Braves @ Dodgers September 1, 2023: Dodgers look to even series with Braves as they open the final month of the regular season

Last night’s game was about as entertaining of a loss as I can remember. The dinger-prone Lance Lynn vs dinger-happy Brave offense went about as well as expected, and the Dodgers battled back but fell short as Atlanta took round one. The Mookie Betts vs Ronald Acuna Jr. MVP battle was also entertaining, as Betts hit two homers while Acuna hit a grand slam. The Dodgers seek to even up the series and kick September off with a win, as Julio Urias takes on Max Fried.

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7:10 PM Los Angeles
RF Acuña Jr. RF Betts
2B Albies (S) 1B Freeman (L)
3B Riley C Smith
1B Olson (L) DH A. Rosario
DH Ozuna LF Taylor
C d’Arnaud 3B Muncy (L)
LF E. Rosario (L) 2B Hernández
SS Arcia CF Outman (L)
CF Harris II (L) SS Rojas
P Fried (L) P Urias (L)

The rosters expanded today, giving the Dodgers an additional pitcher and position player. Emmet Sheehan was recalled and could be involved in tomorrow’s TBD game. As for the position player, Kolten Wong was called up for the first time as a Dodger. Yonny Hernandez got through waivers and was outrighted to the minors.

Wong was awful in 67 games for Seattle earlier in the year (.468 OPS, barely higher than that of Austin Barnes). He signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers a couple weeks ago and got 14 plate appearances in AAA. He reached base in eight of those 14 plate appearances (two doubles, one homer, one walk, four singles) and struck out only once. He gives them a lefty infielder that could get starts against righties so Amed Rosario and Enrique Hernandez don’t have to, and if they can recapture his 2022 numbers (.845 OPS against righties), it could help down the stretch.

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In injury news, Walker Buehler is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Sunday. J.D. Martinez is also slated to begin his rehab on Sunday and should be back in the Majors next weekend. Joe Kelly threw a 20-pitch bullpen and his next step is TBD.

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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.