Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2011 ) Atlanta 3, LA Dodgers 5
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Dodgers look to play the role of spoiler this weekend, as they begin a three-game series in Atlanta against the Braves. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 10 games and could throw a wrench into Atlanta's quest to nail down the National League wild card sooner rather than later. The Dodgers have won four straight - including a one-day rain makeup in Pittsburgh on Thursday - while the Braves have emerged victorious in two in a row. The Dodgers have won three of four games from the Braves this year. Atlanta currently leads the race for the wild card by 8 1/2 games.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FSPT (Los Angeles), FSS (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (10-10, 4.08 ERA) vs. Braves RH Brandon Beachy (7-2, 3.31 ERA)
Billingsley is 0-1 over his last four starts and is coming off a six-inning no-decision against the Colorado Rockies. He's only 2-3 with a 4.59 ERA since the All-Star Game. He's made six career starts against Atlanta, posting a 1-3 record and 3.35 ERA. Billingsley has struck out 46 hitters in 37 2/3 innings against Atlanta in his career.
Beachy has won four straight and could have won two others that resulted in no-decisions when the bullpen failed to hold the lead. He was 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA in August, when he struck out 37 and walked only five in 29 innings. Beachy beat the Dodgers earlier this season after striking out seven over six shutout innings.
ABOUT THE DODGERS (66-70): James Loney is 22-for-47 (.468) over his last 11 games; he's hit safely in 11 of 12. Matt Kemp is 17-for-47 (.361) in his last 12 games, but is batting only .228 in 32 career games against Atlanta. Reliever Kenley Jansen allowed his first run since May 28 and his first hit since July 17. Jansen had gone 19 innings without giving up a hit.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (81-55): Chipper Jones has hit homers in back-to-back games for the second time this season. Jones has 16 homers and 451 for his career, one short of Carl Yastrzemski for 33rd on the all-time list. Dan Uggla has hit safely in five straight and eight of his last nine games. Brian McCann has only three hits in his last 15 at-bats, but all three hits were home runs.
FINAL PITCH: Los Angeles third baseman Casey Blake will have season-ending surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his neck. Infielder Russ Mitchell was recalled to take his place on the roster. An MRI on the right knee of Atlanta pitcher Jair Jurrjens showed a bone bruise. He will see an orthopedist and could end up on the disabled list.