Game: Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Braves -130, Dodgers +110
Total: 8
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves will face off in a potential playoff preview when they visit each other for four games starting tonight.
With a record of 87-45, the Braves have the best record in all of baseball. The Dodgers, who currently have the second-best record at 83-49, are closing quickly with 24 wins in 28 games this month. Los Angeles now has the third-most victories in a single month in franchise history thanks to its dominance in August. The Dodgers would match their single-month high set in June 1947 and August 1953 if they were to win again tonight.
With a 7-0 victory on Wednesday, the Dodgers swept the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in three games. In Denver, the Braves defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-3 to complete their own three-game sweep. The teams will meet for the first time since the Dodgers defeated Atlanta in a three-game series in late May.
From there, the Dodgers and Braves changed their strategies. After departing Atlanta, Los Angeles went 8-13 in its next 21 games, falling into third place in the NL West. The Braves also stumbled for another week before going on a remarkable 24-3 run.
A persistent offensive assault led by former Braves stars Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts has helped the Dodgers resurrect their team. On Wednesday, Freeman hit his 25th home run of the season. Betts, who singled to start the third inning, was brought home on the two-run shot.
In Game 1 tonight, Los Angeles will start right-hander Lance Lynn (10-9, 5.56 ERA). Since being traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, Lynn has made five starts and gone 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Lynn has a 4-3 record and a 3.32 ERA in seven starts against the Braves in his career. On July 15, while pitching for the White Sox, he faced Atlanta and took the win despite giving up four runs in 5.1 innings.
The Atlanta lineup will be a challenge for Lynn. The Braves have hit a franchise record 250 homers this season. Lynn has surrendered the most home runs in the majors, 34, by a starting pitcher.
The Braves will start right-hander Spencer Strider (15-4, 3.46 ERA). Strider is 4-1 in August with a 2.37 ERA in five trips to the mound. In his last three appearances, he has performed even better, going 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA. He pitched seven innings in each of those three starts. Strider now shares the major league lead in victories.
On May 23, Strider faced the Dodgers and took the loss. He gave up four runs, two of which were earned, and five hits over six innings. He had 11 strikeouts and three walks. Strider lasted six innings without allowing a run in his lone other start against Los Angeles last year. He didn’t earn a decision.
The Braves have gone an incredible 20-8 in August while the Dodgers have the best record in MLB since the All-Star break – 32-11.
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