Braves vs Dodgers Series Preview
By Editorial Staff
Source: Yardbarker.com
Preview
The Braves start an eleven game road trip with a four game set in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are 31-22 on the season and currently are only a half a game behind San Diego for first in the division. They have won four in a row and six of their last ten games. The Braves have been red hot as well and just completed a perfect 6-0 home stand. In all the Braves have won eight games in a row and have a two and a half game cushion in the NL East.
More after the jump…….
The Braves will have to face a couple of tough Dodger lefties to start this series in Hiroki Kuroda and Clayton Kershaw. Kenshin Kawakami will be looking to get off the snide and collect his first victory of the season but it won’t be easy drawing Kershaw. The good news is the Braves just hammered three Pittsburgh Pirate lefties but none of them have the stuff that Kershaw has.
Offensively the Braves will be missing Chipper Jones for a few days. Omar Infante will probably take his place at third with Brooks Conrad also being an option. Jason Heyward will probably move into Chipper’s third spot in the batting order. Troy Glaus has been braking out his home run stick of late and the Braves will be hoping that he stays hot.
For the Dodgers Andre Ethier has returned from a disabled list stint and is back in the lineup.
Pitching Matchups:
6/3 Kris Medlen (2-1, 2.85) vs Hiroki Kuroda (5-3, 3.55)
6/4 Kenshin Kawakami (0-7, 4.66) vs Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.95)
6/5 Tommy Hanson (5-3, 3.78) vs Chad Billingsley (6-2, 3.74)
6/6 Tim Hudson (6-1, 2.30) vs John Ely (3-2, 2.54)
Who’s Hot?
Yunel Escobar – .426 11-26 in last 7 days
Troy Glaus – .364 3 HR 13 RBI last 7 days
Martin Prado – .364 12-33 last 7 days
Who’s Not?
Nate McLouth .059 1-17 last 7 days (.178 on the season)
Bumps and Bruises
Chipper Jones – Day to Day with injured finger
Jair Jurrjens – Disabled List – Hamstring
Matt Diaz – Disabled List – Thumb
Brent Clevlen – Disabled List – Toe