LOS ANGELES -- Less than a week after validating themselves by taking three of four from the Nationals, the Braves are once again languishing through another trip out west. But unlike the past few years, they are approaching the heart of the summer feeling good about the reinforcements that could soon arrive.
Brandon McCarthy's return to Dodger Stadium proved to be frustrating as the veteran right-hander surrendered three home runs and exited during the fifth inning of Friday night's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers. His struggles were compounded as the Braves got a sense of why Walker Buehler has been one of baseball's top pitchers over the past six weeks.