The Dodgers finally know who’s standing between them and the NLCS: the Braves.
Los Angeles had already locked up a National League Division Series berth with a bye, but the opponent stayed in limbo until Atlanta finished off the Phillies in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. That sets up a postseason matchup that’s become familiar territory. The Dodgers and Braves are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time in MLB history, and the last time they crossed paths was the 2021 NL Championship Series.
That series went to Atlanta, where the Braves knocked out the Dodgers in six games and went on to win the World Series. It was also Freddie Freeman’s final season with the franchise.
This year’s NLDS opens at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, with Game 1 set for 1 p.m. PT.
Game 2 follows on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT.
After that, the series moves to Truist Park for Game 3 on Tuesday and, if needed, Game 4 on Wednesday. A deciding Game 5 would return to Dodger Stadium on Oct.
All Dodgers NLDS games will be televised on Fox or FS1 and streamed on Fox One.
The Dodgers earned home-field advantage by finishing with a better record than Atlanta, but the regular-season meetings tilted the other way. The Braves won five of six against Los Angeles, including a three-game sweep at Truist Park from Aug. 25-27.
The timing of Game 1 was also shaped by the rest of the bracket. Because the Padres eliminated the Cubs in their Wild Card matchup, the Dodgers’ opener stays at 1 p.m.
PT. If Chicago had advanced to face the Brewers, the start time at Dodger Stadium would have been pushed back to 6 p.m.
The Dodgers and Braves will also be playing in punishing conditions, with a Southern California heat wave expected to bring temperatures near 100 degrees.
Braves vs. Dodgers games and TV network
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3, vs. Braves, 1 p.m. PT, Dodger Stadium, Fox/Fox Deportes/Fox One
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 4, vs. Braves, 5 p.m. PT, Dodger Stadium, FS1/Fox Deportes/Fox One
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 6, @ Braves, 3 p.m. PT, Truist Park, FS1/Fox Deportes/Fox One
Game 4*: Wednesday, Oct. 7, @ Braves, 3 p.m. PT, Truist Park, FS1/Fox Deportes/Fox One
Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 9, vs. Braves, 5 p.m. PT Dodger Stadium, Fox/Fox Deportes/Fox One
*if necessary
In Other News...
Padres Just Left The Dodgers With A Brutal NLDS Opener
The Dodgers NLDS opener landed in an unwelcome spot almost as soon as San Diego finished off the Cubs in the Wild Card round. Instead of a prime-time atmosphere, Game 1 was pushed to a 1 p.m. local start under an extreme heat watch, with temperatures expected to climb to 101 degrees and humidity adding to the discomfort.
Dave Roberts made it clear he would have preferred a night game, and the concerns went beyond convenience. Player safety has been part of the conversation, and the scheduling shift came on the heels of the Padres sweep, even if the exact reason for the change still wasnt fully clear. For the Dodgers, it was one more layer of irritation before a matchup that already carried plenty of October pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers NLDS Opener Comes With A Stadium Twist Fans Will Notice
Dodger Stadium is getting a postseason menu refresh as the NLDS opens, with Levy rolling out a batch of new food items for fans coming through the gates. The additions are built for the kind of October crowd that likes to make an event out of every inning, and the list includes a Spam musubi dog, orange chicken fries, a colossal burger, a wing sampler, chicharron and guacamole, and a churro waffle ice cream sandwich.
The new offerings will be available for all NLDS games, and there is at least a chance they stick around into the NL Championship Series if the Dodgers keep advancing. For fans, it adds another layer to a postseason atmosphere that already comes with plenty to track, from the action on the field to what ends up in hand during the long nights at Chavez Ravine. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Braves NLDS Opens With One Huge Pitching Question
The National League Division Series gets underway Saturday at Dodger Stadium, and for the Dodgers the first layer of strategy comes before the first pitch is even thrown. Atlanta arrives fresh off a wild-card sweep of the Phillies, while Los Angeles had the benefit of a bye, giving both sides a different kind of edge as the matchup shifts from survival baseball to a best-of-five series.
Chris Sales status for the opener is the biggest pitching question hanging over the matchup, with his recent workload creating real uncertainty for the Braves. From the Dodgers side, the bye gives them some flexibility in how they line up their own rotation for Game 1, a small but meaningful advantage in a series where every decision around the mound could shape the tone early. [Read more 🡒]