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Atlanta Braves shift gears as Sean Newcomb starts Sunday

By Fred Owens

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves delivers the pitch during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves delivers the pitch during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves lefty Sean Newcomb struggled in August and September. Sunday the Braves turn to him to prevent being swept by the Dodgers and eliminated from the NLDS. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Why Newcomb now?

The Dodgers lineup against lefties probably omits Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, and Cody Bellinger in favor of old friend Matt Kemp, David Freese, and Chris Taylor. Based on what they’ve done this season, that would mean a lineup something like this.

    B/R AVG OBP SLG OPS wOBA wRC+ PA
Chris Taylor  CF R/R .237 .326 .388 .714 .314 99 43
Justin Turner  3B R/R .360 .448 .680 1.128 .466 201 36
David Freese 1B R/R .403 .471 .742 1.213 .507 227 70
Manny Machado  SS R/R .318 .437 .553 .990 .409 163 74
Yasmani Grandal  C B/R .214 .377 .524 .901 .386 148 53
 Matt Kemp  LF R/R .229 .256 .410 .665 .285 80 39
Enrique Hernandez  2B R/R .289 .359 .422 .780 .338 115 93
Yasiel Puig  RF R/R .216 .241 .392 .630 .267 68 27*
                   
Austin Barnes C/2B R/R .216 .356 .459 .815 .348 122 46
Brian Dozier 2B R/R .152 .300 .227 .527 .254 59 80
Max Muncy 1B/OF L/R .156 .224 .333 .558 .245 54 48
Joc Pederson OF L/L .294 .368 .588 .957 .403 159 19*
Cody Bellinger 1B/CF L/L .239 .295 .282 .577 .254 60 41

* Puig and Pederson’s numbers reflect a small PA sample size

Gausman took the news like a pro and would likely be the first man out after Newcomb. If that happens Fried should follow him if they’ve had time to insert their lefty bats. He’d effectively negate them the rest of the way.

All of that’s nice, but we have to score runs or it doesn’t matter.

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