Braves @ Dodgers July 22, 2017: Teheran vs. Hill

The Dodgers (66-31) haven’t lost a series since they dropped two of three games to the Nationals in early June. The Braves (47-48) have two chances to give L.A. its first series loss in nearly seven weeks. Rich Hill (3.55 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 4.68 DRA) takes the mound to try to stop the Dodgers’ — gasp — two-game skid.

	Braves			Dodgers
	6:10 p.m.			Los Angeles
CF	Inciarte		2B	Utley
2B	Camargo		SS	Seager
1B	Freeman		1B	Bellinger
LF	Kemp		C	Grandal
C	Flowers		3B	Forsythe
RF	Markakis		CF	Pederson
3B	Rodríguez		RF	Puig
SS	Swanson		LF	Thompson
P	Teherán (R)		P	Hill (L)

Hill, who struggled early on in 2017, seems to have turned it around, if his last five starts are any indication. In 31 IP, he’s allowed just six earned runs, and struck out 44 batters versus six walks. It’s amazing what happens when Hill can throw his curveball for strikes.

Julio Teherán (4.69 ERA, 5.38 FIP, 5.27 DRA) doesn’t have great overall numbers this year, but he’s been excellent on the road. In nine away starts this year, Teherán has a 2.53 ERA, and a .666 OPS against (more than 200 points better than his home OPS against). Teherán has started against the Dodgers six times in the regular season, and once in the postseason. He most recently faced them in June of 2016, when he allowed three runs in 5.2 IP at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won that game, 4-2.

Justin Turner, who is “a little under the weather,” gets the night off, with Logan Forsythe taking over at third base.

—–

Looking ahead to next week:

Brandon McCarthy will start Tuesday. If his blister resurfaces, Kenta Maeda is the backup, Roberts said.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 22, 2017

Brandon McCarthy‘s start on Thursday was his worst of the season (by Game Score). Kenta Maeda pitched Wednesday against the White Sox, and would be going on five days’ rest.