Braves at Dodgers
Two hot pitchers on two hot clubs meet when the Braves and Dodgers play the rubber games of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Atlanta’s Brandon Beachy and Los Angeles’ Ted Lilly have allowed a total of only two earned runs in their five combined starts. The Braves have won 11 of their last 14 games and are 4-2 on their road trip, while the Dodgers will try to bounce back from their first home loss in eight games. The contest will mark the final in Los Angeles for veteran Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, who has announced his retirement. Jones hit a homer on Tuesday, his 27th career home run against the Dodgers, on his 40th birthday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET. SPSO (Atlanta), KCAL (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (2-1, 0.47) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (2-0, 0.69)
Beachy has picked up where he left off last year as one of Atlanta’s most reliable starters. The righthander has allowed only one earned run in 19 1/3 innings, striking out 14. His loss came in his first game because of three unearned runs. Beachy has made two career starts against the Dodgers, compiling a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA.
The veteran Lilly has effectively pitched around base runners in two starts and has allowed only one run this season. The southpaw walked six and allowed four hits in his last start against the Astros, which the Dodgers won 3-1. Lilly has been effective against the Braves, going 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 10 starts. He threw seven shutout innings against Atlanta last April, his only appearance against the Braves in 2011.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Dodgers may be without first baseman Juan Rivera, who left Tuesday's game after pulling a muscle in his leg while running out an infield hit in the sixth inning.
2. Veteran Atlanta pitcher Tim Hudson made his final rehab start following spinal fusion surgery and is expected to come off the disabled list and start on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
3. The Braves recalled reliever Cory Gearrin from Class AAA Gwinnett, where he had 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 scoreless innings. It may be a short stay, as the club will need to make a move when Hudson is activated.