Updated MLB Playoff Bracket 2026, Braves vs. Dodgers NLDS Odds, Preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their quest to win their third straight title against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.
Atlanta finished off its wild-card series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night to set up the matchup of division winners.
Los Angeles was the better team in the regular season, and it comes into the NLDS with the far superior pitching rotation.
Atlanta has a strong ace in Chris Sale, but he won't be available on regular rest until Game 2.
That means the Braves need a combination of strong outings from their depth pitchers and a few big offensive performances to counter whatever the Dodgers throw at them during the best-of-five series.
Braves vs. Dodgers Series Odds
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Game 1 Odds
Money Line: Los Angeles (-210; bet $210 to win $100); Atlanta (+176; bet $100 to win $176)
Over/Under: 8.5
Series Odds
Los Angeles (-195)
Atlanta (+155)
Dodgers Hold Pitching Advantage
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The Dodgers carry an overwhelming starting pitching advantage in the matchup with the Braves.
Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will likely start Games 1 and 2. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are available after them to make starts.
The postseason is where the Dodgers' pitching depth needs to shine more. It'll be hard for any team remaining in the playoff bracket to match their star power.
Skubal was acquired specifically to bolster the postseason pitching depth. Yamamoto was the 2025 World Series Most Valuable Player.
Los Angeles will be expected to get out to a series lead on home soil behind Skubal and Yamamoto.
The only comparable pitcher on the Braves roster to the Dodgers' top arms is Chris Sale, who would be in line to start Game 2 on Sunday night.
Sale could be in line to start Game 5 as well, if the series gets to that point, but Atlanta is going to have to piece things together far more than the Dodgers.
The goal for the Dodgers has to be to finish off the series in three, if not four, games because of its edge on the mound.
If the Dodgers somehow leave it to chance in Game 5, the advantage may go away because of a second Sale start.
Atlanta Needs to Carry Over Offensive Momentum
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Atlanta isn't out of the series just because Los Angeles carries a slew of dominant arms.
The Braves come into the NLDS with some offensive momentum after they hit three home runs in the wild-card series-clinching Game 3.
Atlanta scored 14 runs against the Phillies, who put Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler out on the mound in the series.
The NL East champion scored 11 runs off the Dodgers in its three-game sweep on home soil at the end of August. Four of those runs came off Yamamoto and Glasnow.
The star-studded lineup, led by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson, will carry the momentum from the wild-card round and the confidence from the August series into Dodger Stadium.
It certainly won't be an easy task to beat the Dodgers three times, but if the Braves do so, their offense will have played a big role in getting there.
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