Braves at Dodgers
The Atlanta Braves’ youth movement has been so successful, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the consistency of first baseman Freddie Freeman. The 28-year-old two-time All-Star is putting together another stellar season for the surprising Braves, who face the host Los Angeles Dodgers in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday.
Freeman had three hits and Tyler Flowers drove in three runs in Saturday’s 5-3 victory as the Braves won for only the fourth time in their last 17 games at Dodger Stadium. Freeman is 9-for-17 with two homers and four RBIs over his last four games and could be accompanied at next month’s All-Star game by several teammates, including right fielder Nick Markakis, who is batting .328 after going 2-for-5 with an RBI on Saturday. The Dodgers are 16-6 over their last 22 games and hoping for good news on rookie pitcher Walker Buehler, who exited Friday’s game with sore ribs and is questionable to make his next start. Third baseman Justin Turner has been held out of the starting lineup in four of the last five games with a sore left wrist but is expected to start Sunday’s series finale.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), SportsNet Los Angeles
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (7-1, 2.49 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (4-1, 1.52)
Newcomb won his seventh straight decision Tuesday, when he allowed three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over six scoreless innings against San Diego. “Every time he goes on the mound you feel pretty confident we’re going to get the win that day,” Freeman told reporters. “He's been lights-out for a long time and hopefully that continues.” The 24-year-old is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.
Stripling improved to 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA in his last four starts after tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 28-year-old native Texan owns a stellar 49-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in seven starts covering 38 innings since moving into the rotation. Stripling has a 4.00 ERA in four career games (one start) against Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves are looking to clinch their first series victory at Dodger Stadium since 2012.
2. Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (hip) will throw a bullpen session Sunday and could rejoin the team’s rotation next week.
3. Atlanta RHP Mike Soroka (right shoulder strain) will be activated from the disabled list to start Wednesday’s game against the New York Mets.