Game Preview: Yasiel Puig Set to Return To Dodgers Lineup
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
Time: 4:10 PM PT
Venue: SunTrust Park
Los Angeles Record: 58-46
Atlanta Record: 54-46
How are the Dodgers Doing?
For the first time this year, Dave Roberts brought out the same lineup on back-to-back nights. The Dodgers finished with the same end result for both games, defeating the Braves both on Thursday and Friday. Clayton Kershaw pitched his longest outing of the year, going 7.2 innings, allowing just one run. He improved to a 4-5 record and Kenley Jansen picked up his 30th save of the season.
Clayton Kershaw is doing it all tonight!
Players with 3+ BB & 1+ H as a batter and 8+ K as a pitcher in a game – live-ball era:
Robin Roberts (4/30/1950)
Whitey Ford (4/22/1959)
Clayton Kershaw (tonight) pic.twitter.com/MkqjrnDoSe— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 28, 2018
Why is this Game Important?
Yasiel Puig expects to return to the Dodgers on Saturday, after dealing with an oblique injury. His arrival gives another right-handed bat to the team and adds another piece of competition in the outfield. Prior to his injury, Puig was slashing .307/.373/.601 since May 13. He went 2-9 with an RBI in his three-game rehab in Oklahoma City.
Pitching Matchup
Alex Wood (6-5, 3.87 ERA) vs Max Fried (1-3, 3.92 ERA)
For just the fifth time in his career, Alex Wood will pitch against his former ballclub. The Braves drafted Wood out of the University of Georgia in 2012 and he pitched with Atlanta until they traded him to Los Angeles on July 30, 2015. Wood has not lost a game since June 9 against the Braves.
Wood’s counterpart, Max Fried is also a left-handed pitcher who was also drafted in 2012. Fried, who is a Southern California product, has spent most of the season in triple-a. He is coming off the 10-day DL and he lost his start on July 5, after allowing four runs in three innings against the Brewers.
Matchup of the Day
Matt Kemp vs Max Fried
Sticking with the theme of former Braves players, Matt Kemp has 10 career home runs against Atlanta. He is raking against left-handed pitching this year, batting .318 with nine home runs against southpaws. He is facing Fried for the first time in his career, but he is batting .320/.438/.600 since the All-Star break.
Vegas Odds
Odds Sharks
Dodgers: -126
Braves: +116
FiveThirtyEight
Dodgers: 55% chance of winning
Braves: 45% chance of winning
Fun Fact
The Harvard-Westlake School 2012 varsity baseball team featured three future MLB first round draft picks (Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty).
Dodgers Win Opening Game in Atlanta Backed By Hill’s Dominant Outing
With Puig coming back who is being sent down? On another subject with the roster can anyone explain to me why in the world Logan Forsythe is still around with the acquisition of Machado he is not longer needed and has been useless since arriving.