Dodgers at Braves
The Los Angeles Dodgers have relied on home runs to help them reach the top of the National League West, and they received one from their newest acquisition in the series opener to give them a boost entering Friday’s contest against the host Atlanta Braves. Manny Machado, who was obtained from Baltimore during the All-Star break, belted his first homer in a Dodgers uniform during Thursday’s 8-2 victory, a solo shot that increased Los Angeles’ league-leading total of 140 blasts.
Los Angeles needed and received a good start from Rich Hill in the series opener after its set at Philadelphia taxed the bullpen and now turn to ace Clayton Kershaw on Friday. The Dodgers extended their lead over Arizona in the NL West to 1 ½ games, while the Braves lost for the 11th time in 18 contests this month to fall 2 ½ games behind the Phillies in the NL East. Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to nine games with a bloop single in the fourth inning on Thursday and is batting .385 in that stretch. But Atlanta’s defense has cost it dearly in back-to-back losses, committing a total of six errors in the setbacks.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (3-5, 2.64 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (7-6, 2.85)
The biggest challenge this season for Kershaw is staying on the field, as left biceps tendinitis and a lower back strain cost him seven weeks. The 30-year-old has excelled since returning from the disabled list on June 23, going 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 30 strikeouts in six starts, with the loss coming when he allowed four runs - one earned - over six innings Saturday against Milwaukee. Kershaw, who owns a 1.09 WHIP and a 4.88 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in nine career turns against Atlanta.
Foltynewicz has pitched well for the Braves this season but looks to snap out of a mini-skid, as he has posted a 6.87 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in losing two of his last three starts. The 26-year-old earned his first career All-Star selection but scuffled in his first start after the break, giving up four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 frames of a loss at Washington on Sunday. Foltynewicz, who is limiting opponents to a .204 batting average, was victorious last season in his only career appearance against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves 3B Johan Camargo is hitting .409 during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Dodgers CF Alex Verdugo recorded his second consecutive multi-hit performance Thursday and and fifth in 13 contests this season.
3. Los Angeles is 31-16 since June 1, the best record in the NL during that span.