The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves meet Sunday for a rubber match of their series at Truist Park and the final time this season. L.A. has won three of five games thus far and are looking to take a third consecutive season series from Atlanta.
Tony Gonsolin takes the mound a perfect 9-0 this season to go along with an MLB-best 1.58 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. Gonsolin has held opponents to a .150 batting average, good for the lowest mark in baseball.
He threw six scoreless innings against the Braves at Dodger Stadium on April 20, and can become the first Dodgers pitcher to start the season 10-0 since Alex Wood did so during a 2017 All-Star campaign.
Gonsolin appears well on his way to a first career All-Star Game selection as well, which was a goal he set heading into the 2022 season.
Gonsolin was due to take the mound with a new-look outfield behind him as Eddy Alvarez was playing left field and Zach McKinstry had been penciled in to start in right field.
However, McKinstry was scratched due to neck stiffness and replaced in the lineup by Trayce Thompson. The start would have been McKinstry’s first since getting recalled as the corresponding move to Mookie Betts being placed on the 10-day injured list.
Spencer Strider starts for the Braves, who have the best record during the moth of June at 19-4. Strider has made four starts during that span, going 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA. Strider’s ERA is inflated due to just allowing six runs to the San Francisco Giants his last time out.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is out of the Braves lineup due to lingering soreness after fouling a ball off his foot Saturday. Acuña was removed in the ninth inning of the Braves’ win.
The series finale between the Dodgers and Braves was selected for a national broadcast as part of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball programming, which includes a “KayRod Cast” with Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Eddy Alvarez
RF: Trayce Thompson
Braves lineup
SS: Dansby Swanson
C: Travis d’Arnaud
1B: Matt Olson
3B: Austin Riley
LF: Marcell Ozuna
2B: Orlando Arcia
DH: William Contreras
RF: Adam Duvall
CF: Michael Harris II
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