Editorials

Dodgers 2013 Playoff Forecast: Atlanta Braves

The Dodgers will play the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, a team of the decades in the 1990s that recently became known for a September collapse rather than any October success.

The Braves made the postseason last year as one of the Wild Card teams and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3. This year the Braves ran the table in the NL East all season without much resistance from any other team.



This season, the Braves won the season series against the Dodgers, winning five of the seven games. However, the Braves swept the Dodgers at Turner Field back in May at a time when the Dodgers had Dee Gordon, Nick Punto and Luis Cruz in the starting lineup. The second series between the two was in early June, still before the Dodgers incredible run and was a split decision at Dodger Stadium. That series had the Dodgers win games started by Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu and lose games started by Stephen Fife and Matt Magill.

Match-ups:

The Dodgers clinched long ago and it seems they’ll have their rotation set and at full strength. The Braves also seem to have their rotation ready to go, despite losing veteran starter Tim Hudson to an ankle injury back in July.

Game 1: Clayton Kershaw (16-9) 1.83 ERA vs Kris Medlen (15-12) 3.11 ERA

Kershaw is coming off one of the best statistical seasons for a pitcher in recent history, but did so without ever facing Atlanta. Playing on the road, Kershaw earned a no-decision at Turner Field back in 2011, throwing seven innings and allowing three runs. Medlen threw 13.2 innings against the Dodgers in two starts and allowed just one unearned run earning one victory.

Game 2: Zack Greinke (15-4) vs Mike Minor (13-9) 3.21 ERA

Greinke would be a viable Cy Young candidate had there not been a man named Clayton Kershaw. Greinke threw seven scoreless innings against the Braves earlier this season but has struggled historically at Turner Field with a 5.73 ERA in two games. Minor started twice against the Dodgers this year and went 1-0 with a 2.32 ERA in 12 innings.

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