Dustin May returned to the mound for the first time in nearly two years and delivered five strong innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. With the win, the Dodgers improved to 7-0, marking their best start since the franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1958. The Braves, meanwhile, remained winless at 0-6.
Pre-game betting odds favored the Dodgers at home, with most sportsbooks placing them around -155 on the moneyline. Still searching for their first season victory, the Braves entered the game as underdogs at approximately +135. The projected run total was 8.5, which the teams stayed under in a game dominated by pitching.
May, making his first start since May 17, 2023, allowed just one hit and one unearned run over five innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked three when returning from Tommy John revision surgery and a torn flexor tendon that sidelined him for nearly the last season. His only blemish came on a throwing error by Mookie Betts in the second inning, which allowed the Braves to score their lone run.
Despite the early deficit, Betts later provided the key offensive moment in the sixth inning. With center-field flags blowing out on a windy evening, he launched a two-run home run to left field off Braves starter Chris Sale, narrowly clearing the wall. Shohei Ohtani, who had singled to lead off the inning, scored on the play. Ohtani has now scored a run in the Dodgers’ first seven games.
The Dodgers added another run in the sixth when Tommy Edman singled, knocking Sale out of the game. Edman later scored on a base hit by Will Smith to give Los Angeles a 3-1 lead. Sale, making his second start of the season, was charged with the loss and fell to 0-1. He allowed four hits over five and one-third innings, struck out five, and did not walk a batter.
After pitching a scoreless sixth inning, Los Angeles reliever Anthony Banda earned the win, improving to 2-0. Tanner Scott recorded the final three outs in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season, helping secure the team’s seventh consecutive win.
One of the defensive highlights of the night came in the seventh inning when Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández made a leaping catch over the right-field wall to rob Drake Baldwin of extra bases. After briefly toppling into the stands, Hernández emerged as the home crowd erupted with the ball in his glove.
The Dodgers’ 7-0 start ties them with the 1933 New York Yankees for the longest undefeated run by a defending World Series champion to begin a season. The only other starts in franchise history occurred when the club was located in Brooklyn: 10-0 in 1955 and 9-0 in 1940.
The three-game series concludes Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Atlanta is scheduled to start right-hander Bryce Elder, who will make his first appearance of the season. Los Angeles will send left-hander Blake Snell to the mound for his second start. Snell enters with a 1-0 record and a 3.60 ERA.
