LOS ANGELES – Over the first few innings Monday, it seemed Braves starter Drew Smyly was throwing fastballs the size of the beach balls bouncing around the Dodger Stadium crowd. The Braves lost the series opener to the Dodgers, 5-3.
Here are five takeaways from Monday:
1. Smyly’s last two outings haven’t helped his case to remain in the Braves’ crowded rotation down the stretch. Smyly surrendered four home runs Monday. At one point, he’d given up four homers and recorded just seven outs.
The first three homers came on middle-placed fastballs, none of which exceeded 92 mph, to Max Muncy, Will Smith and Mookie Betts. Corey Seager hammered the fourth homer, a two-run shot, on a cutter. Each home run came in the first three innings, allowing the Dodgers to build an early five-run advantage.
“They came out really aggressive,” Smyly said of the Dodgers. “It’s hard to analyze it because they barely put an off-speed pitch in play. I really didn’t throw many fastballs after the third inning because I realized every fastball I threw, they were on. ... It just seemed every time I threw a fastball, they were ready for it and didn’t miss.”
Overall, Smyly allowed five runs on nine hits over 4-2/3 innings. He’s reached six innings just once in his last 10 starts. His velocity is down, though Smyly said he feels fine. “I don’t think it’s arm strength,” he said. “I think it’s just executing pitches.”
Manager Brian Snitker: “It wasn’t a great outing for him. ... The balls were down the middle. He wasn’t throwing that bad, just the location wasn’t good. Unfortunately, that doesn’t do you any good. He left some balls down the middle and they did what they’re probably supposed to do.”
2. Dating back to his previous outing against the Orioles, Smyly gave up seven home runs in an eight-inning span.
“I don’t think the Baltimore start and this start resemble each other at all,” Smyly said. “I think the Dodgers came out and knew I was going to throw a lot of strikes and be in the zone quite a bit. They were ultra aggressive. They were swinging really early. The Dodgers’ M.O. from the past years is they make pitchers work, they don’t chase. They make you be in the strike zone. So I wanted to come out and attack. I guess their game plan was swing early because that’s what they did.”
His four allowed Monday tied a career high and set a new season-high mark for the lefty, who’s allowed 27 on the season. Smyly is approaching his single-season high of 32 homers allowed, set in 2016 and 2019.
3. Smyly’s 27 homers surrendered are still seven behind the MLB leader, former Braves All-Star starter Mike Foltynewicz, who’s allowed 34 with the Rangers. Other pitches to allow more homers this season: Jordan Lyles (Texas), 33; Patrick Corbin (Washington), 31; Kyle Hendricks (Chicago), 28.
4. Dodgers lefty Julio Urias quieted the Braves last October when he allowed one run on three hits over eight innings over his two appearances in the National League Championship Series. He was brilliant over his first five frames Monday.
The Braves’ offense was hitless until third baseman Austin Riley reached on an infield hit to open the fifth frame. Outfielder Jorge Soler and first baseman Freddie Freeman then put the Braves on the board with a pair of solo homers off Urias in the sixth.
Outfielder Adam Duvall homered off Dodgers reliever Phil Bickford in the seventh to pull the Braves within two, but the early hole proved too much to overcome. The Braves left two on in the ninth against Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen.
5. The Braves haven’t won at Dodger Stadium since a 5-3 victory on June 9, 2018. Anibal Sanchez, in his rejuvenated season with the Braves, faced Alex Wood that night. The Braves haven’t won a series in Los Angeles since 2012.
Since 2010, the Braves are 11-24 at Dodger Stadium, getting outscored 164-123 in that time.
Stat to know
13-1 (The Braves’ 13-game road winning streak ended Monday.)
California, here we come
Monday was the Braves’ first road game in the National League West since Aug. 26, 2019. Their entire remaining road schedule is against the West, with the Braves playing the Dodgers and Rockies this week. They’ll face the Giants, Diamondbacks and Padres on a three-city trip beginning Sept. 17.
Attendance
49,410
Up next
Veteran Charlie Morton (12-5, 3.60) will face Cy Young candidate Walker Buehler (13-2, 2.02) in Tuesday’s matchup.
“I’m excited about tomorrow night,” Snitker said. “I think we have a really good chance to win tomorrow night. It’s going to be a tough battle again. They have a kid that’s in Cy Young talks right now. But it’ll be a good challenge. It’ll be a good challenge for them too. Charlie’s throwing the ball really well also.”
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