The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers will throw out their two best pitchers in series final on Thursday night. Julio Teheran and Clayton Kershaw will take the mound as the Dodgers aim to get the sweep at home against the Atlanta Braves who are fighting for the top spot in the National League East with the Washington Nationals.
Two All-Stars go head-to-head in the National League battle. Kershaw is searching 10th straight win while the Dodgers are looking for their sixth straight win overall and sweep of the Braves. Kershaw is 12-2 on the season with a 1.76 ERA. In his last 10 starts he has given up just eight runs while striking out 95. He also recorded his second complete game in three starts as he leads the league in ERA.
However, Kershaw has never beaten Atlanta. They are the only team that have somehow escaped him in the regular season as he has a 2.45 ERA against the team. Kershaw has pitched well against them in the postseason, giving up just six hits and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings.
The Braves will counter with Teheran, their own All-Star, who is 10-6 with a 2.71 ERA on the year. He was beaned up last time at Dodgers stadium as he gave up six runs and eight hits in two innings in a 13-6 loss. Teheran has turned into an ace this season as he sits near the top of the NL. Since the All-Star break, he has struck out 11 in seven innings while giving up another three runs in six innings to the San Diego Padres. He will be tasked with holding off Matt Kemp who has suddenly found his swing amidst trade rumors. He is batting .486 with 11 RBIs in his last nine games.
Meanwhile ,Atlanta has dropped a game and a half behind the Nationals for the National League East lead and could use a win to start gaining some momentum heading forward.
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