Game Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves (Game 4)

Monday, August 16 – 7:10 (Peachtree TV)
Los Angeles Dodgers (60-58) vs. Atlanta Braves (68-49)

Chad Billingsley
(3.78 ERA, 4.04 xFIP, 3.24 BB/9, 7.29 K/9, 8.1 SwStr%)
(Career vs. ATL: 7 G, 5 GS, 1-3, 3.82 ERA, 18 BB, 38 K)
vs.
Tommy Hanson
(3.51 ERA, 4.00 xFIP, 2.68 BB/9, 8.55 K/9, 9.4 SwStr%)
(Career vs. LAD: 2 GS, 1-1, 4.50 ERA, 3 BB, 10 K)

Braves vs. Billingsley:
Brian McCann: 1-11, HR, RBI, 4 BB, 5 K
Troy Glaus: 0-7, 2 K
Alex Gonzalez: 2-4, 2 K
Jason Heyward: 1-3
Eric Hinske: 0-3, K
Omar Infante: 1-3, K
Rick Ankiel: 1-2, K

Dodgers vs. Hanson:
Andre Ethier: 1-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB
Matt Kemp: 1-6, 3B
James Loney: 0-5, K
Casey Blake: 2-3, K
Jamey Carroll: 1-3
Ryan Theriot: 0-3, 2 K

What to Look For:
Whether the Braves can take something from yesterday’s 13 run showing and build on it. They will need to as they face Billingsley, who is always tough. He pitched three straight shutouts in late July and has allowed five runs in 12 innings in August. He faces a fellow young hurler in Hanson, who hasn’t allowed over one earned run in each of his last four starts and gave up an unearned run on two hits in seven innings against the Astros last time out. I would bet on the score resembling that of the first two games of the series.

My Take on the Opposition:
Billingsley has a 4.06 xFIP with a 2.25 K/BB, both near his averages. His problem is he’s striking out fewer at 7.29 K/9 and isn’t missing as many bats. However, he is walking fewer at 3.24 BB/9, which is his career best, to help maintain the numbers. Billingsley mixes a wide assortment of pitches, all of which have been above average this season with the exception of his curveball, which he got plenty success from last season. He has a 3.82 ERA in 30.2 innings against the Braves and allowed three runs in six innings against them earlier this season.