Dodgers welcome Braves to town

The Dodgers are back home looking to continue their winning ways, opening up a four-game weekend series against the Braves beginning Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

Winners of 11 straight games and 31 of their last 35, the Dodgers are trying their 12th straight game for the first time since 1976.

They will have to face a semi-rebuilding Braves team that comes to town at 45-48, yet in second place in a putrid National League East. Atlanta clawed back to .500 last weekend with a sweep of the Diamondbacks, but then lost three straight at home to the Cubs, who seem to finally be figuring things out since the All-Star break.

Freddie Freeman is the Braves’ best hitter, hitting .328/.431/.699 with 17 home runs in 49 games. He missed six weeks with a right wrist injury and since returning has played eight of his 12 games at third base.

That’s because former Cardinal — and former Dodgers postseason fun ruiner — Matt Adams has filled in quite nicely since getting traded to Atlanta, hitting .286/.333/.595 with 14 home runs in 49 games for the Braves. Atlanta first basemen lead the National League with 28 home runs.

Brandon McCarthy gets the start in the series opener for the Dodgers, looking to rebound from his last outing, when he allowed four runs and couldn’t get out of the fifth inning in Miami.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA