LOS ANGELES, CA — In the middle game of their three game weekend series, the Atlanta Braves, dismantling the Dodgers offensively and defensively, won by a final of 7-2 Saturday night behind a dominant performance from Spencer Strider on the mound.
Strider, who was making just his second start of the season, became more impressive as the night went on. By working through LA’s lineup with the precision of a skilled surgeon—mixing in 97-MPH fastballs, 87-MPH change-ups, 87-MPH sliders, and 78-MPH curveballs, the 27-year-old looked like the National League Cy Young Award winner he once was in 2023.
Additionally, his outing Saturday has to give Atlanta a good feeling as they continue to blow clubs away since Strider had been sidelined previously with a left oblique strain.
Spencer Strider, with now two starts on the season under his belt, was placed on the injured list by the Braves in the middle of March due to a left oblique strain – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
He ended his night with an impressive line of six innings pitched, one hit, zero runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts. He threw 91 pitches, of which 59 were strikes.
Blake Snell, in his first start of the season, after rehabbing a fatigued left shoulder, lacked command on many of his pitches, driving his pitch count up to 77 in the first three innings. He left with a line of three innings pitched, six hits, five runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
But the big story was Strider. He made the once enthusiastic Dodger Stadium crowd of 50,209 head for the parking lot by the end of his time on the field. At least they had a Blake Snell bobblehead to take home.
Blake Snell made his first start of 2026 Saturday night in Los Angeles after dealing with fatigue in his throwing shoulder – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Braves scored all their runs (seven) with only one extra base hit in the win—a double by Michael Harris III that drove in Austin Riley for run number six.
Atlanta would add another run in the eighth inning on a Drake Baldwin RBI-groundout to make it a 7-0 ballgame. LA then finally put two runs across in the bottom of the ninth inning when Andy Pages (Havana, Cuba), the best hitter on the Dodgers right now, hit a 397-foot two-run home run into the left field pavilion—his ninth home run of 2026 and 35th RBI.
Andy Pages has been one of the best hitters in all of MLB this season, recording nine home runs and 35 RBI over the Dodgers’ first 38 games played on the year – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
With Saturday’s result, Sunday will be a rubber match between these two powerhouse clubs as the Braves start 26-year-old Bryce Elder (3-1, 2.02 ERA), while the Dodgers counter with 25-year-old Justin Wrobleski (5-0, 1.25 ERA).
On a sad note, the Braves and Dodgers paid tribute to a baseball legend Bobby Cox, a Cooperstown Hall of Famer, who passed away Saturday at the age of 84, and to the Braves’ former owner and iconic figure, Ted Turner, who passed away earlier in the week. Cox, the longtime manager of the Braves and general manager for the organization was remembered by many people who knew him, all of whom shared stories.
Freddie Freeman, a former Brave, spending his first 12 years of his MLB career with Atlanta (2010-2021), gave a moving account of how Cox helped him and many of his teammates become true professionals on and off the field.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
