Game: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Odds: Dodgers +104, Braves -114
Total: 9
On Wednesday, the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to veteran Tony Gonsolin in an attempt to sweep the three-game series after defeating the Atlanta Braves twice behind rookie starting pitchers.
In their last 11 meetings with the Braves, the Dodgers are 9-2, including 4-1 at home. Right-handers Gonsolin (2-1, 1.13 ERA) and Bryce Elder (3-0, 2.06) of Atlanta will square off in the series finale.
In his most recent start, on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gonsolin gave up just one hit over five scoreless innings, earning his second consecutive victory. He threw 94 pitches, a season-high while striking out three and walking three. Over the course of his last three starts, totaling 16 innings, he has not given up an earned run.
In three career starts versus the Braves, Gonsolin has a 1-0 record and a 1.15 ERA. In his most recent start against Atlanta on June 26, 2022, he gave up one run on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings, earning him a no-decision.
Elder will make his tenth start of the season. In his most recent trip to the mound on Friday against the Seattle Mariners, he worked six-plus innings. Elder gave up two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six batters. He was not involved in the decision, yet the Braves won the game 6-2. In fact, Elder hasn’t earned a decision in each of his last three starts. Atlanta is 2-1 in those three games.
Elder has pitched at least five innings in each of his ten starts. In five of the starts, he has pitched at least six innings. That gives the Braves’ bullpen some breathing room. This will be the first-ever start for Elder against the Dodgers.
Two former Braves are now playing for the Dodgers. Despite not playing on Monday, Jason Heyward came back to go 2-for-4 with a home run on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Freddie Freeman increased his hitting streak to 13 games. He is now 4-for-9 in the series. During his current hitting streak, Freeman is batting .442 (23-for-52) with four home runs, seven doubles, one triple, 17 RBIs, and 13 runs.
The Dodgers have 81 home runs this season, which is second in the majors only to the 95 hit by the Tampa Bay Rays. Los Angeles hit two more on Tuesday. Last night’s game saw Atlanta score in the opening inning for the fifth game in a row. The Braves have the most first-inning runs in baseball with 42.
Atlanta, surprisingly, is just 4-8 SU in its last 12 games. The Braves are just 12-12 at home so far this season. The total has gone Over in seven of Atlanta’s last nine games and, at home, 15 of the last 20 have resulted in the Over. Both games in this series have cleared the posted game total.
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