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Atlanta Braves look to gain confidence against NL leading Dodgers

By Jake Mastroianni

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a two run homerun in front of Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to trail 3-2, during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a two run homerun in front of Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to trail 3-2, during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 10: Mike  Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 10, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 10: Mike  Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 10, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Game 1 – Kenta  Maeda vs. Mike  Soroka

I will be at this game Friday night and am very excited to see Mike Soroka go up against this Dodgers lineup.

Soroka is by far the ace of this staff at the moment. He was brilliant his last time out with 7 shutout innings against the Marlins and was pulled at just 82 pitches.

He’s given up just five total runs in his last four outings.

Soroka did not face the Dodgers earlier this season and no one on their lineup has experience against him.

This is a massive start for the 22-year-old and the Atlanta Braves. They need to know that their best starter can hold down that Dodgers offense.

Kenta Maeda was also great his last time out throwing 7 shutout innings, but in his three starts before that he gave up 13 runs.

He hasn’t faced the Atlanta Braves this year but he has a 0.68 ERA against them in 13.1 innings the last three seasons.

Game 2 – Hyun-Jin  Ryu vs. Mike  Foltynewicz

I hate to be negative and give up on a game before it happens, but the Atlanta Braves have had no luck against Ryu lately. And neither has anyone else.

Hyun-Jin Ryu leads all of baseball with a 1.45 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP.

When he faced the Braves earlier this year he threw a complete game shutout. In the playoffs last year he tossed 7 shutout innings.

So in his last two starts against the Atlanta Braves, he’s pitched 16 shutout innings and allowed just 8 hits and zero walks.

Freddie Freeman is 4-for-10 off him — still a superstar.

Mike Foltynewicz has shown dominance at times in his first two outings since being called up, but he’s still yet to put a full game together.

Against the Dodgers would be the perfect time for that to happen.

Earlier this season he gave up 5 runs in 6 innings on 5 hits and 4 walks. If he can limit the walks and give up one less run, I’d take that line on Saturday.

Unfortunately, with the way Ryu has pitched the Braves, Folty will need to be near perfect in this one.

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