking to carry forward with the momentum generated in his last five starts. After an inconsistent first half, Hill has progressed immensely during the month of July.
He only went five innings in his previous outing, though picked up nine strikeouts and held the Miami Marlins to one run. Hill has thrown seven innings in three of the his past four starts. Over three July outings, the 37-year-old has allowed just two runs, walked one and recorded 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.
Hill is a career 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in seven games (five starts) against the Braves, though hasn’t faced them since 2003. Overall this season, he’s 6-4 with a 3.55 ERA, 118 ERA+ and 1.21 WHIP.
The Braves counter with Julio Teheran, who’s 7-7 with a 4.69 ERA and 1.39 WHIP this season. He’s allowed four runs in 19.1 innings across three July starts. Command has been somewhat of an issue in those outings, as Teheran has issued 10 walks while notching 18 strikeouts.
The 26-year-old is a lifetime 0-5 with a 5.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in six starts against the Dodgers. Corey Seager is 2-for-6 against Teheran, with two solo home runs. Yasiel Puig is 4-for-8, with a double and home run, while Logan Forsythe is 2-for-2, also with a home run.
Forsythe starts at third base in place of Justin Turner, who is dealing with an upper respiratory issue. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Turner is available off the bench, and expects him to start in Sunday’s series finale.
The Braves are 26-0 this season when scoring at least six runs, and have outscored the Dodgers, 18-6, over the first two games of the series.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
3B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Trayce Thompson
P: Rich Hill
Braves lineup:
CF: Ender Inciarte
2B: Johan Camargo
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Matt Kemp
C: Tyler Flowers
RF: Nick Markakis
3B: Sean Rodriguez
SS: Dansby Swanson
P: Julio Teheran
