Braves' Winless Start Continues with 3-1 Loss to Undefeated Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves struggled again on Tuesday night, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1.

This marked their sixth consecutive loss to start the season, the worst opening stretch for the Braves since 2016.

The Braves are now 0-6, which is a tough start to the year after making it to the postseason in 2023.

On the mound, the Braves’ pitchers couldn’t quite match the level of their Dodgers counterparts.

Dustin May, who had been recovering from a significant injury, pitched five strong innings for the Dodgers.

May allowed just one hit and an unearned run, striking out six batters in his first start since May 2023.

His performance was a notable comeback, especially considering he had missed nearly two years due to a torn flexor tendon and Tommy John surgery.

After May, the Dodgers’ bullpen continued to dominate, with Anthony Banda earning the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

Tanner Scott sealed the win with his second save of the season.

Mookie Betts provided the key offensive spark for the Dodgers, hitting his third go-ahead home run of the season.

His two-run shot in the sixth inning pushed the Dodgers into the lead after a quiet five innings of offense.

Betts’ homer was part of the Dodgers’ ongoing power surge, as they have homered in six straight games.

It was also a reminder of Betts’ consistency, as the 2024 NL MVP has scored in every game of the season so far.

The Braves’ lone run came off a throwing error from Betts, which led to an unearned score in the second inning.

After Betts’ home run, Tommy Edman added a single and later scored on a Will Smith hit.

For the Braves, they couldn’t generate much offense, especially against Chris Sale, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner.

Sale pitched five innings, giving up four hits and striking out five batters, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Dodgers’ momentum.

The Braves also made a roster move after the game, designating 41-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez for assignment.

They added right-hander Zach Thompson to the roster in hopes of stabilizing their pitching staff.

One bright moment for the Braves came in the seventh inning when Teoscar Hernández made an incredible catch to rob Drake Baldwin of a hit.

Hernández leapt over the wall in right field, holding up his glove in triumph after the catch.

Despite that defensive highlight, the Braves couldn’t overcome their early mistakes and offensive struggles.

With the loss, the Braves’ rough start to the season continues, while the Dodgers remain undefeated, tying the 1933 New York Yankees for the longest unbeaten streak by a reigning World Series champion.

With a 7-0 mark, the defending World Series champions are off to the club’s best start since moving to Los Angeles.

The only better starts in franchise history came in 1955 (10-0) and 1940 (9-0) when the team was the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Looking ahead, the Braves will try to bounce back in the series finale on Wednesday, with Bryce Elder set to make his first start of the season.