Atlanta @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2018 ) Atlanta 0, LA Dodgers 6

The Los Angeles Dodgers led the National League and finished second in the majors in homers this season, and they enter Game 2 of the NL Division Series at home Friday against the Atlanta Braves after an impressive power display in the series opener. The Dodgers slugged homers in each of the first two innings to build a four-run lead and finished the night with three blasts, as the defending NL champions posted a 6-0 victory over Atlanta in Game 1 on Thursday.

The Braves are in the playoffs for the first time in five years and have to quickly forget a forgettable start from ace Mike Foltynewicz, who allowed a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the first before a hit batsman and walk set up Max Muncy’s three-run shot with two outs in the second. Los Angeles, an overwhelming favorite to win the series and advance to the NL Championship Series, never was threatened as starter Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven innings and saved the Dodgers’ bullpen. Enrique Hernandez added a solo homer as the Dodgers, who finished the regular season with 235 homers, have belted 31 in their past 16 games. About the only positive for the Braves was the performance of left-handers Sean Newcomb and Max Fried, who combined to strike out three and allow one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings after Foltynewicz lasted just two innings.

TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, FS1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73)

Sanchez makes his eighth career postseason appearance (seventh start), continuing a remarkable season in which he was signed by the Braves in spring training and recovered from a hamstring injury to help anchor Atlanta’s youthful rotation. The 34-year-old, who is 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in the playoffs, held left-handed batters to a .191 average in the regular season and went 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 13 road starts. Sanchez went 1-1 in two starts against the Dodgers, giving up two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings at Los Angeles to get the win on June 9.

Some were surprised when the Dodgers started Hyun-Jin Ryu in the series opener, but even though Kershaw allowed three runs or more three times in six starts in September, he finished the month 3-0 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The 30-year-old makes his 20th career postseason start, and in 24 overall games is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 122 innings. Kershaw beat the Braves in his only start against them in 2018, striking out eight with no walks and one run allowed in 7 2/3 innings on July 27 in Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Muncy, who hit five homers in 96 games across two seasons in Oakland, belted 35 this season and has three homers and nine RBIs in his past four games.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman, the only position player left from the 2013 playoff team, singled in the first inning of Game 1.

3. Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler – who won the NL West tiebreaker Monday – will start Game 3 in Atlanta on Sunday, while the Braves have not announced a starter.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Braves 1