The Dodgers have faced numerous injuries in their pitching staff, making playoff success seem like an insurmountable challenge at times. In the first three games of the series against the Atlanta Braves, who are considered one of the NL’s top teams, the Dodgers struggled with their pitching.
However, in the series finale, Bobby Miller stepped up and delivered an outstanding performance, reminding everyone that anything is possible when these two teams meet again in October. The rookie right-hander pitched a career-best seven innings, allowing only three hits and leading the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory.
Miller, with a 9-3 record, showcased his potential as an ace pitcher in this matchup against the formidable Braves. Less than four months after making his major league debut with a solid win against Atlanta, Miller once again faced one of the league’s top lineups and excelled.
“I was really locked in,” Miller said. “That’s a big goal for me, to dominate a team for the second time.”
During his impressive performance, Miller retired 16 consecutive Braves hitters between Marcell Ozuna’s double in the second inning and Matt Olson’s seventh-inning home run. He finished the game with five strikeouts and just one walk. Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Miller, saying, “That’s a good-looking young pitcher right there. He’s a strong kid. Love his delivery. He’s got a really bright future.”
Although Olson hit his 44th homer, tying him with Shohei Ohtani for the MLB lead, the Braves’ six-game winning streak came to an end with only their second loss on a 10-game West Coast trip. Despite the loss, the Braves still hold the best record in the majors at 90-46. Miguel Rojas contributed with an RBI double, and Mookie Betts added a run-scoring single in the fifth inning for the Dodgers. James Outman added an RBI single in the eighth.
Bobby Rojas commented on Miller’s performance, saying, “Bobby did a great job with his opportunity. He’s going to be a really good starter for us down the stretch.” Charlie Morton (14-11), the 39-year-old Braves pitcher, allowed six hits and three walks in four-plus innings. Brusdar Graterol secured his seventh save for the Dodgers, maintaining his streak of not allowing a run in 15 appearances since July 24.
Both Ronald Acuña Jr. and LA’s Freddie Freeman went 0 for 4 in the game, with Acuña making three inning-ending outs after homering in the previous three games of the series. The Dodgers took their first lead in the series since the opening inning of Thursday’s game. Outman drew a leadoff walk in the fifth inning and scored on Rojas’ line drive. Moments later, Rojas scored on Betts’ bouncing single, which forced Morton out of the game.
The Braves franchise hasn’t swept a four-game road series against the Dodgers since April 1906, when the Boston Beaneaters achieved the feat in Brooklyn.