Lineup breakdown: Braves-Dodgers, Game 4
LOS ANGELES -- A look at Monday's starting lineups for Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Braves and the Dodgers:
BRAVES
The Braves' offense has scored 10 runs in the past two games after it was shut down by Clayton Kershaw in Game 1. With no changes to the batting order for Game 4, that offense will get another crack at the Dodgers' left-hander.
There aren't many hitters in the Braves' lineup with success against Kershaw, but then again, there aren't many hitters in the league who have fared well against the Dodgers' ace.
In seven at-bats against Kershaw, Braves leadoff man Jason Heyward has fanned six times and is 0-for-7. No. 2 hitter Justin Upton has faced Kershaw more than any other Atlanta hitter, and he's hitting just .094 in 32 at-bats. Only Freddie Freeman (2-for-5, two walks) has had moderate success.
Worth noting is the fact that left-handed hitting Brian McCann will continue to hit fifth, despite a hitless Division Series. During the regular season, McCann batted .231 against left-handers with .616 OPS.
1. Heyward, CF
2. Upton, RF
3. Freeman, 1B
4. Evan Gattis, LF
5. McCann, C
6. Chris Johnson, 3B
7. Andrelton Simmons, SS
8. Elliot Johnson, 2B
9. Freddy Garcia, RHP
DODGERS
It's not broken, so Dodgers manager Don Mattingly doesn't see any reason to fix it. The same Los Angeles lineup that pounded the Braves for 22 runs over the first three games of the series will take the field for Game 4 on Monday night.
The driving force behind the Dodgers' offensive success has been shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who is slugging 1.111 in the playoffs and has already tied the franchise record for most extra-base hits in a postseason series. He will remain in the No. 3 spot in the order.
Ramirez has also had more success against Garcia than any other hitter in the lineup. In eight at-bats against the veteran right-hander Ramirez has three hits -- including a double and a homer.
1. Carl Crawford, LF
2. Mark Ellis, 2B
3. Ramirez, SS
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Yasiel Puig, RF
6. Juan Uribe, 3B
7. Skip Schumaker, CF
8. A.J. Ellis, C
9. Kershaw, LHP