Zack Greinke looks for bounce back in opener vs. Braves

The Dodgers welcome the Braves to town for a four-game weekend series beginning Thursday, with a solid pitching matchup in the opener. Zack Greinke looks to get back on track after three poor starts, facing Tim Hudson for Atlanta.

Greinke has allowed 15 runs in 13⅓ innings over his last three starts, and hasn't lasted longer than 5⅓ innings in any start since his first start of the year.

The Upton brothers against Greinke in their careers have mirrored their 2013 season performance. Justin Upton is 6-for-12 with two home runs against Greinke, but B.J. Upton is just 4-for-22 (.182) with 11 strikeouts.

Adrian Gonzalez is 8-for-17 with a pair of home runs in his career against Hudson. Among Dodgers, Hanley Ramirez has face Hudson by far the most with 60 plate appearances, but the shortstop has hit just .264/.333/.302 against him with two doubles.

Ramirez is 1-for-7 with a double and a sacrifice fly in two games since his return from the disabled list.

The Braves come to town winners of five straight, and they have gone 12-4 since sweeping the Dodgers in Atlanta from May 17-19. At 37-22 the Braves have the second-best record in baseball behind the Cardinals (38-21). Since getting swept by the Braves, the Dodgers have been a pedestrian 8-8.

Notes

• Nancy Bea Hefley won't be at her organ at Dodger Stadium on Thursday or Friday, as her husband Bill is having surgery.
• Jason Heyward is 5-for-42 (.119) with no extra-base hits in his career at Dodger Stadium.
  
• Old friend Ramon Troncoso, who once pitched 14 games in a 21-day span under Joe Torre in 2010, is back in the major leagues. The White Sox on Thursday purchased his contract after Troncoso put up a 2.19 ERA and eight saves in 21 games in Triple-A Charlotte.
• The Dodgers signed 17-year-old outfielder Johan Mieses out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket