Major League Baseball
Braves-Dodgers Preview
Major League Baseball

Braves-Dodgers Preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:39 p.m. ET

Matt Wisler's May was deserving of better outcomes, but that might be something he'll have to settle for all year with the offensively inept Atlanta Braves.

The right-hander will try to begin June in similar fashion on Sunday in Los Angeles as the Dodgers try to complete a three-game sweep.

Wisler (2-5, 3.16 ERA) went 2-3 with a 2.51 ERA in six outings last month, all of which went for quality starts, but he's lost the last two despite giving up six runs and 10 hits in 13 innings. The 23-year-old allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings of Tuesday's 4-0 home defeat to San Francisco.

"Overall, I felt good," Wisler told MLB's official website. "That's probably the best I've felt all year. I had good slider command. I was throwing it for strikes and balls when I needed to. Overall, I was happy with the outing. I was just frustrated by the results of the eighth."

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The road might be a better setting with Wisler going 2-1 with a 1.86 mark in four outings. He's never pitched at Dodger Stadium but is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez is 3 for 6 with a home run against him, while Justin Turner is 3 for 3.

Los Angeles counters with Scott Kazmir, whose last four starts have been a collective improvement from his rough first seven. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in that span after going 2-3 with a 5.54 mark.

The success comes as no surprise to manager Dave Roberts.

"He's our No. 2 and he's had a lot of success at this level," Roberts said. "To now be healthy and see the results, he's feeling good, and he gave us a big lift tonight."

Kazmir (4-3, 4.38) limited the Chicago Cubs to a hit in six innings of Tuesday's 5-0 win, though all the scoring came after his exit. He's given up a run and five hits in 12 innings of his last two starts.

"I feel great," Kazmir said. "All my pitches, I was finishing them all night. So I'm just very excited. Going into it, you know you can't make too many mistakes out there (against NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta), so this was a big win for us."

The Braves and Milwaukee are the only two teams the veteran hasn't faced in his career, but Nick Markakis is 11 for 26 with two home runs against him.

The Dodgers (30-27) are coming off Saturday's 4-0 win to set them up for a three-game sweep. The staff has posted a 1.83 ERA on a 5-3 span with opponents batting .176.

Offensively, Turner was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI after going through a 3-for-28 slump. Joc Pederson was 2 for 4 after going 2 for 31 in his previous eight contests.

The Braves (16-39) have lost three straight and scored two runs in that span. Over a 2-5 period, they've scored 15 runs and are batting .154.

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