Dodgers-Braves: Things to know as Freddie Freeman returns to Atlanta as an opponent

The Los Angeles Dodgers go to the Atlanta Braves for a three-game sequence this weekend, beginning Friday night time in Truist Park. It is a rematch of the 2021 NLCS — and really 2020 as properly. Would possibly this be a preview of the third-straight league championship sequence between these two NL titans? Maybe. 

Here is the schedule for the sequence with the pitching probables. 

The largest story is, in fact, the return of long-time Braves star Freddie Freeman. 

Drafted within the second spherical out of highschool in 2007 by the Braves, Freeman completed second in NL Rookie of the Yr voting with the membership in 2011, performed on just a few contenders, was round throughout a teardown and rebuild after which was a workforce chief up by way of the World Collection championship in 2021. In his time with the Braves, he was a five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, a Gold Glover and an MVP. He ranks twelfth in franchise historical past in WAR behind 10 Corridor of Famers, plus Andruw Jones and Dale Murphy. 

Freeman, although, signed a six-year, $162 million cope with the Dodgers within the offseason. This will probably be his first time enjoying in entrance of the Atlanta followers because the “enemy,” although we are able to count on a giant ovation for his first plate look. 

He is on hearth, too. In his final 5 video games, Freeman is 11 for 22 with two doubles, a triple, three house runs and 11 RBI. 

Listed here are some extra gadgets of curiosity. 

Familial foes

From April 18-20, the Dodgers took two of three from the Braves in Dodger Stadium. There was a feel-good second with Freeman’s son operating to hug Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson after which Freeman homered in his first at-bat. Former Dodgers nearer Kenley Jansen — now with the Braves — acquired a pleasant welcome from the Dodgers, too. Jansen would file the save within the center sport of the sequence. 

A few of that is to say, we have already had Freeman dealing with the Braves. We have already had Jansen’s return to Dodger Stadium in one other uniform and we have already had Jansen dealing with the Braves. We have checked the whole lot off the record besides Freeman in Atlanta as an opponent. 

Acuña is again

I assume technically there was another field to be checked. When the Braves visited L.A. earlier within the season, Braves celebrity Ronald Acuña, Jr. wasn’t again off the injured record but. Bear in mind, he tore his ACL final July after which the Braves went on an unbelievable run to the title with out him. 

One may also recall proper earlier than the start of this season, Acuña made some feedback on his relationship with Freeman that drew nice consideration. He later downplayed them and stated they had been exaggerated whereas Freeman did not say something derogatory about Acuña in response. 

The vital factor right here is about how Acuña is enjoying. He began a bit of gradual, however continues to be slashing .275/.367/.456 (125 OPS+) with eight doubles, seven house runs, 18 RBI, 26 runs, 12 steals and 1.5 WAR in 41 video games. Merely, he is once more among the finest and most enjoyable gamers in baseball. 

Not that he is the one purpose to look at the Braves. From veterans Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson to kids William Contreras and Michael Harris to a variety of the pitching workers, properly … 

The Braves are surging

The World Collection hangover went by way of Might. After two straight losses to the Diamondbacks, the Braves had been 27-31, 10 1/2 video games out of first and fives video games away from playoff place because the calendar turned to June.

They might win 14 in a row to begin the month. After two losses, they’ve now received 4 of 5, pushing them to 18-3 with a +63 run differential. In the event that they began the season like this, there can be untimely “greatest workforce ever” discussions.  

As issues stand, they’re nonetheless 4 video games behind the Mets, however maintain the second wild-card spot and completely have the look of a playoff workforce. There have been some misguided of us on the market naysaying their successful streak because it got here in opposition to solely sub-.500 groups. First off, they received each single sport. Beating up on weaker groups is just a worthy dialogue level when a workforce is successful one thing like six out of 10, not 14 straight. That is baseball and anybody who is aware of how the game works realizes that 14 straight  anytime is superb. Secondly, the Braves simply took three of 4 from a Giants workforce that had received seven of 9 and was 9 video games over .500 coming in. 

The purpose is that it is a robust workforce enjoying its greatest baseball of the yr proper now. 

The Dodgers had been in a mini-funk

If you’ve established a baseline degree of greatness, it is the expectation that the workforce will at all times carry out like that. As such, when the Dodgers have a stretch with as many losses as wins, it raises the eyebrows a bit. From Might 30-June 12, the Dodgers truly went 4-9. They then received two video games in opposition to the Angels, however misplaced two of three at house to the Guardians. They’d a dropping file within the month of June and at the moment are neck-and-neck with the Padres within the NL West race. 

They’re much higher than this and each workforce goes by way of funks, however that does not make it any much less noteworthy. 

Anyway, I stated “had been” there within the subhead as a result of they only swept the Reds in three video games and outscored them 26-11. Sure, it was the Reds and they’re one in all baseball’s worst groups this season, however generally that is all it takes to get an awesome workforce going. Simply take a look at the Braves and the way their successful streak began. 

One thing to look at: Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger all had massive video games on Thursday. They’ve collectively ranged from brutal (Muncy) to sub-par this season. If, one way or the other, these three all acquired scorching on the identical time, this Dodgers lineup turns into probably the most harmful in baseball. 

That is setting as much as be a wonderful weekend of baseball.