The surging Los Angeles Dodgers (27-33) will host the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves (37-24) in the third game of a four-game set at Dodger Stadium today. The game can be live streamed here at 10:10 p.m., while Dodgers fans can listen to the action on 570 Fox Sports L.A, and Braves fans can tune in to 680 AM or 93.7 FM.
The Dodgers enter this game in search of their fifth win in six games, and third straight over the Braves. When center fielder Matt Kemp went down with a hamstring injury, it seemed like that might be the nail in the coffin for Los Angeles' disastrous season. Cuban rookie Yasiel Puig, however, has ridden in on a white horse to potentially save the Dodgers.
In just five games and 20 plate appearances, Puig has hit .421, slugged four home runs, and driven in 10 RBI. He has also flashed an incredible outfield arm, doubling off a runner from the warning track in his debut.
Teammate Skip Schumaker gushed about Puig, who tied the game last night with a two-run home run. "He's amazing, I don't really now who to compare him to. We'll ride him all the way through."
One comparison that's getting louder is to fellow Los Angeles outfielder Mike Trout, the 2012 Rookie of the Year for the Angels. While that may be heaping too much on Puig's plate, he's only five games into his career, his power and defensive elegance evokes images of Trout injecting life into a sagging team.
The Dodgers are similarly composed to the 2012 Angels, with slumping studs (Kemp, Andre Ethier) and a highly anticipated youngster getting off to a hot start. Stephen Fife (1-0 4.50 ERA) will toe the rubber for Los Angeles, while Kris Medlen (2-6, 3.14 ERA) will oppose him.
Medlen's been unlucky in terms of decisions, and may be headed back to the bullpen once Brandon Beachy returns from injury.
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