The Dodgers’ run at a third straight World Series title opens Saturday afternoon against the Braves, and the matchup already has a clear edge for Los Angeles - plus one glaring worry.
On paper, the Dodgers look well-positioned to handle Atlanta. They come into Game 1 healthier than they have been in months, with Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith back in the lineup and Edwin Diaz back on the roster to strengthen the pitching staff. That kind of reinforcements changes the feel of a series fast.
One of the biggest reasons for confidence is how the Braves have handled left-handed pitching. The numbers paint Atlanta as one of the worst teams in baseball against lefties, which gives Dave Roberts a real weapon to lean on. Los Angeles can keep sending out left-handed arms to challenge Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II and Matt Olson, among others.
That starts with Tarik Skubal in Game 1, and Blake Snell could easily follow at some point in the next two games. Behind them, the Dodgers have more left-handed help waiting in the bullpen: Justin Wrobleski, Kris Bubic, Jack Dreyer and Alex Vesta, all of whom bring different looks while grading as above-average arms. Tanner Scott is also in the mix at the back end, where a return to his usual form after a rough 2025 would matter plenty.
But the concern is just as obvious. Mookie Betts has been rolling over the last month, yet Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani have not been at their best.
Freeman has been dealing with a balky knee, and Ohtani has had a string of physical issues. If the Dodgers are going to win in October, both of them need to play at an above-average level.
That matters even more with Atlanta able to turn to Chris Sale, who could potentially appear twice in this series. The Dodgers have the depth to survive a lot, but a quiet Ohtani-Freeman stretch would be a problem.
Still, the expectation is that time and repetition will help. Freeman is relentless about refining his swing, and Ohtani is Ohtani. Betting against either one is usually a mistake.
In Other News...
Braves Face A Massive Game 2 Decision After NLDS Opener
The Braves opened their NLDS against the Dodgers with a 5-3 loss, and the postgame discussion quickly turned from the scoreboard to how Atlanta manages what comes next. Walt Weiss spent much of his time talking through bullpen usage and the way the game unfolded, while also noting how difficult Los Angeles made things on offense with Tarik Skubal on the mound.
Now the attention shifts to Game 2, where Atlanta is staring at a significant pitching question with Chris Sales availability still unsettled. The Braves will need a sharper offensive night after struggling in the opener, but the bigger issue may be how Weiss pieces together the pitching plan if Sale is not available. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Fans Have Every Right To Question This October Pitching Call
Atlantas postseason pitching choices are under the microscope after Brian Snitker said the bullpen had been emptied in the previous game and that some arms were unavailable because of injury. The manager pointed to the idea of getting the relief group rested for the next night, which helps explain the roster management behind the move, but it does not make the decision feel any less consequential in the middle of October.
Chris Sale being available only sharpens the debate, because this was the kind of game where the Braves had every reason to lean on their best options rather than sort through lower-tier arms. Instead, they went in a direction that left plenty of room for second-guessing, and for a fan base used to thinking big in the postseason, that is exactly the kind of call that sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Already Face A Bigger NLDS Problem Than The Game 1 Loss
The Braves left Dodger Stadium with a Game 1 loss, but the score may not have been the most concerning part of the night. Los Angeles got six innings of one-run ball from Tarik Skubal and three home runs from Teoscar Hernndez, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy in a 5-3 win, all of it unfolding in near-record heat that made for a grinding October opener.
Sunday evening brings Game 2, and Atlanta now has to answer more than just the immediate damage on the scoreboard. The bigger concern is whether the Braves can settle in quickly enough against a Dodgers team that already looked comfortable, while also coping with conditions that made every inning feel heavier than usual. [Read more 🡒]