Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview
Truist Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2025 ) Atlanta 5, LA Dodgers 6
The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to extend their five-game winning streak and continue their early-season dominance over the Braves when they begin a 10-game road trip on Friday in Atlanta.
The Dodgers are coming off a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins and are tied with the New York Mets for the most wins (21) in the major leagues. The Braves went 4-2 on their road trip to Arizona and Colorado and have won nine of their last 12 games.
"We're kind of more ‘who we are' right now," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "I think we're 9-3 in our last 12 games. I'll take that any time."
This is the second meeting between the teams. The Dodgers swept three games against the Braves in early April to send Atlanta to an 0-7 start.
The pitching matchup for the opener features a pair of right-handers -- Atlanta's Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.50 ERA) and Los Angeles' Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-2, 1.06).
Yamamoto has been one of the best pitchers in the National League. He has pitched at least five innings in each of his six starts and allowed no more than three runs. That includes two scoreless appearances, one that lasted seven innings.
In his last start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Yamamoto took the loss in a showdown against Paul Skenes. Yamamoto pitched five innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits, a season-high four walks and five strikeouts.
"As the game moved on, the second inning, third inning, I did start feeling my stuff was becoming better," Yamamoto said afterward. "I couldn't grind through and get myself out of trouble."
Manager Dave Roberts added, "Overall, he just typically has great command and (Friday) he just wasn't as pinpoint."
Yamamoto did not face the Braves during their first series. He started once against Atlanta in 2024 and did not get a decision after throwing four scoreless innings.
Holmes has made six appearances, five of them starts. He had his worst outing of the season when he faced Arizona on Saturday, allowing six runs over 5 2/3 innings and giving up a career-high three home runs. He has permitted three or fewer runs in three starts.
"Didn't have the greatest outing, but we came back and put some runs on the board and we got the W," Holmes said afterward. "That's really all that matters when you're up here."
In two career appearances (one start) against the Dodgers, Holmes is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. The loss came on March 31 when Holmes made his first start of 2025 and allowed four runs in four innings.
The Dodgers expect second baseman/outfielder Tommy Edman to be back in the lineup for Friday's opener. He missed Wednesday's game with a sprained right ankle.
Atlanta continues to tinker with its roster. The club brought back ex-Brave Eddie Rosario on Monday and he was in the lineup Wednesday, going 0-for-3 but making a pair of nice sliding catches.
Rosario began the season with the Dodgers and was designated for assignment on April 20. He will primarily be used as a left-handed pinch hitter.
"It's good to be back with teammates, coaches and people I'm familiar with," said Rosario, the MVP of the 2021 NCLS when the Braves won the World Series. "We've had a lot of good moments here."
--Field Level Media