NLDS 2013: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves Game 2 preview
By Bryan Rose
Who: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
Where: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
When: 6:07 PM, ET – TBS
Series record: 1-0, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Atlanta Braves decided they’d leave some slumping, big names off their NLDS roster – a thought they may be second guessing after the painful drubbing handed down to them by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took Game 1 in a 6-1 rout.
Of course, the Braves weren’t the first team to be stiffed by Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who at times didn’t exactly look like the overpowering force we know him to be. But of course, when trouble struck, Kershaw seemingly wiggled his way out and kept the Braves off the board, sans a fourth inning single from Chris Johnson.
Unlike the St. Louis Cardinals in the opposing National League Division Series, the Atlanta Braves failed to protect home filed in their opening game, though some might argue the game was more important for Los Angeles considering Kershaw was on the bump. Had the Dodgers lost with their ace taking the mound, it would have been an uphill battle to win the series. Now, thanks to the victory, they’ll go back home with at worst a 1-1 outcome, though if Zack Grienke (15-4, 2.63 ERA) has anything to say about it, they’ll be doing so with a 2-0 series advantage.
Hoping to head West with a series split, the Braves will counter with starter Mike Minor (13-9, 3.21 ERA), who oddly enough, hasn’t pitched as well at home (3.62 ERA) this season as he has on the road (2.76 ERA).
He’ll need to change that to keep Atlanta out of an unfavorable series hole.
Game 2 will prove to be a critical series swinging game.