After outslugging the Atlanta Braves in the first game of the series at Truist Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers send top pitching prospect Bobby Miller to the mound for his MLB debut.
The flamethrower from the University of Louisville has been a top-ranked Dodgers prospect ever since he was selected 29th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft. Miller frequently touches triple-digits with his fastball and joins the Dodgers amid a modest showing with Triple-A Oklahoma City so far this season.
Miller has a 4.29 ERA through four starts for OKC, but myriad injuries to the Dodgers rotation has forced the organization’s hand.
The Dodgers are probably not expecting a long outing from Miller, as his highest pitch count this year is 76, which came in his last start. Depending on Miller’s ability to efficiently get outs, a goal of four or five innings is best-case scenario for the team.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the message given to Miller is to be himself rather than attempting to reach back for more velocity.
The Braves send out a young, impressive right-hander of their own in Spencer Strider. His fastball is frequently clocked in the high-90s and he currently leads the Majors in strikeouts with 86 in only 52 innings of work. Strider has a 4-1 record to go along with a 2.96 ERA. Strider is a strikeout machine, racking up 288 of them 185 Major League innings.
Offensively, the Dodgers are looking to build on their success in scoring runs. They have scored at least five runs in their last five games.
Freddie Freeman has been tearing the cover off the ball, batting .464/.515/.893 in his last seven games. That’s come in the midst of a season-best 12-game hitting streak.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: David Peralta
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B: Matt Olson
C: Sean Murphy
3B: Austin Riley
LF: Eddie Rosario
2B: Ozzie Albies
DH: Marcell Ozuna
SS: Orlando Arcía
CF: Sam Hilliard
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