Dodgers Vs. Braves Preview: Hernandez Back On The Mound

Along with an injury scare for Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Los Angeles Dodgers came away with a loss on Wednesday. Thursday marks the end of a four-game set in Atlanta as the Dodgers look to win the series and finish the season 6-1 against the Braves.

The Dodgers give the ball to newly acquired Roberto Hernandez, who is looking to solidify his role as the fifth arm in the rotation now that Josh Beckett is likely done for the season.

In 21 starts, the 33 year old is 6-8, with a 3.83 ERA. Hernandez will look to replicate what he did in his first start as a Dodger as he went six innings and only allowed two runs on three hits.

The Dodgers were winning when Hernandez was pulled out, but thanks to a bullpen setback, the allowed seven more runs to cross the plate and lost the game with Hernandez taking home a no-decision. Hernandez has faced the Braves on three separate occasions this season and had mixed results.

In the three starts, Hernandez is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA. He’s allowed a combined 15 hits, nine earned runs and issued 14 walks. Hernandez’s main issue while pitching has been his control as his strikeout-to-walk ratio against the Braves this season is at 0.50.

The Braves send former Dodger Aaron Harang to the hill. The San Diego native has compiled a 9-6 record in 24 starts to go with a 3.31 ERA. The 12-year veteran has been somewhat of a steal for the Braves this year as he’s signed to a $1 million contract.

Harang has faced the Dodgers 12 times in his career, but 11 of those starts were before the 2012 season. The 12th start against the Dodgers was this season and it resulted in a no decision. In the outing, Harang allowed nine hits and four earned runs in six innings pitched.

After primarily sticking with Carl Crawford in left field, manager Don Mattingly has Andre Ethier in left on Thursday. The other change in the lineup is Drew Butera taking over behind the plate.

Dodgers Lineup:

2B: Gordon

CF: Puig

1B: Gonzalez

RF: Kemp

LF: Ethier

3B: Uribe

SS: Rojas

C: Butera

P: Hernandez

Braves Lineup:

RF: Heyward

CF: Bonifacio

1B: Freeman

LF: J. Upton

3B: Johnson

2B: La Stella

SS: Simmons

C: Laird

P: Harang
[divide] Dodgers Dugout Bubble Parties Are Here To Stay