Dodgers at Braves
The Los Angeles Dodgers look for their third consecutive victory Saturday at the Atlanta Braves after following a familiar recipe in Friday’s 4-1 triumph. Alex Verdugo and Yasmani Grandal added to Los Angeles’ National League-leading home run total with solo shots, while Clayton Kershaw became only the third pitcher in the live-ball era to draw three walks, hit a single and strike out eight batters in the same game as the Dodgers improved to 5-3 since the All-Star break.
The Dodgers have slugged 142 homers on the season and enter the weekend leading the NL West, and newly acquired infielder Manny Machado collected two hits Friday after belting his first home run as a Dodger in the series opener. The Braves are skidding toward the end of the month - losing for the 12th time in their last 17 games - and have been outscored 21-6 in losing their past three games. Center fielder Ender Inciarte, who finished with a hit and drove in a run, is 8-for-19 in his last five games. However, Atlanta dropped to 6-32 when scoring three runs or fewer and continues to be hurt by short outings from its starting pitching, as Mike Foltynewicz lasted just five innings Friday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Alex Wood (6-5, 3.87 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (1-3, 3.92)
Wood has been the one Los Angeles starter that has remained healthy this season and is pitching well recently, winning his last five decisions. The 27-year-old has posted a 2.95 ERA in his past seven starts, holding Milwaukee to two runs on five hits in six innings Sunday to bump his record above .500 for the first time in 2018. Wood, who debuted with the Braves in 2013, gave up four runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings in a June 9 loss to Atlanta but has not lost since.
The Braves plan to activate Fried from the disabled list for his fourth start of the season, after a blister on his pitching hand cut short a rough turn July 5 at Milwaukee. The 24-year-old gave up four runs on four hits in three innings in that start, five days after striking out 11 in 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory at St. Louis. Fried, Atlanta’s No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, struck out 10 and allowed one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Double-A Mississippi on Monday in a rehab assignment.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman’s nine-game hitting streak ended Friday after going 0-for-4.
2. Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen retired all four hitters he faced Friday for his NL-leading 30th save.
3. Machado extended his consecutive games on-base streak to 27 games Friday with a pair of singles.