The Braves did what they needed to do Friday in Atlanta, rebounding from a ragged and alarming performance in the division-series opener to play sound, inspired ball in a 4-3 win against the Dodgers to even the series at a game apiece.
Now the best-of-five series has shifted to the left coast and arguably the most important game of the series: a Game 3 matchup of rookie pitchers Julio Teheran and Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu.
If the Braves win Sunday, the Dodgers, facing elimination in Game 4 on Monday, would have to decide whether to bring back Clayton Kershaw on short rest for the first time in his career, after the ace left-hander threw 124 pitches in seven innings Thursday, or stick with scheduled Game 4 starter Ricky Nolasco.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before the team’s off-day workout Saturday at Dodger Stadium that he would stick with planned Game 4 starter Freddy Garcia regardless of Sunday’s outcome. Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said he was leaning toward Nolasco, but left himself wiggle room.
Nolasco had a 12.75 ERA in his last three regular-season starts, and the former Marlin is 6-10 with a 5.11 ERA in his career against Atlanta, three more losses than he has against any other team. He’s 1-4 with a 6.17 ERA in his past six starts against the Braves, though he won his only start against them this season.
Teheran, 22, will face the Dodgers before a sellout crowd in excess of 50,000 at the storied ballpark in Chavez Ravine, where a rejuvenated franchise, under new, deep-pocketed ownership and led by a couple of ace pitchers and dynamic hitters Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez, has rekindled the passion of its large fan base.
“I feel really excited about this game,” said Teheran, making his first postseason start after going 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA in 30 starts in his first full season, with 170 strikeouts in 185 2/3 innings. “I never thought that I (would) be in this situation in my first year. But I’m just trying to calm myself and be focused on the game and try to do the same thing I’ve been doing.”
The Colombian right-hander had a 2.81 ERA in his last regular-season 27 starts, and Teheran’s road ERA (3.38) wasn’t much different than at Turner Field (3.04). Gonzalez said he wouldn’t have any discussion with Teheran in relation to it being his first postseason start or what to expect.
“He’ll compete like he always has,” Gonzalez said. “If he has his fastball command and throws his secondary pitches, he’ll be OK. But as far as conversation — you know, it’s still 60 feet, 6 inches, and get ahead of the hitters.”
Ryu, a 26-year-old Korean rookie, had plenty of previous professional experience in his homeland. In two starts against the Braves this season, he had no decisions and a 2.13 ERA, allowing 11 hits (no homers) and six walks with 11 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
He gave up eight hits in four innings of his last regular-season start and wore a sleeve on his elbow in a bullpen session this week, leading to speculation by some Los Angeles reporters that Mattingly might go with lefty Chris Capuano in Game 3. Mattingly said Saturday that the Dodgers had no concerns about Ryu and that he would start Sunday.
Ryu (14-8, 3.00 ERA) has been awfully tough at Dodger Stadium, compiling a 2.32 home ERA and allowing one or no runs in seven of 12 starts. He allowed more than three runs in only one home game.
Ryu had a first-inning problem even more severe than Mike Minor’s this season: Ryu allowed a .308 average, .382 OBP and seven homers in 117 at-bats in 30 first innings, compared with a .240 average and eight homers in 162 other innings.
About the Author
