The Dodgers have solved their inability to win on the road and look for their ninth victory in the last 12 games away from Dodger Stadium, facing an Atlanta team that’s had a tough time winning, period.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The odds of the Dodgers winning go down significantly when someone other than Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke starts. The Braves catch a break since they won’t have to face either of LA’s aces in this series. But scoring could still be a problem for Atlanta, who’s averaged just 2.6 runs in its last 23 games with the under at 18-5 in that stretch. The Braves scored just five times in their last four home games, getting shutout twice.
After struggling on the road for most of the season, the Dodgers have turned things around winning eight of 11, up 2.72 units in that span, after taking the final two of a three-game weekend set in Washington. The Dodgers are still a money pit on the road with a 20-23 overall record in the red 11.09 units on the moneyline. LA won two of three when the teams played at Dodger Stadium in late May outscoring the Braves 16-6 in the series.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Former Braves’ hurler Brandon Beachy (0-1, 6.75 ERA) gets the nod for LA in the opener. Considered a top-10 prospect in Atlanta’s organization when he reached the majors in 2010, Beachy got one full season with the club before hurting his elbow in 2012. He returned from his second Tommy John surgery on July 11 and tossed four innings in a loss to the Brewers in his first appearance since Aug. 20, 2013. Beachy was throwing in the 88-91 mph range, which isn’t far off from his best days with the Braves.
He’ll face his former team for the first time in his second start of the season.
Matt Wisler (3-1, 3.10 ERA) was denied his third consecutive winning start despite another strong performance July 11. He gave up two runs and struck out seven over six innings in a 3-2 loss in Colorado in his fifth major league start. He’s averaged slightly better than five innings a start over his last four after pitching eight innings in his major league debut on June 19.
Wisler will take on the Dodgers for the first time in his sixth career start.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I was really excited to get out there, and I’m really disappointed now. It’s not the way I pictured it for 23 months. I don’t feel lost by any means. There was never a point where I didn’t feel like I knew where the ball was going. It’s just sometimes I rushed. I could feel what I was doing wrong. Now it’s about making pitches and I’m going to be a lot better.” – Dodgers pitcher Brandon Beachy after pitching four innings in his first game in nearly two years.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
After sitting on the disabled list since April 28, Dodgers’ outfielder Carl Crawford is set to join the team for its series in Atlanta. Crawford has been dealing with an oblique strain that forced him to miss 74 games. He recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Manager Don Mattingly said Crawford will be used in left field, though there will be instances where he’ll play him alongside Andre Ethier to give Yasiel Puig some extra rest. “Definitely, I would use Carl to give Yasiel some extra rest,” Mattingly said. Crawford was hitting .245/.260/.408 with one home run in 15 games before getting injured.
PROP TALK
Apparently Adrian Gonzalez enjoyed the All-Star break. Gonzo limped into the break hitting just .159 (7 for 44) in 13 games prior to the respite but enjoyed a monster series at Washington over the weekend hitting .636 (7 for 11) in the three games with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored. Gonzalez had four hits in 12 at-bats with a homer in three games against the Braves when the team’s played in Dodger Stadium two months ago and is a lifetime .288 hitter against Atlanta. He’s been known as a streaky hitter during his career and he’s streaking right now.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It’s been a struggle for the Braves to score runs and the slide started when Freddie Freeman hit the disabled list with a wrist injury last month. The Braves have fallen hard with him sidelined, dropping a season-high six games below .500 after Sunday’s loss and it doesn’t look like they are busting out any time soon with Freeman sidelined longer than expected. Former Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy will be pumped to face his old team and a little payback is in store after the Braves parted ways with him in December.
Los Angeles 5, Atlanta 2
The baseball betting odds for this game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
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