The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have both benefitted from a big inning, and now they meet Sunday for a rubber match at Truist Park.
Trevor Bauer takes the mound for L.A. in what is his first opportunity to raise money for 9 Dots via strikeouts. Bauer donated $45,000 to the Just Keep Livin Foundation for the month of May through his “Ks for a Cause” initiative that was formed in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
The right-hander is 6-3 with a 2.24 ERA, but continues to be plagued by the home run ball this season. Bauer surrendered multiple homers in each of his past two starts, including a season-high three to the St. Louis Cardinals on Memorial Day.
“It’s just frustrating. It’s like 40% of the hits I give up are homers,” he said after the win. “I haven’t given up a run on a non-homer in over a month. Good pitches, bad pitches, it just seems like my luck on homers is terrible right now. …
“It’s very odd, because I don’t give up a lot of hits. It’s not like I’m getting hit around and the ball is leaving the yard. I don’t give up any hits and all of a sudden when I do give up a hit, it’s a homer. Hopefully it regresses back to the mean a little bit, but we’ll see.
Bauer has given up just 40 hits over 76.1 innings pitched, with 13 of those going for a home run.
Max Fried enters 2-3 with a 5.12 ERA and is coming off a rough outing in which he lasted only 3.2 innings in a loss to the Washington Nationals. Prior to that, Fried had a string of allowing one earned run in four straight outings during May.
Fried made two starts against the Dodgers during the NLCS — Games 1 and 6 — and allowed a combined four earned runs on 12 hits (three home runs) in 12.2 innings pitched. The left-hander amassed 14 strikeouts against six walks during that span.
The bulk of the Dodgers’ struggles against Fried came in Game 1. When they faced him a second time in the series, L.A. reduced their strikeouts, drew more walks, increased the number of hits and runs scored.
Max Muncy is again out of the Dodgers lineup as he continues to deal with soreness in his right ankle that manager Dave Roberts relayed is considered a mild sprain. Muncy may be available to pinch-hit and the team is hopeful he returns Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Braves recalled relief pitcher Shane Greene ahead of the series finale.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Chris Taylor
1B: Albert Pujols
LF: AJ Pollock
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
SS: Gavin Lux
P: Trevor Bauer
Braves lineup
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Ozzie Albies
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Abraham Almonte
3B: Ehire Adrianza
C: William Contreras
CF: Edner Inciarte
P: Max Fried
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