After putting an 8-2 beatdown on the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a four-game series, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to take another game in the ATL with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Kershaw has had his ups and downs in 2018 but still owns an excellent 2.64 ERA in 14 starts. The 30-year-old was riding a three-game win streak before taking the loss in Milwaukee last week. The Dodgers have been the favorite in every one of Kershaw’s 14 starts this season and opened as -155 favorites vs the NL East squad.
- The Braves are 5-11 SU in their last 16 games.
- Clayton Kershaw owns a 2.19 ERA in four starts in July.
- The OVER has hit in five of Atlanta’s last five games.
View Dodgers vs Braves Matchup Page.
Braves Have Had Difficulty Solving Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw may not be at his peak when he won MVP in 2014 but he’s still one of the best pitchers in MLB. The southpaw is rocking a 2.12 ERA in six road starts this season but the Dodgers are only 3-3 SU in those games as LA only managed five runs total which spoiled those good outings. Experts on the radar gun are hinting that Kershaw’s velocity has dropped a few miles per hour which may be why Kershaw isn’t as dominant as he was four years ago. But when you consider that he owns a 1.47 ERA in nine career starts vs the Braves, bettors may just want to let it ride and back the ace.
As for the Braves, they’ll send out their own all-star in Mike Foltynewicz, who has started to show signs of regression. The righty has given up 14 earned runs in his last three starts and his ERA in 5.40 in July. He’ll be in tough to stop a Dodgers’ lineup that leads the National League in home runs and OPS. If Braves’ backers think Folty will get back on track, it’s worth noting that he picked up the 6-3-win last season in his only career appearance vs the Dodgers.
Atlanta taking a Nosedive in the Standings
The Braves started off the season red-hot and were leading the NL East but since the beginning of July, it’s been tough sledding. Atlanta is 5-11 SU and 6-10 ATS in their last 16 games and now trail the Phillies by 2.5-games in the standings with the Nationals also creeping up behind them. The hitting has started to dry up for the Braves this month as they rank near the bottom of MLB in runs per game (25th), OPS (21st), and home runs (28th). Factoring in that the Braves are 2-6 SU in their last eight games at home, Atlanta may be the team to fade in this tilt.
Both teams riding OVER Streaks
The total opened at 8 and while both starting pitchers own ERAs under 2.90 this season, the OVER should seriously be considered in this matchup. The OVER has hit in five straight games with Atlanta involved with an average combined score of 11.3 runs per game. Not to be outdone, the OVER has also hit in the last five Dodgers’ games with an average combined score of 11.4 runs per game.
