Updates from Game 1 of Braves-Dodgers NL Division Series matchup
Los Angeles is looking for its third straight World Series title.
New series, new beginnings, new questions.
The Braves have a tall task in the National League Division Series, facing the Dodgers, who are looking for their third consecutive World Series title.
It’s a matchup of rest versus rust, as the Dodgers had a first-round bye and the Braves worked through a three-game series win against the Phillies in the NL Wild Card Series.
The pressure is on the Dodgers, and if the Braves can steal a game in Los Angeles, things could get interesting.
Get caught up with some pregame reading:
- Braves-Dodgers begin playoff series Saturday in Los Angeles
- Sugiura: It’s possible: How the Braves can upset the Dodgers in NLDS
- Cunningham: Mighty Dodgers stand in way of Braves again
- Everything to know about the Braves-Dodgers NL Division Series
- Finally, the Braves get last laugh on the Phillies
Braves at Dodgers, Game 1
- First pitch: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
- TV: Fox
- Starting pitchers: TBD (Braves); LHP Tarik Skubal (Dodgers)
- Broadcast team: Joe Davis, John Smoltz and Ken Rosenthal
Series schedule (best-of-five):
- Game 2: Sunday at Dodger Stadium, 8 p.m.
- Game 3: Tuesday at Truist Park, 6 p.m.
- Game 4*: Wednesday at Truist Park, 6 p.m.
- Game 5*: Friday at Dodger Stadium, 8 p.m.
* if necessary
The NLDS roster has been set
Lane Thomas, JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver have been added to the Braves' NLDS roster. Dominic Smith, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Luke Williams have been taken off.
26-Man Roster
PITCHERS (13): LH Dylan Dodd, RH Didier Fuentes, RH Grant Holmes, RH Raisel Iglesias, LH Ray Kerr, LH Dylan Lee, RH Tyler Mahle, RH Víctor Mederos, RH JR Ritchie, LH Chris Sale, RH AJ Smith-Shawver, RH Robert Suarez, LH Brent Suter
CATCHERS (2): Drake Baldwin, Sean Murphy
INFIELDERS (6): Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubón, Ha-Seong Kim, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Rowdy Tellez
OUTFIELDERS (5): Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Brewer Hicklen, Lane Thomas, Mike Yastrzemski
Braves in La-la Land
The road to the National League Championship Series goes through Los Angeles, and if the Braves are going to get back to greatness, they’ll have to dethrone the Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Braves, who finished the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday night, and the trip out west rarely is easy.
Yes, the Braves have handled the Dodgers pretty well this season, and yes, Los Angeles won’t have Shohei Ohtani on the mound, but they have plenty of other options to try to quiet the Braves’ bats.
There's always a chance the Braves can pull the upset, but it’ll be an uphill climb — with the Dodgers’ pitching staff and the back-and-forth to Los Angeles — if the series goes to a deciding fifth game.