Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 2, Atlanta 1
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Dodgers may have dug themselves too deep a hole to contend in the National League West, but they are making quite an impressive run. The Dodgers have won six straight and 11 of their last 12 to get within two games of .500 for the first time since May 14. Los Angeles is 20-11 since Aug. 1 and will send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound to try and complete the three-game sweep at the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. The Braves have lost four of six, but still lead the wild-card race by 7 1/2 games. The Dodgers have won five of six against Atlanta in 2011.
TV: 1:35 p.m. EST; KCAL (Los Angeles), FS-SOU (Atlanta).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (17-5, 2.45) vs. Braves RH Randall Delgado (0-1, 3.60 ERA).
Kershaw was outstanding in August, going 5-1 with a 1.55 ERA. He has won his last four starts, allowing just two runs in 31 innings, and has won nine of his last 10 decisions. Kershaw has struck out 212, equaling his career high, in 198 2/3 innings. He has yet to record a decision in his career against the Braves, giving up six earned runs in 22 1/3 innings. Kershaw allowed three runs in 8 2/3 innings, but did not get a decision against Atlanta April 21. Current Braves batters are hitting .134 against him.
Delgado, 21, will make his third major league start. He gave up one hit and one run over six innings against the San Francisco Giants in his last start Aug. 16, but did not get a decision. Delgado allowed three earned runs in four innings in a loss against the Texas Rangers on June 17. Delgado was 2-2 at Triple-A Gwinnett and 5-5 at Double-A Mississippi.
ABOUT THE DODGERS (68-70): The Dodgers have outscored opponents 75-40 over the last 12 games. James Loney has been a big factor in that stretch, going 25-for-54 with 14 RBIs in his last 13 games. Matt Kemp (31 homers, 102 RBIs) was walked three times Saturday. Juan Rivera capitalized on the last walk to Kemp, knocking in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Rivera has 28 RBIs in 41 games since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays. Andre Ethier was limited to pinch hitting Saturday, but is 10-for-23 his last eight games with seven RBIs.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (81-57): It’s not yet time to worry, but the Braves would certainly like to start moving forward again. Brian McCann does have five homers since returning from the disabled list Aug. 14, but he is just 9-for-59 (.153). He is 2-for-19 in his last five games after striking out four times Saturday. Jason Heyward also needs to pick it up with just three hits in 20 at bats over seven games. Dan Uggla has homers in his last two games to extend a seven-game hit streak (8-for-23). Michael Bourn needs one stolen base to give him at least 50 in each of his last three seasons.
FINAL PITCH: The Braves are expected to activate right-handed reliever Peter Moylan from the disabled list Sunday. Moylan has been out since mid April with a back injury.