Preview: Dodgers And Braves Meet For First Time In 2015 Season

Despite the numerous injuries they’ve suffered and in spite of last week’s scoring drought, the Los Angeles Dodgers are doing just fine.

Their two-game lead atop the National League West, 13-9 record in May and the fact that they’ve only dropped one series all month indicate that, although it hasn’t been an extraordinarily good month for the Dodgers, rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. However, the way this final week goes will ultimately determine how May will be looked back upon down the road.

Tonight, the Dodgers (26-7) welcome the Atlanta Braves (22-21) to Dodger Stadium to begin a three-game series. Taking the hill for the Dodgers is Brett Anderson, who, speaking of May, has been good-to-excellent in four starts this month, despite having the misfortune of pitching in rainy weather.

Anderson has gone at least five innings in each of the four starts, and allowed a combined five runs. He’s 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA in eight starts this season. Dodger batters meanwhile face an unfamiliar foe, as rookie Williams Perez makes just his second career start for Atlanta.

Perez debuted May 8 against the Washington Nationals as a reliever and was walloped by Washington, allowing four runs and only recording one out. He has improved since then, however, and in his first start last week against the Tampa Bay Rays, he allowed one run over five innings and struck out seven.

Adrian Gonzalez is looking to become just the 12th active player to reach 1,000 career RBIs, sitting just two RBIs short of that milestone. After nearly 1,000 at-bats against the Braves as a Phillie, Jimmy Rollins faces Atlanta for the first time as a Dodger. He ranks in the top-five of several career offensive categories against the Braves.

To commemorate Memorial Day, both teams will wear specially designed caps and jerseys. On the jerseys, the Dodgers’ script will be camouflaged in color and the bills of each cap will also be camouflaged. In addition, the first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Tommy Lasorda Garden Gnome.

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

SS: Jimmy Rollins

2B: Howie Kendrick

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

3B: Justin Turner

RF: Andre Ethier

LF: Scott Van Slyke

C: A.J. Ellis

P: Brett Anderson

Braves Lineup:

2B: Jace Peterson

CF: Cameron Maybin

1B: Freddie Freeman

RF: Nick Markakis

LF: Jonny Gomes

SS: Andrelton Simmons

3B: Pedro Ciriaco

C: Christian Bethancourt

P: Williams Perez

Don Mattingly Not In A Rush To Change Batting Order