The Dodgers get a visit from the Atlanta Braves in baseball action on Thursday, with the home side looking to send the visitors to the showers with a loss.

Jair Jurrjens, with a record of 1-0 on the season, gets the ball for the Braves, while the Dodgers trot Clayton Kershaw to the mound in this one. He is 2-2 so far in 2011.



View Atlanta vs LA Dodgers Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with the Dodgers in this one will find them as -135 favorites on the MLB money line. Betting the over under instead? It was hovering near 6.5 at its open earlier today.



How They Match Up:
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Los Angeles has the National League's No. 16-rated offensive output, at 8.5 hits per game. The Braves average 7.5 hits per game, good for No. 14 on the National League list.

Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping factors and Los Angeles has the National League's No. 13-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Braves own the National League's No. 1 mark in runs allowed.

In their last action, Atlanta was a 6-1 loser on the road against the Dodgers. Bettors on Los Angeles at +120 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (7) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well. Atlanta looks to rebound from a loss to the Dodgers, who beat them 6-1 on Wednesday behind a start from Jon Garland at Dodger Stadium.




Atlanta Braves Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing San Francisco are 6-4
After playing LA Dodgers are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

Los Angeles Dodgers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Chi Cubs are 6-4
After playing Atlanta are 6-4
After a win are 4-6

A few Braves at Dodgers trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Dodgers' last 9 games at home
LA Dodgers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers' last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
LA Dodgers are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games


Next up:
Atlanta at San Francisco, Friday, April 22
LA Dodgers at Chi Cubs, Friday, April 22