LA Dodgers (58-46) at Atlanta (54-46)
When: Saturday, July 28th 2018
Where: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, GA
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -125/9
The Atlanta Braves were one of the big surprises in the first half of the season, but have stumbled a bit since the calendar turned to July and will try and get back on track when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. The Braves have fallen 2.5 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East after dropping 12 of their last 17 games – and have been outscored 21-6 in losing their past three including 4-1 on Friday. Center fielder Ender Inciarte, who finished with a hit and drove in a run, is 8-for-19 in his last five games, but Atlanta fell to 6-32 when scoring three runs or fewer. Their starting pitching was a big reason for their first half success, but the staff is struggling to go deep into games, as Mike Foltynewicz lasted just five innings Friday. Alex Verdugo and Yasmani Grandal clubbed solo shots Friday, while Clayton Kershaw became only the third pitcher in the live-ball era to draw three walks, hit a single and strike out eight batters in the same game as the Dodgers improved to 5-3 since the All-Star break. L.A. boasts an NL-leading 142 homers on the season and enter the weekend leading the NL West by 1.5 games over Arizona. Freshly acquired infielder Manny Machado recorded two hits Friday after blasting his first home run as a Dodger in the series opener Thursday. Closer Kenley Jansen retired all four hitters he faced Friday for his NL-leading 30th save.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Alex Wood (6-5, 3.87 ERA) | Braves – Max Fried (1-3, 3.92)
Alex Wood continues to get stronger as the season wears on and has been victorious in his last five decisions. In his last seven starts, Wood has a nice 2.95 ERA after holding Milwaukee to two runs on five hits in six innings Sunday. He surrendered four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings in a June 9th loss to Atlanta but has not lost since.
Max Fried will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday for his fourth start of the season, after suffering a blister on his pitching hand. Fried gave up four runs on four hits in three innings in that start against Milwaukee, five days after striking out 11 in 6.2 scoreless innings in a victory at St. Louis. He struck out 10 and allowed one hit in 6.2 scoreless innings for Double-A Mississippi on Monday in a rehab assignment.
The Braves are really struggling right now, while the Dodgers appear to be in postseason form already. Wood has been the one healthy pitcher on this L.A. staff and is pitching great. Look for him to keep the Braves bats in check and record his seventh win.
Pick: Dodgers -125
BETTING TRENDS:
- Dodgers are 15-4 in their last 19 during game 3 of a series.
- Dodgers are 16-5 in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 19-7 in their last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Dodgers are 21-9 in their last 30 road games.
- Dodgers are 56-24 in their last 80 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 58-27 in their last 85 vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 25-12 in their last 37 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 41-20 in their last 61 overall.
- Dodgers are 41-20 in their last 61 games on grass.
- Dodgers are 4-0 in Wood’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 road starts.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Dodgers are 6-2 in Wood’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 5-2 in Wood’s last 7 starts.
- Dodgers are 5-2 in Wood’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Dodgers are 1-4 in Wood’s last 5 Saturday starts.
- Dodgers are 1-5 in Wood’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 games after losing the first 2 games of a series.
- Braves are 19-7 in their last 26 during game 3 of a series.
- Braves are 5-11 in their last 16 overall.
- Braves are 5-11 in their last 16 games on grass.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 home games.
- Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Braves are 2-8 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 5-2 in Fried’s last 7 starts.
- Braves are 5-2 in Fried’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 road games.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 on grass.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Dodgers last 21 vs. National League East.
- Under is 10-4-1 in Dodgers last 15 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 24-11-1 in Dodgers last 36 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 7-0-1 in Wood’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Wood’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-1 in Wood’s last 9 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 5-1 in Wood’s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 Saturday starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Braves last 5 overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Braves last 5 on grass.
- Under is 7-1 in Braves last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in Braves last 6 vs. National League West.
- Under is 9-2 in Braves last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 15-7 in Braves last 22 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Over is 4-0 in Wood’s last 4 starts vs. Braves.
- Dodgers are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Atlanta.
- Dodgers are 23-9 in the last 32 meetings.
