Dodgers’ Zack Greinke tries to turn the tide against Braves

Zack Greinke’s slow start could be transitioning into a down year. The Dodgers No. 2 starter is on pace for his worst earned-run average since 2005, his second season in the majors.

Greinke, who is 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA, is the Dodgers starter as they open a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

After finishing 2012 having allowed 13 runs in his last eight starts, Greinke has allowed 40 hits in 30 innings -- 28 total in his last three starts -- and hasn’t finished an outing with more strikeouts than earned runs allowed since coming back from a broken collarbone.

Greinke has had only had six starts, four since Carlos Quentin’s right shoulder barreled into him when they tusseled on the mound after Greinke hit Quentin with a pitch on April 11.

Since his first start of the season — a 6 1/3-inning, two-hit, shutout against Pittsburgh — Greinke has yet to go farther than 5 1/3 frames in five games.

In his last start against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Greinke gave up four runs on nine hits and walked three over 5 1/3 innings of the 7-6 loss. Over his last three starts, he has an 8.78 ERA and seven walks in 13 1/3 innings.

Greinke is 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two career starts against the Braves. Justin Upton has given him the most trouble of any Atlanta batter in the starting lineup, hitting .556 with a home run and two RBI in nine career at-bats.