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The Dodgers will put Philadelphia in the rear view as they arrive in Atlanta to face a Braves team that has struggled recently. As recently as July 2, the Braves owned a 3.5-game lead in the NL East, but have lost 10 of the last 15 to fall to 1.5-games back of the Phillies.
The four-game series ends a 10-game road trip that has been a good test for the Dodgers against potential playoff teams.
These two teams played three in Los Angeles back at the beginning of June, with the Dodgers taking two of the three. This stretch of games could determine home-field should these two teams meet in the postseason.
Thursday, 4:35 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network*)
Rich Hill has pitched well over his last six starts since returning from the DL on June 19. The lefty has allowed 12 runs in 35 2⁄3 innings, striking out 42 and walking just nine.
Anibal Sanchez has been a surprise this season for the young Braves. The 34-year-old has allowed three or less runs in 10 of his 12 starts, going 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA. Sanchez held the Dodgers to two runs over 5 1⁄3 innings June 9 in a 5-3 Braves win.
Friday, 4:35 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)
Clayton Kershaw continues his strange season on Friday when he makes his 15th start of the season. The Dodgers are 6-8 when Kershaw is pitching, although they’ve won three of the last four.
In his last five starts, the lefty is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA, striking out 26 against only five walks.
Named to his first career All-Star Game after a 2.02 ERA in his first 16 starts, Mike Foltynewicz has been smacked around in his last three outings. The right-hander has allowed 14 runs on 21 hits over 18 1⁄3 innings.
Saturday, 4:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network*)
Alex Wood fought through a lot of Brewers on the basepaths Sunday in Milwaukee to get through six innings with only two runs allowed. The lefty has been steady over his last six starts, giving up three or less and going at least six innings in each.
Sean Newcomb went through a tough stretch for the Braves before the All-Star break. In his last seven starts of the first half, the lefty was 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA. That sequence started when the Dodgers roughed him up for five runs on June 10.
Sunday, 10:35 a.m. PT (SportsNet LA, TBS)
Neither team has officially announced a starter for Sunday’s game, but it will likely be Ross Stripling for the Dodgers and Julio Teheran for the Braves.