Dodgers vs. Braves

Thu., Oct. 3, 2013

Season Series: Braves won 5-2

Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70): They haven’t reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988. … They began the season with one of the highest payrolls in baseball, but by June 21 had dropped a season-worst 12 games under .500 and fell 9 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona. Manager Don Mattingly was rumored to be on the hot seat before his team went 42-8 from late June to mid-August. The arrival of Yasiel Puig, the energetic Cuban rookie, in early June sparked the team and helped spur the turnaround.

Atlanta Braves (96-66): Atlanta won its first division title since 2005 despite a devastating rash of injuries. Seven players – including starting pitcher Tim Hudson and relievers Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters – are out for the season. … The Braves also had to deal with two key players, CF B.J. Upton and 2B Dan Uggla, struggling through horrible years. After building a commanding lead in the N.L. East, the Braves struggled down the stretch, going 13-14 in the final month and failing to win more than two games in a row.

Watch For: Clayton Kershaw was the only Dodger on the All-Star team. He won the Cy Young in 2011 and is a favorite again. He led the majors in ERA for the third straight year, and his 1.83 mark was the lowest since Boston’s Pedro Martinez had a 1.74 in 2000.

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Dodgers vs. Braves

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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