Series preview: vs. Dodgers
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Monday (SPSO), 7:10 p.m. Tuesday (SPSO), 7:10 p.m. Wednesday (SPSO), 12:10 p.m. Thursday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (10-8, 2.92) vs. RH Kevin Correia (5-13, 4.94)
Tuesday: Braves LH Mike Minor (4-7, 5.42 ERA) vs. RH Dan Haren (9-9, 4.7)
Wednesday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (11-6, 3.69 ERA) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-5, 3.21 ERA)
Thursday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA) vs. RH Roberto Hernandez (6-8, 3.83 ERA)
About the Braves
Batting: The Braves' 19 runs scored in the first seven games of August were the fewest in the major leagues. Their four home runs off Stephen Strasburg on Friday night helped get them out of the cellar in homers for the month and they're up to a tie with Boston for 27th. Freddie Freeman had two three-hit games in his past three games entering Sunday night, going 7-for-11 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs over that time.
Pitching: Teheran is coming off a six-run outing in Seattle, the most runs he's allowed this year except for his seven-run outing in the light air of Coors Field. He bounced back from that one by pitching eight innings and allowing only one run against the Phillies on June 16. He pitched a dandy when he faced the Dodgers on July 31, but took the touch-luck 2-1 loss to ace Clayton Kershaw after giving up only two earned runs in eight innings. Both pitched complete games that night. Entering Sunday night, the Braves bullpen was on a 10-game losing streak which matched the franchise record (1912.)
Miscellaneous: The Braves are hoping shortstop Andrelton Simmons can return to action Tuesday against the Dodgers. He's been out since Tuesday when he sprained his left ankle against Seattle.
About the Dodgers
Batting: Adrian Gonzalez had his fourth straight multi-hit game Sunday, going 9-for-14 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs over that time. His 78 RBIs trail only Giancarlo Stanton in the National League. Matt Kemp went 6-for-10 with three home runs, six RBIs, four runs and 15 total bases against the Braves in three games in L.A. Kemp was slugging .635 since the All-Star break entering Sunday, second in the NL. Yasiel Puig, who is third in the NL with a .311 batting average, went 6-for-8 with two doubles, a triple and a home run in three games against the Braves in L.A.
Pitching: The Braves avoid both Clayton Kershaw, who pitched Sunday in Milwaukee, and Zack Greinke, who was pushed back to Friday because of a change in the rotation. Correia makes his first start Monday night since arriving by trade from the Twins and the Dodgers will push everybody back by a day to give them extra rest. The Dodgers traded for both Correia and Roberto Hernandez in the past five days. Hernandez takes the place of Josh Beckett who was placed on the DL with a hip injury. Despite the upheaval, the Dodgers still lead the majors with a 3.19 starters' ERA. After early exits from starts against the White Sox and Rays, Correia is coming off back-to-back quality starts against the Royals and Padres (four earned runs in 12 innings total.)
Miscellaneous: Hanley Ramirez was placed on the DL Sunday with an oblique strain and Darwin Barney was recalled from Triple-A. Former Brave Paul Maholm is out for the year with a torn ACL which he injured covering first base against the Cubs on Aug. 1.
Carroll Rogers
