Dodgers take on Braves in battle of lefties

ATLANTA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Wood hopes to reverse a trend of bad luck against his former team, while Atlanta Braves rookie Sean Newcomb would like to get a few breaks when the clubs meet in the finale of a three-game series at SunTrust Park on Thursday.

In a battle of left-handers, Wood (12-1, 2.38 ERA) will oppose Newcomb (1-5, 4.50) in the final meeting of the season between the clubs.

The teams have split six games this season. Atlanta beat Los Angeles 5-3 on Wednesday thanks to an eighth-inning pinch-hit homer by Tyler Flowers that snapped the Dodgers' nine-game winning streak and ended the Braves' six-game losing streak.

The Atlanta win also ended a streak of 53 victories for the Dodgers in games where they held a lead at some point. The Dodgers were ahead 1-0 and 3-2 on Wednesday.

Wood, Atlanta's second-round draft choice in 2012, has had a magical season that saw him named to the National League All-Star team. The lone hiccup came on July 21 at Dodger Stadium, where Wood was tagged for a career-high nine runs (seven earned) in 4 2/3 innings against Atlanta. He absorbed the loss in the 12-3 defeat, which remains his only setback of the season.

In two career starts against the Braves, Wood is 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA. He has struck out five and walked seven in 8 2/3 innings.

Otherwise, Wood has pitched well. He has thrown 98 1/3 innings, with 110 strikeouts, 27 walks and a 0.99 WHIP. The opposition is batting .196 against Wood, and right-handers are hitting only .183.

Wood beat the Giants in his most recent start on July 28, when he allowed four runs in a seven innings.

"I'm just trying my best to stay in the moment and give our team a chance to win," Wood said. "As long as I can do that, I feel like I'm accomplishing what I'm trying to accomplish. And it's been really good so far."

Newcomb, acquired a year ago as the centerpiece of the deal that sent shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, is experiencing some of the ups and downs expected from a first-year player.

Newcomb faced the Dodgers on July 23 at Dodger Stadium and received no decision. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs on three hits, with nine strikeouts and five walks. It was part of a four-game stretch in which Newcomb faced only playoff teams.

"All (I) can do is learn from it and keep moving forward while trusting my stuff," Newcomb said. "I know if I keep moving forward, I know I can get people out with any of my pitches. I think I just need to slow it down and keep doing what I was doing when I got here and just keep attacking."

Newcomb followed that recipe and pitched well in his most recent outing on July 29 at Philadelphia. He received no decision, despite allowing only one run on two hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. After the game, manager Brian Snitker said he was impressed with how Newcomb attacked the strike zone with his fastball, curve and change.