Reasons to stay optimistic when the Atlanta Braves face the Dodgers

Okay, so after getting depressed over the past three games, the Braves are heading into the lion’s den – home of the hottest team on the planet. So why should we not lose hope yet?

Yeah, I get it… the Atlanta Braves are – were – a .500 team and just got schooled by a Cubs squad that finally has decided that they want to start playing again after a slumber through the season’s first 85 games.

The offense has gone cold – scoring only 3 times against the starters for the Cubs. Meanwhile, the braves typically play terribly in California and the Dodgers are about to win their 31st game out of their last 35.

So why so gloomy?

Well if I’m Brian Snitker, here’s the pep talk that I’m preparing:

LA has been quite a bit lucky

Seriously. In their current 10 game win streak (going to 11 later this evening), they have won six of those games by a single run. 2 more by 2 runs.

Sure – that’s a testament of the quality of the LA bullpen as much as anything, but it points out just how tenuous their hold on this streak has been.

Favorable schedule

Now the streak started with a sweep of the Diamondbacks, but… hey, the Braves swept them, too! Beyond that, they faced the Royals (another ~ .500 club), the Marlins and the White Sox.

Not exactly a murderers row – particularly the latter 2 clubs.

Before that, they faced the Angels and Padres – taking 4 of 7 in those matchups… and yes: the San Diego Padres were the last team to be LA.

They are also traveling

LA has started on the road after the break – in Miami, then Chicago. They finally get back home for the Braves, but that’s a lot of jetting about, especially since most of the club started in LA as the break finished.

So Los Angeles to Miami to Chicago to Los Angeles… easily 6,000 miles in six days.

Sure, Atlanta has to travel this evening too, but they should actually be in LA long before the Dodgers get there – likely after midnight Pacific time (they lead 5-1 in the 5th as I write this).

It should also be cooler in LA… at least cooler than it had been in Atlanta this afternoon. High temps are expected around 84-85° for the whole weekend… until “cooling off” on Monday.

Oh, and no rain in the forecast.

The Braves’ offense may not be that far off

With the Cubs, they faced 3 pitchers that had extra time off – especially Jon Lester, who only put in a cameo appearance in his previous start attempt. So just about everyone in the lineup struggled as these three found ways to get themselves back on track… with two of them (Lackey and Montgomery) more-or-less pitching with something to prove.

But don’t forget: they scored 19 runs in the Arizona series – against pretty stout pitchers as well.

Speaking of the DBacks

Don’t forget – Arizona is on the horizon, and the Braves should go into Phoenix with some confidence that they had just “been there and done that” with the snakes.

So even if things turn sour in Southern Cal, there will be that to look forward to.

Reality checks?

More from Tomahawk Take

True – Freddie Freeman took ill today… still no definitive word as to why, but if it’s some combination of dehydration or being overcome by heat (hey, he’s mostly Canadian, after all), then hopefully he can recover. I’m just hoping he made the flight.

Also, I’m not suggesting that Atlanta will sweep this 4 game set of anything like that… getting 2 games would be highly noteworthy.

It will be tough, for instance, for Sean Newcomb to ignore that he’s facing a Dodger team… and not trying to simply keep pace with Clayton Kershaw when those southpaws match up on Sunday.

But the whole team needs to be involved, too – it’s never about just one guy.

So let’s believe in the Underdog Factor – the scrappy Braves knocking off the top dog… you may as well come in with the attitude that somebody has to knock them off: might as well be Atlanta doing the trick.

Next: Uh oh... Freddie goes.

So let’s at least try and maintain a bit of optimism, for we do know that this is a team that won’t quit – and that’s going to be important for this entire next week.

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