Preview: Anderson, Dodgers Look To Even Series Against Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 2-2 since the All-Star break in the midst of a 10-game East Coast road trip. The Atlanta Braves were able to hang onto a 7-5 victory Monday night in the first of a three-game series.

The first-place Dodgers (53-41) look to even up the series against the third-place Braves (44-49) Tuesday evening, with Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson getting the start. The 27-year-old has been a solid third starter this season, going 5-5 with a 3.17 ERA, 77 strikeouts and a 3.55 FIP while being healthy the whole season.

In his only other career start against Atlanta, Anderson allowed two runs in seven innings and didn’t figure in the decision of a 6-3 home victory on May 25. Furthermore, he has been an outstanding road pitcher as of late. He’s 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA over his last six road outings.

Young left-hander Alex Wood gets the start for the Braves Tuesday. He is 6-6 with a 3.76 ERA and 3.19 FIP on the season. Wood is coming off his worst start of the season on July 12 when he gave up 10 hits and seven runs in 5.1 innings against the Colorado Rockies. Wood has also struggled at home this season as he’s 1-3 with a 5.18 ERA in six home starts.

He has found a way to get the job done against the Dodgers though, as in four games (two starts) he has given up two runs in 16.2 innings (1.08 ERA).

The Dodgers look to change that Tuesday as they send mostly right-handed hitters to the plate against the left-handed Wood, meaning Scott Van Slyke and Kiké Hernandez get rare starts. Van Slyke is batting .286 with a .457 OBP against left-handers in 46 plate appearances this season. Hernandez also hits southpaws well as he is batting .359 in 36 at-bats against southpaws.

Right-handed bats are stacked in both line-ups Tuesday, as neither starter has given up a homer to a left-handed batter this season.

Although he won’t get the start, Carl Crawford was activated earlier in the day and could see his first big league action since injuring his oblique in April.

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

2B: Howie Kendrick

3B: Justin Turner

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

LF: Scott Van Slyke

RF: Yasiel Puig

SS: Kike Hernandez

C: Austin Barnes

P: Brett Anderson

Braves Lineup:

2B: Jace Peterson

CF: Cameron Maybin

RF: Nick Markakis

1B: Chris Johnson

3B: Juan Uribe

LF: Jonny Gomes

SS: Andrelton Simmons

C: Ryan Lavarnway

P: Alex Wood