Atlanta Braves Riding Eight Game Winning Streak Into LA
While sweeping the state of Pennsylvania over the past week, the Braves have clearly shown that they are nothing like the team that lost nine games in a row a month ago. Instead, they head out west to face the Dodgers as the hottest team in all of baseball with an eight game winning streak.
A lot of things are starting to look up for the Braves right now. Brian McCann and Yunel Escobar both seem to be hitting again, and Troy Glaus just won NL Player of the Month for May.
On the mound, Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami, once seen as the weak links in the staff, have been dominating recently.
After getting roughed up by the Phillies (seven earned runs in five innings) back on May 7th, Lowe changed his approach and has become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He’s made five starts since that day, and has gone 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA over that span.
In his last start, which came against the same Phillies team that plastered him in May, he pitched eight strong innings and allowed just one run. With seven strikeouts and only seven base runners allowed, it was Lowe’s best outing of the season. Lowe is finally pitching like a $15 million dollar pitcher.
Kawakami has also been pitching better lately. Despite having an 0-7 record, Kawakami has been terrific over his past three starts, posting a 2.41 ERA over 18.2 innings.
With Kris Medlen continuing to pitch well as a fill in for Jair Jurrjens, the Braves could be looking at six above average starters when JJ returns from the DL.
Pitching Matchups:
Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers
6/3: Kris Medlen (2-1, 2.85) @ Hiroki Kuroda (5-3, 3.55)
6/4: Kenshin Kawakami (0-7, 4.66) @ Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.95)
6/5: Tommy Hanson (5-3, 3.78) @ Chad Billingsley (6-2, 3.74)
6/6: Tim Hudson (6-1, 2.30) @ John Ely (3-2, 2.54)
Series Outlook:
The pitching matchups aren’t great for the Braves in this series, and I don’t know how much of a factor momentum will play, as the Dodgers are also riding a winning streak (although it’s only four games).
So far this year, the Braves have the best home record in the MLB, but have been under .500 on the road. For the team to stay on top of the division, that will have to change.
I’m going to predict that the Braves will split this four game set with the Dodgers. I think that they will win the first and last games, but drop the middle two. As good as Kawakami has been lately, I don’t think he will be able to outpitch Clayton Kershaw. Tommy Hanson has had some issues in May, and although I typically would pick him over Billingsley, I think the Dodgers might pull that one out.
Against one of the better teams in the NL, on the road, a series split wouldn’t be bad. If Hanson pitches more like he did in April (2.17 ERA, 3.3 K/BB) and less like May (5.09 ERA, 2.38 K/BB), the Braves might be able to come out with a series win.
