The Atlanta Braves (22-18) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (17-22) will begin their weekend series on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will air on Fox Sports South, MLB.com with a paid subscription and streamed live here for free.
The Braves currently sit atop the NL East, but have struggled in recent games. Atlanta is on a two-game losing streak and has lost six of their last 10.
However, the Braves will gain a boost if slugger Jason Heyward is able to return to their lineup in the series opener Friday. Heyward underwent an emergency appendectomy and was placed on the disabled list April 23. The right fielder led the Braves with 27 homers last season, but was batting just .121 with two long balls in his first 17 games in 2013.
After belting 25 home runs and opening the season at 12-1, the Braves have hit .234 with 27 long balls during a 10-17 stretch. Atlanta concluded their 4-6 road trip with Wednesday's 5-3 loss to Arizona, its fifth loss in six games.
"For losing two of three (to the Diamondbacks), you feel like we won a couple of those games the way we hit the ball," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It's just the way it goes sometimes. I don't know how many times I felt like the ball was going to go through the infield and it was a line drive at somebody."
The Dodgers, who have hit .303 while winning four of five following an eight-game skid, pulled out a 3-1 victory over Washington on Wednesday. Starter Zack Greinke impressed in his return from the DL and Matt Kemp stayed hot with two hits and two runs scored.
"I'm feeling a lot better at the plate," Kemp, batting .328 during a 14-game hitting streak, told MLB's official website.
The Braves will give starting duties to left-hander Paul Maholm (4-4, 3.94 ERA). Los Angeles will start right-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-2, 3.40 ERA).
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